Best informal dining venue
This is a new category for 2008, created to recognise the growing trend of café bars, bistros and brasserie style dining venues which offer daytime and/or evening trade.
Judges will be looking in particular at the following:
- Use of locally sourced produce
- Offering a good menu selection, appealing to all age groups, containing a variety of dishes, including a daily specials/seasonal menu variation
- A variety of drinks to complement menu
- Presentation of food
- Value for money
- A warm and friendly welcome which exceeds the expectation of the customers
- Staff awareness of menu(s) and as appropriate, an ability to explain the locality and choice of the ingredients
- Meeting customer needs, both in the production of the food and in the service area
Shortlisted entries
Shortlisted entries
Edwards and Blake @ Atlantic Health & Spa, Cavendish
Using local suppliers, Edwards and Blake contract caterers look after the informal dining at the Atlantic Health & Spa. Offering freshly made to order breakfasts and snacks, with an ever ready range of homemade cakes available. Situated between two old converted farm barns, with courtyard seating and parasols – perfect for a summer day with a chilled glass of wine.
Houghton Hall, Cavendish, Sudbury CO10 8BW
01787 279009
Hall Farm Café Restaurant, Stratford St Mary
Opened in July 2006 as a natural extension of the already successful Farm Shop, Hall Farm Café Restaurant is situated within a converted 16th century cattle byre on a working farm. With menu ranges from sandwiches and scones to a three course a la carte, Hall Farm use their home produced beef, lamb and alongside masses of locally produced ingredients – every dish is prepared fresh to order.
Hall Farm Café Restaurant, Hall Farm, Stratford St Mary, Suffolk CO7 6LS
01206 323176
Samford Restaurant, Suffolk Food Hall, Ipswich
Taking great pride in their use of local, seasonal produce the menu at the Samford Restaurant changes according to taste and availability on a daily basis. Situated within the Suffolk Food Hall, this restaurant offers great versatility – open all day for breakfast, brunch, morning coffee, lunch and afternoon tea with three eating areas to choose from – the upstairs restaurant, the buzzy coffee shop and the outside area with childrens playground overlooking farmland.
Samford Restaurant, Suffolk Food Hall, Wherstead, Ipswich IP9 2AB
01473 786616
The Grid, Bury St Edmunds
Having opened in December 2003, The Grid is housed within a 16th century building following a sympathetic renovation. Offering modern internationally influenced food, there is a wide menu choice with a clear evidence of local sourcing. There are separate menus for both daytime and evening dining which are changed every three months to reflect seasonal varieties.
The Grid Restaurant, 34 Abbeygate Street, Bury St Edmunds IP33 1LW
01284 706004
The Orchard Room, Thurston
Situated within Harveys Garden Plants this café/restaurant opened in 2007 and has fast gained a reputation for serving freshly prepared, seasonal food, much of which is grown at the nursery or locally sourced. The menu is changed weekly to reflect the produce available, and as such, the team at the Orchard Room are constantly developing and innovating new recipes for their customers.
The Orchard Room, Great Green, Thurston, Bury St Edmunds IP31 3SJ
01359 233363
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