The Salmon Inn

Just 1 mile from Berkeley, this delightfully typical, oak beamed old English restaurant wallows in a country pub, family atmosphere that you can feel the moment you arrive. Over 200 years old and retaining much of its original charm, this pub-cum-restaurant has a menu to please all tastes without succumbing to the exotic and expensive pretence of sophisticated cuisine that many such restaurants mistakingly display.

On our visit light music was playing in the background and the room was comfortably busy.

It is always difficult - and risky - to keep a menu simple without appearing down-market. At the Salmon Inn, however, they have achieved this highly evasive excellence, with the added compliment of good wine and service.

A small doubt entered my mind as we sat down noticing immediately that the starters were limited to just six simple choices. But I need not have worried. Excellently prepared and served, my choice of Deep Fried Camembert at £3.95 was well up to the best standard.

Main courses, generally traditional British with the odd popular continental option, offer an extensive choice, including four of the more popular vegetarian dishes. On our visit I chose the Steak & Kidney Pie with Boiled Potatoes at £6.95 - I asked for the pastry lid to put on the side of the plate, which they obligingly did - and it was one of the very best I have experienced. My guest, still a little uncomfortable, was nonetheless well pleased with the Spinach & Mushroom Lasagne with a generous mixed salad at £6.45.

The wine list is small but selective, ranging in price from £7.65 for the house wines to £11.00 for a bottle of Chablis. And Moet et Chandon at £29.95 is also available for that special occasion.

Finding such good food and wine on a Sunday evening is never easy, but I found the journey to The Salmon well worth the effort and will most certainly return.