The Green Man at Lindsell

Driving through the countryside, past the corn fields of rural Essex, we made our way to The Green Man near the tiny village of Lindsell. As we approached, we admired its pretty frontage and looked forward to seeing what awaited us inside. Despite its age, this well-appointed pub, with ancient wooden beams and low ceilings, boasts a stylish, modern and fresh-looking interior, and the atmospheric restaurant overlooks a splendid, well-kept garden area, complete with picnic benches and an oversized chess game.

The menu here is quintessentially British with a modern twist. To start, our beautifully light goat's cheese panna cotta with watercress, beet salad and toasted ciabatta, and salt-and-pepper squid with sticky chilli and coriander jam both went down a storm. After such an exceptional start, the main course had a hard act to follow, but it more than lived up to the preceding dishes. My choice was the deliciously pink roast breast of duck with silky smooth mashed potato, baby onions, pancetta and spring greens, while my partner's grilled lobster Thermidor, served with wonderful triple-cooked chips and a fresh house salad, was simply sensational.

Our desserts really stole the show: heavenly chocolate cheesecake with white chocolate and raspberry ice cream, which tasted even better than it looked, and a generous serving of lemon and raspberry creme brulée with homemade shortbread biscuit