Old Counting House, The

Suffolk is crammed full of quaint old houses in a wide variety of settings, from deepest rural to tight urban, that say a lot about this quiet county, rich in charm. They do not come much more attractive than The Old Counting House in Haughley, just outside Stowmarket, and a real haven for those who like their wining and dining to be done amongst 14th century antiquity. Not that there is anything ancient about the cooking, far from it. Jenny and Eric, who ensure that the quality of the building is up to the same mark when it comes to the food, pride themselves on a menu that derives from years of travel and experience.

So what might one expect to find at this warm and welcoming restaurant? An a la carte menu, which is reviewed every three months, offers starters that could include beef teriyaki - sliced prime fillet with teriyaki sauce and garnish, beef carpaccio topped with balsamic vinegar, pine nuts, sun-dried tomatoes, pesto and parmesan cheese or truffle and mushroom risotto - creamy risotto rice with truffles and mushrooms.

Food from the oceans is very popular here, and it was a pleasant surprise to find the traditional pan fried fresh whole Dover sole with hot parsley butter and new potatoes plus a good range of other interesting fish dishes. Carnivores however are not forgotten, far from it - amongst a wide selection of meat, poultry and game is prime British beef fillet steak, cooked just how you like it - with smoked bacon, port sauce and potato gratin. For the vegetarians amongst us, there's an impressive offering of suitable dishes throughout the menus, as to, for those wishing to venture into trying a dish or two with international influence, you will not be disappointed.