Best Restaurant in Ipswich or surrounding area?

[Muncher]

I need to book a restaurant for a a saturday night dinner in a couple of weeks time. A mate is coming up from Essex to visit and we'd like to go somewhere nice with our partners.

Whilst we eat out semi frequently, we don't tend to go to the "nicer" places so I am looking for some suggestions. The only two that spring to mind are Le Talbooth and the Bildeston Crown, are there any others worth considering? Cost is not an issue for this one really.

[sc42]

I would recommend Mariners on Neptune Quay, a floating French Brasserie on a lovely old boat.

[Muncher]

sc42 said:

I would recommend Mariners on Neptune Quay, a floating French Brasserie on a lovely old boat.

Have been there before, the food is very good but we were thinking something different, that we wouldn't normally go to.

[slippery]

Did you change your user name to start this thread?

[Muncher]

slippery said:

Did you change your user name to start this thread?

Hahah

[slippery]

Hintlesham Hall or Seckford Hall any good these days?

[Arpa]

I haven't returned to Hintlesham recently but wasn't great when I was last there last year. Had lunch at Seckford but wasn't to the standard of Milsoms or Bildeston Crown.

If you'd consider traveling up the A140, the Bull Auberge outside Eye is very good in more classical French style and the Fox and Goose in Fressingfield is very good and inventive. A very diverse tasting menu with wine for 65gbp pp is excellent value too.

Alternatives, are Pea Porridge in Bury or maybe the Great House / Swan in Lavenham.

[slippery]

Now you come to mention it, I've heard good things about The Bull Auberge too.

[mr.man]

I've yet to try it but this place is popular and receiving
very good reviews. www.BritishLarder.co.uk
About seven miles North-East of Ipswich opposite
Woodbridge Golf Club.

[Mrs Muttleysnoop]

Give Seckford Hall a miss for a while. New General Manager "does not work there anymore". The new Champagne bar has been closed to get rid of the new black/white carpet etc.

[markCSC]

My friend (Julien Jourdain) is the head Chef at http://www.waterfrontbistroipswich.co.uk/ I haven't eaten there but I have eaten the food that he cooks and it is brilliant.

[jayemm89]

The Bildeston Crown rarely disappoints, I have only had sunday lunch at Le Talbooth but that was pretty damn good too. 50 day aged roast beef. mmmm...

[jayemm89]

Pea Porridge in bury is undergoing refurbishment otherwise I would have no hesitation in recommending - top food

[Arpa]

Mrs Muttleysnoop said:

The new Champagne bar has been closed to get rid of the new black/white carpet etc.

Glad to hear it - that room has some fantastic old paneling and features but the modern elements really weren't tasteful.

Had a Sunday Lunch in the British Larder. Food was very nice and quite inventive but lacked a little ambiance.

Kesgrave Hall, part of the Milsom's chain is just outside of Ipswich. Food is good but may be a little informal.

[Malachimon]

What about the Bencotto in felixstowe? It's the best Italian in the area

[Bartz1]

Have you tried The Ship Inn at Levington? I've been there a few times and the food is always very good.

[rscott]

The Waterfront is very good as is Bencotto. The food in Aqua 8 is superb even if it's starting to look a tiny bit scruffy.

[browny,s blower]

The Crown at Stoke-by-nayland always nice

[Bacardi]

Bartz1 said:

Have you tried The Ship Inn at Levington? I've been there a few times and the food is always very good.

Use dot be very good but the couple who used to run it left about 4 years ago, can't remember their name but they also ran the Angel at Stoke by Nayland for some years before that and it was consistently very good too. Went to Ship under new owners and it was decidedly average, to say the least.

The a Mariners is more fine dinning than posh pub grub but i find the boat is a bit old fashioned (to be expected I guess), lots of wood and not so pleasant if it's raining. The owner, Regis Crepy, also runs the Maison Bleue at Bury St Edmunds and The Great House at Lavenham http://www.greathouse.co.uk which are both highly rated but with prices to match.

I also enjoy the Bildeston Crown and The Crown at Stoke by Nayland.

Le Talbooth is more fine dinning but again a old fashioned and a bit stuffy. Just round the corner is Milsoms, a Boutique hotel and brasserie which has a fresher feel but the trouble is you can't (or you couldn't?) book a table, but personally never had a problem, maybe a small wait having drinks at the bar.

If you are prepared to go a few more miles south, I had a pleasant evening in the http://churchstreettavern.co.uk in Colchester. Nice relaxing lounge and cocktail bar downstairs and restaurant and food was reasonable, although they had only been open a week when I went, so a few teething issues. After the meal our group went downstairs again where you can play board games, Jenga etc, in the lounge, just a nice place to spend a pleasant time with friends. The guy who also runs that runs the Sun Inn Dedham which is nice pub grub.

Haven't tried it yet but there is also a new fine dinning restaurant behind the town hall http://www.memoirscolchester.co.uk which looks promising. Shame Colchester town centre is such a sh!t hole by about midnight....

If you find somewhere nice elsewhere, let us know...

[Muncher]

Thanks for the recommendations, we have booked Milsoms but will try to go to the other places mentioned another time.