Restaurant Manager Bernardo takes great delight in presenting a wide ranging menu of traditional Italian cooking in the rustic surroundings of a 16th century farmhouse, itself built from the remaining timbers of a 16th century trading ship. Seldom can there have been such a pleasing combination of skills, well summed by David Billington in Hello magazine, "La Capanna must be the prettiest interior of any restaurant I have ever dined in".

To make the experience even more pleasing there is a choice of four places in which to eat, each with its own appeal. First the Dining Room, with its high ceiling and an art collection of note, then the Conservatory which has a slightly more modern look and is full of natural light.

Thirdly you have the Minstrel Gallery, which sits above the main dining area, and is perfect for a private family engagement. Finally you have the Italian Garden, perfect for those warm summer evenings with its wonderful array of wild life calling the garden 'home' and the beautiful vine nestling in the corner, takes you back to a Tuscan home.

The kitchen team works on three main menus, the set lunch menu, the Sunday lunch and the à la carte, described here. Start with antipasto La Capanna which is a selection of seafood specialities, or seared scallops with pickled beetroot and a sweetcorn buerre noisette.

Seasonal house specialities include seafood salad with sun blushed tomatoes, chilli, garlic and olive oil, and English asparagus wrapped in Parma ham and served with Parmesan cheese. The imaginative pasta selection includes tiger prawn spaghettini chilli garlic, and confit duck ravioli with a Jerusalem artichoke velouté.

Like so many Italian restaurants the emphasis on fish is marked and a grilled Dover sole arrives with seasonal vegetables and roasted garlic potatoes, while filet of poached halibut is accompanied by olive oil, withered spinach, caviar and beurre blanc. Fillet of beef with fresh sauté spinach and gratin potato, or rack of lamb with pea purée, baby carrots, fondant potato and a rosemary and balsamic jus says it for the carnivores.

The selection of desserts follow the Italian fashion with richness and extravagance that rounds the occasion off in style that leaves your enjoyment in a state of perfection. Choose from a selection which includes tiramisu with Tia Maria, blueberry cheesecake with honeycomb and blueberry sorbet or dark chocolate fondant with raspberries. There is also a fine board of Italian cheeses served with grapes, wheat crackers and walnut and raisin bread.

The wine list is designed to suit all pockets with a fine array of Italian regional wines, complimented by an international range of quality bins professionally collected together.

Musical evenings of a very high standard are frequent occurrences at La Capannna, usually taking the form of an evening of sumptuous food and quality entertainment.

For further details, do consult their comprehensive Website.