Cafés & Bistro

 

Last month The Lawns Wine Bar and Hotel in Holt celebrated its first birthday (a year on since a major transformation saw luxury and style increased throughout) with a BBQ and Jazz evening. Now The Lawns is eager to let everyone know about its fabulous wine bar and dining room (whether you’re staying at the hotel or not). We dropped by recently to sample the fare and discovered that The Lawns is a pretty formidable eatery in its own right.

We stopped by one mid-week lunchtime and sat in the ‘snug’ adjacent to the bar (at The Lawns, you have the choice of a slightly more ‘formal’ dining area or you can choose to take your food and drink in the bar, the conservatory or outside in the pretty garden). Throughout, The Lawns is immaculate and tastefully decorated in what you could call ‘rustic country chic’ - wood furniture, warm colours, complementary art. There were a few other diners when we arrived (including a group that looked like they were involved in some sort of business meeting-cum-lunch) and the atmosphere was very serene and peaceful.

 

 

Traditional

Served at lunchtime and in the evening, all year round, you have the choice of a good ‘standard’ menu that is not overly complicated and features a selection of simple, traditional favourites, as well as a ‘Specials’ menu that changes regularly. Head Chef Nick Hare has won several awards both locally and internationally and uses high-quality locally sourced ingredients extensively.

To start I choose garlic bread (not very adventurous, but a favourite of mine), actually from the ‘Sides’ selection. When it arrives it comes with a finger bowl and lemon, which is a nice, uncommon touch. My Partner keeps the side up by ordering Cream of Broccoli and Binham Blue Soup from the Specials board. The staff are very polite and attentive and as we eat, the gentle hum of conversation in the bar area increases as other diners come in.

 

 

For our main courses, I choose the Wild Mushroom Risotto (available in two sizes, I opt for the smaller size, as I usually find that risotto can be heavy and often very filling). When it arrives, the portion size is perfect for me and it smells delicious. In contrast to past risotto-based experiences it is ‘just right’ - tasty and satisfying without being overly stodgy.

My Partner goes for the Gnocchi (homemade and not over-processed) with wild Mushrooms, Spinach and Binham Blue Sauce, which he enjoyed thoroughly.

All our food is beautifully presented and with perfect portion sizes, nothing was left!

 

 

Recipient of 2-AA Rosettes for culinary excellence, we naturally had high hopes for our dining experience at The Lawns. We were not disappointed. The menu is well priced, with something to suit all tastes (there is plenty for veggie diners and those with smaller or larger appetites, and Children can take half portions of most of the dishes for a reduced price). The Lawns itself provides a lovely, peaceful environment in which to eat and the staff are extremely friendly and helpful. The location of the Hotel in a Georgian house (with its own car park) in the centre of the charming North Norfolk town of Holt is also a great feature - being ideal for further exploration of the surrounding area that includes Wells, Blakeney and Cley. Perfect for lunch when enjoying a day out in North Norfolk or an evening meal at the end of the day, The Lawns is a great example of delightful Norfolk hospitality at its best.

 

 

The Lawns.

26 Station Road, Holt, Norfolk, NR25 6BS.

Tel: 01263 713390.