Popular Isle of Wight restaurant a hit with Matt and Cat

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So by discussing the interior design of Correo Lounge, you might be expecting us to think little of our meals. Far from it.

The Correo Lounge interior. (Image: Matt and Cat)

Nonetheless, it must be said that the restaurant is an utter marvel of the stylists' work.

With light fittings terminating a froufrouey fringed lampshades; walls mosaiced with framed portraits, landscapes and still lives rendered in oils by artists of diverse ability; and mismatched furniture, it is like your nan's parlour through a thrift shop kaleidoscope.

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One thing we were particularly pleased about was the menu. After a few recent pursepounding dinners, we have received representations for accounts of more affordable meals.

As we actually paid for those dinners — you simply read about them — we are happy to momentarily draw in our financial horns (it'll be back to profligacy on the next review).

The other thing about the menu was the fact that brunch is all day. No early-bird cut off for fans of bacon and toast — or eggs for that matter. Nope, even the latest of risers can have a cooked breakfast here.

And so it was that a plate of Lounge eggs arrived, served with hollandaise on a toasted English muffin with spinach and mushrooms.

Poached eggs, eh? Simple yet deceptively easy to get wrong. These ones were textbook. Golden yolks released from their albumen captivity, insinuated their way down the vegetables.

The fried mushrooms were that perfect combo of butteriness and saltiness, and the muffin warm and absorbent. Excellent.

The small macaroni cheese was classic comfort food; perfect for a still-chilly January day. With a generous allowance of hot bubbling cheese, this uncomplicated dish was a good value winter warmer.

The abundance of fabric pleated into every lampshade was not really enough to dampen the sound which bounced around the hard surfaces in the cavernous room, and this could be problematic for some people. But otherwise, we had no complaints.

The service was efficient, the food competently cooked and priced very reasonably.

We are happy to recommend Correo Lounge — so much so that we returned for delicious Goan cauliflower curry and a very decent burger within a few days.