Lark

Lark is a brilliant addition to Bury St Edmunds, which already has a strong independent food scene. I was in the area for work and took the chance to book, and I am very glad I did. The menu is full of things you genuinely want to eat, and the hardest part is deciding what to leave out. I went down the small plates route as I was dining alone and everything felt well judged and full of flavour. The house Negroni was a great start, the Wooster’s Wild sourdough with Bungay butter was excellent, and the mushroom arancini was a real highlight. The cured sea bass with blood orange and ginger was fresh and vibrant, the halibut tempura with curry sauce was beautifully balanced, and the Galician blond beef tartare with hash brown and jalapeño sour cream was outstanding. Dessert finished things off really well too. What impressed me most is that Lark manages to serve food that looks great without ever feeling style over substance. The cooking has real depth, service was friendly and professional, and the whole meal felt relaxed and well paced. One of the best meals I’ve had this year, and I would happily go back.