Ginny’s and Uncle Buck’s bring a unique street food and cocktail collab to Maldon High Street – Review
By Ben Shahrabi
20th Jun 2023 | Opinion
A High Street cocktail bar and a family street food business collaborated for a special evening of drinks, music, and inventive Indian dishes, in Maldon last Friday (June 16).
The event was held at Ginny's Cocktail Bar, with food provided by Southminster-based Uncle Buck's Kitchen. Nub News sent reporter Ben and his partner Elena to get their verdicts.
The evening began with live music from local musician Chloe Diana. She performed pop covers along with her own songs, which can be found on Spotify. For a modest-sized venue, the music may have been a bit loud for anyone wanting to have a conversation. However, most revellers joined in.
As Des, the Designated Driver, I got to enjoy the wide range of 'Alcohol-Free' cocktails. Meanwhile, Elena got stuck in with the more grown-up drinks, starting with a Classic Mojito.
She felt it was "less sweet and less minty" than other mojitos she had tried. However, it was refreshing and much needed after a hot day.
As the drinks began to arrive, so did the food.
The Chicken Tikka Dirty Fries come with a generous helping of toppings. With a moderately spicy kick, the chicken was complemented beautifully by creamy sauce. A delightful crunch was added by chopped red onions and pomegranate seeds.
As the evening continued, Chloe interspersed her own songs with hits from Madonna, ABBA, and Whitney Houston, providing a feel-good soundtrack for much of the evening.
The good vibes continued when the Bhaji on the Beef burger arrived. On the first bite, I was immediately struck by the zingy 'spicy mac sauce'. Two patties of juicy and tender beef were topped with a crispy, aromatic and authentically Indian bhaji.
In my view, Bhaji on the Beef tasted like Ronald McDonald went to India and learned how to make his burgers taste 10x better. To get a sense of how good it is, buy a Big Mac... then throw it in the bin and buy this instead. It's no wonder Bhaji on the Beef is Uncle Buck's best-seller.
The Cluck 'n' Buck burger features a succulent chicken fillet in a deliciously light and crispy batter. Topped with piquant carrot pickle and rich coriander mayo, it is satisfyingly flavourful with every bite.
With upwards of 40 pre-booked guests, the bar was mostly full throughout the evening. Several passers by decided to pop in, but some had to be turned away as the establishment was too busy.
Ginny's seats just 28 guests, although owner Misha hopes to add another 20 seats upstairs by the end of July.
The bar's prime location in the High Street makes it the ideal place for an after-dinner drink. Owner Misha Roughley and her staff are attentive and accommodating.
The jolly atmosphere made Ginny's a friendly place for us to enjoy a summer drink. We ordered two Pornstar Martini mocktails, served with deliciously sweet fresh passion fruit. They were fruity, thick, and refreshing.
Ginny's 'After-Dinner' drinks selection is full of dessert-inspired treats. I ordered the Kinder Bueno mocktail which was sweet, nutty, and gorgeously foamy. It's the kind of drink you'd want to consume by the bucketload – although the alcoholic version may leave you needing to be carried home if you did.
Finally, we capped off the evening with Uncle Buck's chocolate and signature Oreo brownies.
The chocolate brownie was rich, sweet, and familiar. It's everything you'd want from a standard brownie, with a crunchy top layer and gooey centre.
Slightly more original, the Oreo brownie was naughty but devilishly tasty. It combines two individually brilliant things – much like the collaboration between Ginny's and Uncle Buck's.
Overall, the evening was not cheap, costing a total of £77 for two, but we felt the quality and independent nature of each business justified the price.
We would love to visit again and recommend Ginny's as a nice place to go with friends, family, or a partner.
If you don't fancy cooking, and want to try something unique and delicious, it is well worth paying a visit to Uncle Buck's Kitchen.
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