The Eltisley delivered on flavour and provided wow factor to our evening out

The Eltisley is nestled in the centre of the beautiful village of Eltisley on the outskirts of St Neots, and on a chilly, autumnal Tuesday evening it offered a warm and inviting welcome.

A log burning stove in the bar area, subdued lighting and friendly and attentive staff created the perfect setting to relax and ease away the tensions of the working day.

The main restaurant offers decor that is all together more elegant and extravagant and includes an outside seating area, which would have been very tempting on a warmer evening. The venue includes a number of dining rooms as well as the Grand Barn, which can be hired out for weddings and larger parties. This room comes complete with a cherubic mural that wouldn’t look out of place in a stately home, and provides an interesting talking point for diners.

Whether you want an eating-out experience, a quiet meal with friends or an opportunity to have a business gathering, The Eltisley seems to have struck the balance of being able to accommodate all.

The menu is totally gluten-free, which in my view is not only inspired, it is a sure sign of a chef who understands ingredients and textures. The grill-led menu, which includes steak and seafish, is uncomplicated, but delivers on flavours and all the dishes we sampled looked absolutely amazing, adding a dimension of fun and theatre to the meal.

The waiting staff were knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the food and on this basis we were happy to let them advise us.

My guest and I started with the sticky ribs and the vegetable tart and the only slight negative feedback I can give for the three courses is that the tart pastry was a little difficult to cut up, but other than that the food was faultless.

My main course was a perfectly cooked bream with crispy skin and moist, flaky flesh and my guest enjoyed an Off the Hook meat skewer, which as well as tasting amazing, provided wow factor to the meal.

For desert, my guest had a sweet skewer with toasted marshmallows and chocolate sauce and I had, without doubt, the best cheesecake I have ever tasted - melt in the mouth white chocolate, which was divine.

The restaurant, the latest venture from the Feast & Frolic Group, follows The Willow Tree and Number 77. The restaurant sources local ingredients and suppliers and has a good selection of wine from Cambridge Wine Merchants. There are also six bedrooms on site.

INFO: The Eltisley is at 2 The Green, Eltisley. www.feastandfrolic.co.uk/theeltisley. Call