22 Mill Street Restaurant

Regulars and newcomers alike tend to rave over this much commended little restaurant. The style is modern but takes considerable heed of much that is best from the past. To offer a set dinner menu of this sort of quality from £28.00 represents more than ordinarily good value, and with lunch from £19.50, an even better bargain. The clever wine list follows the trend with quality house wine from £15.00.

Paul Henderson from Gidleigh Park, just down the road, praises them: "Two of our ex-staff opened 22 Mill Street in 1997 and it has become a very popular local restaurant, not least with Kay and me. It seats about 25 people in a charming, simply decorated dining room, and it is open for lunch and dinner every day except Sunday. There are two nice B&B rooms above the restaurant.

Duncan Walker was Shaun Hill's sous chef here in the early 1990s and his cooking is eclectic, generally French Provincial or Mediterranean in style. First courses include red mullet poached with leeks and saffron, or sautéed calf's sweeetbreads with brown butter and capers. Main courses could include a ragoût of turbot, ceps, broad beans and basil, or loin of local lamb with its liver and kidney, artichoke and Madeira sauce. Amanda Leaman runs the dining room with the help of local girls. Allow £80 for two people."

From an experienced professional like him, that says it all!