Picture House, The

This restaurant, which was formerly a cinema hall, cannot be missed by those visiting the historic town of Ruthin. With great views and a tasteful refurbishment, which maintains the original qualities of the interior, in particular by highlighting the art deco features, it presents a unique ambience begging to be experienced. Diners entering The Picture House are at first amazed by the space it offers, with its high ceiling, wooden beams and large windows, then, as they walk through to the bar, they are exposed to wonderful panoramic vistas of the countryside.

The bar is trendy with leather bar stools and a glossy counter, while the courtyard is a splendid spot to bask in the sun. The lounge area features comfortable sofas to enjoy aperitifs before moving to the dining area. With a setting created with care and style you are assured of a relaxing time and memorable gastronomic delights.

As you browse the menu you will realize that it is predominantly Welsh and British, but also sports dishes from other regions. So you could wander away from the ordinary and order something like roasted rack of Cajun spiced spare ribs; chicken korma with fluffy white rice and mango chutney or even shredded hot crispy duck with hoi sin sauce, pak choi, sweet chilli and noodles. Side orders of chips, new potatoes, buttered mash, panache of market vegetables and baby gem lettuce with Caesar dressing accompany the main courses.

If you are in the mood for lighter fare, a range of sandwiches such as grilled chicken with plum tomatoes, mayonnaise and iceberg lettuce or maple glazed goats cheese with sweet onion chutney are on hand to delight your taste buds at lunchtime.

For real foodies a three or four course meal there reveals the culinary skills of the chefs, who go to great lengths to create original, distinct flavours using mainly local produce. The other praiseworthy factor is the nature of the front-of-house staff who extend a warm welcome and ensure that you have a pleasant time with friendly, efficient and unobtrusive service.

As a start to a really special dinner, the devilled lamb hearts with sautéed sweet breads, watercress salad and soda bread is both inventive and different, then move on to pan-fried fillet of local Welsh beef with creamed parsnips with potato, homemade chicken liver pate, garlic crouton and red wine sauce. A lemon posset served with sweet home-made shortbread and fresh strawberries for dessert could provide a sweet ending to a delightful experience.

The wine list features both old and new world, displaying particular fondness for European labels. So don't miss the main feature at The Picture House and find out what's playing there on their Website.