The Windmill

Located among the thatched stonewall cottages of Orton Waterville, The Windmill pub and restaurant is a contemporary venue housed in a traditional building, with timeless style and a welcoming atmosphere.

The fi rst thing to strike us upon arrival was the impressive size of The Windmill, which features two entrances leading to the spacious bar and dining areas respectively. The bar is smart and modern - the perfect setting to catch up with friends over drinks - while the restaurant, with grand, feature walls and plush furnishings, is reminiscent of an upmarket London pub. A great venue for a meal with the whole family, The Windmill has an extensive children's menu and large play area at the back. Business lunches are also popular here - the prompt service making it great for those on the go.

All our food was artistically presented and of the highest quality. To begin, I chose the pork liver paté which came with toast and sweet caramelised onion chutney. This was followed by one of the chef's specialities: whole rainbow trout on a bed of wilted spinach, accompanied by prawns and garlic butter - a wonderful seafood feast. My partner's starter of crayfi sh cocktail preceded what proved to be some of the most delicious lamb we've ever tasted - Suffolk rump with puy lentils and a gorgeous rosemary and red wine sauce. Fi nally, the lemon cheesecake provided a refreshing end to our fantastic meal. There is a wide selection of dishes to choose from, including thoughtful vegetarian and gluten-free dishes.

Landlords John and Christine took over The Windmill at the start of October and work closely with restaurant manager, Steve, to build on The Windmill's success. Having met with all three after dinner, we found out that The Windmill regularly hosts pub quizzes and live entertainment, including a guest pianist who plays in the restaurant every Sunday. Steve has exciting plans for themed menu evenings, while John is passionate about the real ales at the bar, regularly selecting new guest ales for his patrons to sample. The award-winning Windmill is a hub of activity; we'd recommend checking their website or following them on Facebook and Twitter so that you can keep up to date with their busy calendar.