ESSENTIAL LIVING EATING OUT
Eating Out Nicholas Rudd-Jones picks out the best establishments for every occasion
STAMFORD AND SURROUNDING VILLAGES
licence, but you are still free to take your favourite bottle of wine if you wish. Relaxed, informal and well cooked local produce make this establishment a delight. Great ambience
Our top pick Assiette NEW 8-9 St Paul’s St, Stamford, PE9 2BE Tel: 01780 489071 www.assietterestaurant.co.uk Twitter: @AssietteRstrant A serious new food establishment, transforming in one feel swoop the Stamford eating out scene. Head chef and owner Dameon Clarke cooks with panache and inventiveness, supported by a strong wine list and agreeable ambience. You really need to give it a try; it bears comparison with Hambleton Hall and The Olive Branch.
Best food Jim’s Yard, Stamford International cuisine 3 Ironmonger St, Stamford, PE9 1PL Opening times: Tue-Sat lunch and dinner Tel: 01780 756080 www.jimsyard.biz Simple classic dishes using top ingredients, and a relaxing atmosphere where people feel they can come anytime and not just on a special occasion. Owned and run with great passion by Sharon and James Trevor. The courtyard is a lovely summer spot for lunch. The Barn Restaurant Old Barn Passage, St Mary’s Street, Stamford PE9 2HG Tel: 01780 489169 A strong new arrival on the Stamford restaurant scene, doing classic cooking well and creating a fine dining ambience with good service. Continues to get lots of good reviews. David Waycott, who owns it, is a veteran of the Stamford restaurant scene. A happy diner commented: “A great discovery, a welcome addition to the Stamford dining scene and a must for a special occasion. We will definitely be back.” The Fine Food Store Bistro 37 St Mary’s St, Stamford, PE9 2YQ Tel: 01780 754222 www.thefinefoodstore.com Wed-Sun 7pm onwards The Fine Food Bistro now has its own alcohol
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The George Hotel, Stamford Traditional English (main restaurant) and Brasseriestyle (Garden Room) 71 High St, St Martin’s, Stamford, PE9 2LB Opening times: every day, Lunch and Dinner Tel: 01780 750750 www.georgehotelofstamford.com If you mention to people you live in Stamford, sooner or later they say “oh, yes we’ve stopped at the George, a lovely place.” And, so it is. Whether you want the more traditional food and service of the main restaurant or the more informal cuisine provided by the Garden Lounge, it’s always a pleasure. In the summer, try and bag a table in the courtyard. Seafood is especially good. The Crown Hotel, Stamford Modern English Food All Saints’ Place, Stamford, PE9 2AG Opening times: every day, lunchtimes and evenings Tel: 01780 763136 www.thecrownhotelstamford.co.uk There is a new chef at The Crown Hotel, Ray Smikle, formerly of The Falcon in Fotheringhay and The George at Buckden. He brings a wealth of experience and inventive cooking and we are expecting good things. Garden House Hotel, Stamford Modern English High St, St Martin’s, Stamford, PE9 2LP Opening times: Lunch every day, dinner Mon-Sat Tel: 01780 763359 www.gardenhousehotel.com The Garden House is such a reassuringly comfy place, with a log fire in the winter and a delightful private garden on a summer’s evening – the conservatory is one of the pleasantest places to eat in Stamford. The recently re-furbished main dining room offers classic cooking, and received a strong review on our last visit earlier in the year. Ethnic mix Bombay Cottage Indian Cuisine 52 Scotgate, Stamford, PE9 2YQ Opening times: every day, lunchtime and evenings Tel: 01780 480138 The Bombay Cottage stands out for its interesting menu, fresh ingredients and dishes with distinct flavours and aroma. Mr Pang’s Chinese Cuisine 1 Cheyne Lane, Stamford, PE9 2AX Tel: 01780 766508
A stylish restaurant with good food, notably the crispy duck. Famed for its Sunday lunch buffet, very popular with families and very good value. Orchid Thai 43 St. Mary’s Street, PE9 2DS Tel: 01780 757291 Delightfully and freshly cooked Thai food in very unassuming surroundings. Also offer takeaway service. Favourite Italian Cloisters Italian Pasta & pizzas 9 St Mary’s St, Stamford, PE9 2DE Opening times: Lunch Tue-Sun 12-2.30, Evening – 7 days 6pm onwards Tel: 01780 755162 www.cloistersbistro.com This fun Italian establishment hits the spot. Great value, great ambience, great hospitality. Highly recommended. Diner comment: “Their pizzas are fabulous especially the pollo dolce, great for lunchtime get togethers with friends. A friendly family-run business.” Pubs we like Blue Bell Easton-on-the-Hill 9 High St, Easton-on-the-Hill, PE9 3LR Tel: 01780 763003 Alex and Cinzia Rambaldi offer fresh, nononsense Italian food whilst retaining a village pub atmosphere. Very popular with the locals, and a great stopping-off place on a walk. The Bull & Swan at Burghley NEW High Street St Martin’s, Stamford, PE9 2LJ Tel: 01780 766412 www.thebullandswan.co.uk Totally revitalised by the Hillbrooke Group and re-opened last winter, it’s now often heaving on a weekend evening. Food here gets the thumbs up and there’s also an outdoor space for those hot balmy evenings that we’re all looking forward to. A contented local says: “Even though I have to walk past four other pubs to get there, the Bull & Swan is now officially my local.” Exeter Arms, Easton-on-the Hill NEW AA Rosette 21 Stamford Road, Easton-on-the Hill, PE9 3NS Tel: 01780 756321 www.theexeterarms.net When Mick Thurlby does something he always does it well, and the Exeter Arms is no exception. Completely and sensitively re-furbished (including putting the bar back to where it had been originally), there is an extensive and flexible restaurant and bar menu. A diner commented: “The pub has been sympathetically renovated and there is something on the menu to suit everybody, from reasonably-priced sandwiches to fine dining.”
ESSENTIAL LIVING 2011
EL 11 EATING OUT.indd 2
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