This week, Pub Grubber pops into the Comfy Duck, at the Oaklands Hall Hotel, Laceby, to see what this award-winning restaurant has to offer.
THE Comfy Duck restaurant recently scooped its second AA Rosette – putting it on the eating out map.
But would it win the battle of our stomachs?
Myself and my girlfriend trekked out on an icy Sunday evening to sample the delights of the eatery at the Oaklands Hall Hotel, Laceby.
Much has changed at the hotel since I spent a summer working behind the bar as an eager young student in the late 2000s.
For starters, the Comfy Duck restaurant has been created.
It sits just inside the entrance at the grand old hotel, where once stood a large reception area. With modern decor it makes for a welcoming and cosy venue.
As we eyed up the menu, our eyes were drawn to the 2015 What's On guide. It included a plethora of events including murder mystery night, live movies on the lawn and more. It seems there is plenty happening in this corner of North East Lincolnshire.
The friendly waitress showed us the main menu as well as the two two-course meals and a bottle of wine for £30 menu.
For two people, to eat out at an award-winning restaurant, we thought the latter represented outstanding value.
We both opted for the beef bourguignon, which came with dauphinoise potatoes and green beans.
But before that, we were each handed broccoli soup, served in a curious espresso-style mug with a piece of warm bread. It was a pleasant appetiser.
I wasn't finished with liquid dishes yet, as I ordered the potato and fennel soup for my starter, which appeared to be hotter than the sun. I had to let it cool for a good ten minutes before I could tuck in. But it was a treat.
My girlfriend's healthy eating kick meant she was forced to have the melon starter. Despite gazing jealously at my soup, she said her fruity dish went down well.
We received our main courses in good time and were not surprised to see, for a top restaurant, that portions appeared small.
But we needn't have feared, as there was plenty to fill us both. The beef was tender and tasty, and the potatoes were creamy and delicious, as was the red wine sauce that accompanied the meal.
We both left only a small amount of the beef fat on our wooden plates.
My girlfriend admitted it was the best meal she had eaten for many a year. High praise indeed.
And our heavily-laden stomachs meant puddings were very much off the menu.
We paid the bill, a very reasonable £33, for two courses each, a bottle of Rose wine which we took home, and a glass of Diet Coke apiece.
The food is top quality, and staff at the Comfy Duck are friendly and efficient.
It shows you don't need to travel far for top-notch food.
The restaurant has already scooped The Journal's Restaurant Of The Year Readers' Choice Award for 2013 and took first place in The Lincolnshire Life County Cuisine Taste Of Excellence Awards 2012-13.
It has two AA Rosettes, joining the restaurant elite, as well as stacks of other, well-deserved, gongs.
Give it a try, you might be pleasantly surprised.
