Doughty's Brasserie

Doughty's Brasserie is a delightful and interesting addition to the eating out scene in Hitchin, somewhere not exactly over-endowed with good places to go; however, Adrian and Victoria Doughty have brought their thirty five years of experience at such excellent places as the renowned Sheene Mill or the Haycock Hotel to creating this haven of excellence.

Doughty's is set in an attractive listed building at 87 Bancroft, and specialises in providing contemporary dining in a friendly and informal atmosphere. Being owner run their approach is an extremely flexible one, meaning that you can drop into their lounge for just a drink or a coffee, or a full meal at lunch and dinner.

At lunchtime they offer a simpler menu with organic baguettes, filled with choices like Atlantic prawn and avocado or roasted vegetables and creamy roquefort cheese, served with hand cut chips and salad or paninis with Parma ham, rocket pesto and mozzarella cheese or mozzarella cheese, vine tomatoes and basil, as well as enjoying more substantial meals like crab, spring onion and ginger spring rolls and a chilli dipping sauce or sautéed chicken liver and bacon salad, baby tomatoes and red onions to start - or finish if you are wanting to eat lightly - and seared fillets of red mullet, black olive potatoes, tomato dressing and wilted rocket or fillet of beef stroganoff, herbed rice and mange tout.

In the evening Adrian lets his creative juices run riot and you could begin with smoked chicken and avocado tian, crispy polenta and basil oil or seared spice beef, peanut dressing, radish and herb salad followed by breast of duck with celeriac puree, curly kale, baby carrots and blackcurrant sauce or pan fried halibut fillet, fondant potato, creamed leeks and red wine butter sauce.

But don't go overboard as you have to save room for his thoroughly tempting selection of desserts like iced tiramisu parfait, amaretto biscuits and chocolate sauce; classic glazed lemon tart, raspberry compote and crème fraiche or vanilla crème brûlée with rum soaked fruits - all sounding too good to miss.