Artisan

Welcome to Artisan. A stylish new restaurant on the High Street in Lewes on a site which carries a pleasing historic style, much enhanced by an eclectic mêlée of antique furniture and French chandeliers backing onto a modern white dining area with a spectacular open kitchen.

The menu, designed by head chef Lewis Evans, and making brilliant use of local and seasonal ingredients, also carries more than a touch of Polish influence out of deference to the owner's background. In fact every Tuesday the Polish flag flies and in addition to the regular menu a three course Polish option is available. Polish food is not for the faint-hearted - 'hearty' would be an apt description. But on a day when the weather is coming off the English Channel and winter is in the air a spot of hearty food can be the difference between cheerful and disconsolate.

Artisan also houses an impressive art gallery which features the work of local artists and provides a tasteful location for performances of live music and dance for those dining. Owner, Kasia Zindulska runs a tight ship and with a good proportion of arts orientated people in this ancient Sussex Downs  township, the future looks bright.

Like many a good neighbourhood eaterie Artisan believes in providing for the inner man throughout the full cycle, and breakfast is an event in itself. For the determined porridge can be had, either with fresh fruit or cream and malt whiskey. The Polish twist comes on the scene, like Alfred Hitchcock, in the guise of apple pancakes made with buttermilk and served with cinnamon cream, whilst the Artisan breakfast satisfies in full the needs of those who need to come to terms with an internal mechanism that is always in need of fuel. The poached haddock and rarebit on toast topped with a fried egg drives a reasonable route between the two.

A main menu offers choice of eight starters including a grazing charcuterie board, followed by some fifteen or so main course dishes that presents grilled red mullet, Polish goulash, slow roasted confit lamb shoulder, pork and herb Sussex sausages in a Rioja, onion gravy with creamy mash, or oven roasted fillet of barramundi with artichoke, green beans and red onion dressing.

To finish? A delightful apple and rum soufflé omelette with homemade maple syrup ice cream perhaps, or some of Lou's honey comb cheesecake, back, the menu says, by popular demand. Why, one is tempted to ask, was it ever taken off? One up for Lou whoever he, or she, may be. In summer the Delight is a wonderful treat of layered mousse of blueberries and raspberries. Children have their own menu of spaghetti, minute steak, chicken, cod goujons or pork sausage with beans, followed by vanilla ice cream with raspberry or chocolate sauce.

The wine list is comparatively brief but perfectly adequate. House wines are from Sicily, after which it's anybody's turn, though I am sad to see that Poland does not have an entry here at the time of writing. Perhaps Poland is not that big on wine though some pretty fiery liqueurs emerge from those parts of the world.

For news of events, or menu changes clock on their comprehensive and easy to navigate Website.