Restaurant at The Auberge Hotel

The Auberge started out as a rural public house providing simple food and drink to locals, but after a spot of refurbishment, it has become a charming country hotel too, ideally located for forays into Ipswich and other East Anglia towns. Their rooms are delightfully decorated, high on comfort and simple luxuries, while their restaurant is the highlight offering delicious European cuisine. The ambience is cosy and casual with beamed partitions and walls, while the menu makes the best use of fresh, local ingredients, particularly seafood.

The crayfish and prawn cocktail with avocado in a sweet chilli Marie Rose mayonnaise makes an excellent starter, followed by delectable main courses such as slow cooked belly of pork, glazed with mustard and maple syrup, served with cabbage casserole and parsnip mash. To end, there's an excellent bread and butter pudding with apricot coulis and a selection of cheese with biscuits. The wine list at The Auberge is global and extensive with over 70 bins so choosing one could be quite a task.