Frankmac (13 December 2011)

Absolutely outstanding lunch. Marvellous hosts with all courses presented immaculately. The food was out of this world and the flavour of the sauce was heaven. The souffle I had for dessert was beautiful and all this for just £24. I have been charged £16 for 'pub grub'. Fine dining for £8 more, there is no contest. Will make sure I am a regular now, especially when friends come to stay.

Steve H (14 April 2007)

"La Potiniere and Friends" is a rather iconic cook book for me but alas David and Hilary Brown had left by the time we were able to make it up to East Lothian (we're from Herts). So, we passed it by for a few years until realising that the word-on-the-street was that the place was as good, and possibly better, than before under new owners Keith Marley and Mary Runciman. Buoyed up by this news, we arranged a lunch-time visit April 2007 when up on holiday with the kids. We 'phoned in advance and were made to feel extremely welcome with children, to the extent that we were contacted in advance with menu details to check that the kids would be OK with the food. Excellent.

Luncheon day duly arrived and this is merely to record that the food was spectacular, and really quite astonishing when the price is taken into account (a measly £20 for 3 courses with coffee). A carrot and ginger mousse with carrot sorbet was subtle and well-balanced. Roast guinea-fowl was black-truffled and morelled to take the dish beyond the ordinary. A rhubarb tart with sorbet was easily the best expression of this plant we'd yet come across. The kids loved it as well, service was attentive, and we were made to feel most welcome. The last restaurant we'd eaten at was The Fat Duck and we're delighted to say that we enjoyed our time at La Potiniere equally as much. It doesn't aspire to the three-starred high table of gastronomy like the Bray establishment but, for fine dining at a reasonable price, we've never had better in the UK. We will be returning...again and again I suspect.