Sonnet

I’d been looking forward to dining here for so long that I started to worry it might not live up to expectations. As it turned out, said expectations were exceeded - by some way! For those that aren’t familiar, with a sonnet being a 14 line poem, this compact little restaurant serves a creative 14-course tasting menu to 14 guests. With so many courses, the ‘risk’ of not liking one or two increases, but hand-on-heart, I can honestly say I enjoyed them all (just some a tiny bit more than others). If I had to pick a couple of standout dishes, the pea panna cotta with smoked eel was sensational, as was the potato risotto. The two final courses (Baron Bigod, followed by a delicious bowl of passionfruit, miso and white chocolate will also stay in the memory for some time. From the moment I arrived until the door shut behind me, (over three hours later) the service was superb: friendly, attentive, informative - just the right balance, and certainly among the best I’ve experienced. The decor and relaxed vibe were equally pleasing. And, at £110 per head, for this quality, in my book that’s great value. Sonnet is listed in the Michelin guide: surely it can’t be long before the team are rewarded with a star.