S Davies (28 January 2009)

This is a wonderful, cosy and friendly restaurant. Mr Sharpe's cooking is delightful, subtle and delicate. We had some scallops once which were sweeter and better flavoured than some we'd had at Sally Clarke's - serious praise here. A nice in-between salad arrives while you wait for main course - slightly exotic with tiny shreds of pickled ginger, and pumpkin seeds. Even side vegetables were delicious; I don't know how they make steamed vegetables, sometimes with a light sauce, taste so good. The style is vaguely modern British without any brashness, and it also has something very personal, homely and classic about it. Puddings include pastry tarts and marvellous ice creams and sorbets with delicious brandy snap baskets. Service was outstanding; have taken a pregnant friend and a friend with wheat allergy there. Susan Sharpe who heads the front of house knew that icing sugar can contain a tiny amount of flour to stop it caking, and knew immediately which ice creams had lightly cooked eggs in. Have been going for nearly 10 years; no complaints.