Elizabeth's of Eastgate

Located in a very authentic old Tudor building in the centre of town, quoted in the Charles Dickens novel, Great Expectations as the home of Uncle Pumblechuck, this charming restaurant is the direct inheritor of Elizabeth's Tea Rooms, with its pleasing red brick and half-timbered interior. Known nowadays for its enthusiastic use of local ingredients, it has become a hub for the community who appreciate the freshness and imagination of its food.

Only two minutes walk from Rochester Cathedral and Castle, Elizabeth's also provides a suitable setting for family parties and special occasions, where reliability and quality are important.

An a la carte menu leads the way with starters of pan fried king scallops, caramelised apple and Calvados butter sauce, or roasted woodland pigeon with buttered spinach, game jus, oxtail ravioli and red wine jus.

Chateaubriand for two features largely amongst the main courses, and there is fresh Dover sole with sauté potatoes. Now that ways seem to have been found to minimise the cruelty involved in the production of veal it is good to see it creeping back on to menus. At Elizabeth's it is served with potatoes Lyonnaise, candied mushrooms and red wine jus. Scottish fillet mignon is quite hard to find and should never be confused with some of the apologies for steak that occasionally surface in less than well run places.

Garlic mushrooms, mixed salad and fresh baby spinach make attractive side orders and carry a pleasing measure of distinction.

A riot of wickedness awaits those for whom desserts are a temptation that just cannot be passed by. Chocolate St  Emilion, vanilla Anglaise and hazelnut ice cream is the first shot across the bows, but it only gets better, going on through vanilla crème brûlée and finishing up with a final punch to the solar plexus just in case you're still up and running - yes, you've guessed, crèpes Suzette.

A table d'hôte menu offers incredibly good value from a choice of five starters, including honey roast duck breast with red onion marmalade, and five main courses where you can find grilled English rump of lamb with colcannon and rosemary jus.

Every so often a pre-booked gourmet evening is offered. After an appetiser French onion soup with parmesan crouton is served, followed by coquille St Jacques, with a lemon sorbet to prepare the palate for the big event, which on the occasion I have in mind was new season rack of lamb, new potatoes, green bean ragout and a port and Stilton jus. What better celebration of early summer in England could there be?

After a modest crème brûlée a pudding of fresh red berries arrives, to be followed by cafetière coffee and home made chocolate truffles.

Whilst not familiar with Elizabeth's cellars I imagine them to be some subtly dry, as only proper cellars can be, with that aroma around and a stable temperature that moves no more than within 4 degrees maximum. Certainly what comes out of it is satisfying and in some cases quite adventurous. It has certainly not been selected by anyone but a dedicated lover of the grape.

Their Website is clear and easy to use - click on it for further in formation, particularly about gourmet nights and other events.