Cafe Glas and The Arncliffe Arms

This is a place with a menu, and good ones at that, for each and every occasion, set amidst the stunning scenery where the Yorkshire Dales shake off their smooth rounded shapes and become more verdant and covered with trees. A separate bistro, called Café Glas, has recently opened and offers sophisticated surroundings to match its own particular style with its eye firmly fixed on the prize of two Rosettes, something of a rarity in those parts.

A delicious creamed cauliflower soup with truffle oil, confit wild mushroom butter and walnut bread makes the perfect starter, with options of Scottish smoked salmon served on toasted onion bread with wilted spinach, lentils and herbs, or seared King scallops served with a crab tartlet and a lightly curried mussel sauce.

One of the House specialities is their famous fish stew, cioppino di mare, using a recipe from San Francisco that involves a half lobster, mussels, giant tiger prawns, squid, salmon, sole and clams in a tomato and chilli broth with rice and potatoes. Pukka lamb combines pan fried scallops of lamb loin served with a fennel, sweet ginger and coriander salad, and Malaysian style sauce and with the talents available in the kitchen it would come as no surprise to see a steadily increasing level of achievement that could become a hot spot for the foodies of Yorkshire.

Turning to some of the other menus available one is immediately conscious that this is a place of versatility, starting with a breakfast menu that carries a truly noble full Yorkshire (what else?) addition to the early morning landscape, going on through Fortune's smoked haddock from Whitby, kippers, and ending with the ever popular and simple gypsy toast topped with smoked bacon.

A wide ranging bar menu offers starters of grilled sardines with tomatoes, olives, red onion and parsley, or a rocket salad with red onion, duck confit, chorizo sausage and olives. Main courses would not be complete without braised lamb shank, homemade steak and mushroom pie, Hyderadabi lamb curry, or a spinach, aubergine, pepper and artichoke tart with glazed goat's cheese.

Lunch time at the Arncliffe Arms is enlivened by sandwiches of substantial proportions which can be filled with grilled smoked bacon, tomato, lettuce and mayo; mature cheddar with red onion and sweet pickle; or carved ham, brie, tomato and basil. Linked with tankards of Beggars Bridge Bitter from Cropton Brewery the afternoons can become somewhat confused at 4.2% ABV, though Balmy Mild and Black Sheep Best can offer a more protracted road to the same end.

Afternoon tea is on the cards between 3 and 5.30pm, followed by pre-theatre Supper, before heading off down the road to the Esk Valley Theatre. The course choices are ambitious and extraordinarily good value. Should you by chance be there for Sunday lunch you have just fallen lucky, the only place I know where they get to the Yorkshire pudding before they've even left the starters,

There is here a team of able people determined to ensure that the Arncliffe Arms and Café Glas are successful and judged by early response they are off to a great start.

Keep in touch through a click on their Website, not least to keep pace with the menu changes and dates of events.