Restaurant-Guide.com
hand picked restaurants

Located on the gateway to Wales in the valleys of the Usk and the Wye this handsome house offers a menu which ranges the culinary spectrum and could include white onion and Guinness soup, followed by seared halibut with a herb crust and a light mussel jus tinged with Noilly Prat. To round off the meal a pear William and Armagnac bavarois with a fruit Feuillentine and Mirabelle. The menu changes daily. There is a well travelled wine list with a selection of house wines at £16.

This much-awarded pub/restaurant manages successfully to be all things to all people. So you won't find the locals grumbling about the foodies, some of whom are quite likely to be found sampling the excellent beers that are kept before they sit down to discover what Andrew and Sarah Canning have on offer for them. This might include black pasta with cockles and bacon. A real touch of genius is the Carribbean fruit curry with prawns, combining all the flavours of a gifted curry without losing the delicate qualities of the prawns. An enterprising wine list with good low-cost choices and ten house wines at £11.95 or £2.20 a glass.

Nestling in the Monmouthshire hamlet of Bettws Newydd near the river Usk with beautiful views to Sugarloaf and the Black Mountains, The Black Bear Inn is tucked well away from the bustle of city life. Add to this a bill of fare featuring fish, game and hearty soups, and a selection of wine, spirits, cider and beer with cask ales from Wye Valley inclusive of Butty Bach.

Do not ask what is on the menu when you make your reservation as it changes everyday. But with a bit of luck you could be in line for garlic snails, grilled sardines or Black Bear mixed starter plate. Medallions of venison with red currants, port and cream could follow, or perhaps fillets of sole resting on a bed of tomato and pesto topped with garlic and melted cheese.

Other added attractions nearby include yew trees that are believed to be around 4000 years old.