Capanna, La

Restaurant Manager Honza 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 the 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.

Head Chef Matthew Crook, who trained under Marco Pierre White, works on three main menus, the table d'hôte, the Sunday lunch and La Capanna's special menu, described here. Start with antipasto La Capanna which is a selection of seafood specialities, or foie gras and green peppercorn terrine with a pear and golden raisin compôte, seared scallops with marinated beetroot and sweetcorn purée. Seasonal house specialities include seafood salad with fresh octopus, smoked salmon involtino, English asparagus wrapped in Parma ham and served with Parmesan cheese. The imaginative pasta selection includes corrali with fresh tiger prawns, red pesto, pine nuts and chilli and ravioli of fresh Cornish crab with a lobster and chervil velouté.

Like so many Italian restaurants the emphasis on fish is marked and a grilled Dover sole with lemon, seasonal tender broccoli and Jersey Royal potatoes, fillet of monkfish with a vine cherry tomato risotto and  chive olive oil emphasises the point. Fillet of beef wrapped in smoked Italian ham, fresh sauté spinach and gratin potato or rack of new season lamb with Spring green beans, fondant potato and a balsamic sauce 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, chocolate fondant and mango parfait with orange and star anise jelly. There is also a fine board of Italian cheeses such as tallagio, pecorino barolo and dolcelatte, to name but a few.

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, with ticket prices starting from £45.

For further details, do consult their comprehensive Website.