Beresfords at The Balmer Lawn Hotel

The Lunch Specials menu has choices of 5 dishes for starters, mains and puds, three courses for £17.50 or two courses for £13.50. A party of five of us made the following choices.

Our starters: Goats cheese & wild mushroom tart with salted walnut salad, Home cured salmon gravadlax with chive crème fraiche and walnut bread, Poached ham and parsley terrine with truffle dressing.

Our mains: Filet of grey mullet confit garlic with crushed potato and pesto, Wild mushroom tagliatelle with shaved parmesan and truffle oil, Risotto of queen scallops and pancetta.

Our desserts puds: Apple and ginger crumble with vanilla bean ice cream, Chocolate griottes cherry torte with clotted cream, Blueberry Lime tart tatin chantilly cream finally a selection of house cheeses.

All in all a tasty experience! Servings were adequate and the only complaint was that the risotto was considered rather salty risotto, it was probably the pancetta. We enjoyed a bottle of Pino Grigio @£15.50. Nice touch, tap water was served in glass stopper bottles.

The service was very good and the restaurant has a feeling of elegance.

This is a wonderful location for a weekend break - check out their offers on www.balmerlawnhotel.com for a little luxury in the heart of the New Forest.

Quality of food 4/5

Variety of menu 3/5

Staff & Service 4/5

Ambience, setting and decor 4/5

Value for money 3/5

Total Yummy Factor 18/25

Report JI

5/5 = Cannot be improved upon, 4/5 = Very good, 3/5 = Good, 2/5 = Satisfactory, 1/5 = Poor, 0/5 = Terrible

I visited Beresfords twice in the week leading up to Christmas. The first occasion was on Sunday lunch time and we were a party of 15. We all received a warm welcome and were offered drinks in the lounge area. The staff were all attentive giving efficient and friendly service.

We ate off the excellent value for money Sunday lunch menu at £15.95 for 3 courses! An example of this menu is on their website. I started with Wild Rocket and Pecorino Cheese Salad with Balsamic Glazed Figs and followed with Roast Sirloin of Beef. The starter was very good and the beef delicious. Lovely Yorkshire puddings and extra dishes of gravy were placed on the table; a small moan, I wish the sprouts could have been cooked a tad more. I finished my meal with the Cheese Platter which was so generous, and served with grapes and celery, that I was able to share it.

After enjoying our Sunday lunch so much I was lucky to secure a Wednesday booking for a family gathering of 7. Once again the service was faultless, the food delicious, the wine not too pricey and we all had a good time!

I must mention the Apple Crumble which was a whole baked apple with crumble topping served with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream; although I didn't eat it everyone who did thoroughly enjoyed it and it was certainly a new take on the usual crumble.

We do find that some upmarket restaurants are a little intimidating; no such worries here, Vincent and his staff make you feel very welcome and as the food is such amazing value for money I highly recommend!