As regular diners at this excellent restaurant, it is a delight to find new and unusual dishes on the menu. On a recent visit, after relaxing in the lounge bar, we each began our meal with a whole pear poached in special reserve port, stuffed with a Devon Blue cheese mousse and served on a celeriac coleslaw salad. It was delicious and we could overhear appreciative comments from other diners with the same choice. To follow, I had prime fillet of West Country pork roasted in fresh garden herbs, with caraway cabbage and a butterbean puree, drizzled with herb butter. The combination of flavours was inspired. My husband chose a classic chicken pie with puff pastry with a creamy sauce which looked, and, I was assured, was delicious. These were accompanied by new potatoes and a dish of broccoli, swede and carrots. All ingredients are freshly sourced and prepared by chefs Stuart and Andrew each day.
The desserts are all homemade and we both indulged in crème caramel, although, as my husband was diabetic, he was offered a freshly made fruit salad! To round off our repast, a cappuccino and, for me, a decaffeinated double espresso, were just the thing.
Several of the other diners took the opportunity to enjoy the evening sun in the tranquil walled garden of Manor Cottage.
The proprietors, Anita and Stuart, deserve congratulations for the standards they have achieved in just over one year, and we look forward to many more superb meals and congenial company at the Manor Cottage Restaurant.