Just outside the village centre of Assington, The Case Restaurant with rooms

is conveniently situated. Stephanie Mackentyre reveals what it has to offer.

LYING just outside the village centre of Assington, along the A134 just four miles from Sudbury, The Case Restaurant with Rooms is conveniently situated. There’s limited parking at the front of the restaurant, but plenty more is available as you drive through wrought iron gates at the side and around the back which abuts rolling fields.

Inside, The Case has a modern yet cosy ambience with cream and chocolate d�cor, high-backed leather seating and black ash tables with smart, white, square tableware. There’s also a welcoming bar area with sofas so you can relax while you peruse the menu. The restaurant is open plan but cleverly divided with some clear glass partitioning and there’s a conservatory area at the rear of the restaurant for a more relaxed style of dining.

The menu has some great British classics; game casserole with thyme dumplings caught my eye, as did the venison trio which included steak, sausage and liver. However, it was the beef Wellington I finally chose with smoked haddock and coriander curried fishcake on baby leaves for a starter. All the dishes are freshly cooked to order and the fishcake was piping hot and a good size while the fresh red chilli gave it a tasty bit of heat. Freshly-made bread rolls were offered in brown or white and there’s only a 50p surcharge made for them. The restaurant was busy with two large parties, however my level of service was friendly and attentive throughout. The beef Wellington was served with baby vegetables and new potatoes. The pastry was buttery yet light and delicious, encasing a tender fillet of beef topped with pat�. It was expertly cooked and the rich, red wine gravy around it made the whole plate extremely moreish.

The Case Restaurant also has seven luxury bedrooms and the premier rooms have a jacuzzi, perfect if you are looking for somewhere to take a rural retreat perhaps. Desserts are priced from �5.15 and comprised of one hot pudding and a selection of cold desserts from the chillers cabinet; choux bun filled with fresh fruit and vanilla patissiere custard sounded delicious, although I would have liked to see more hot desserts on offer in these winter months.

The Case has not been without its tough times, after the family purchased the previously quiet country pub they ran it successfully as an a la carte restaurant for more than ten years. But disaster struck one evening when it was engulfed by floods. The family were devastated yet with determination they reopened after a full renovation in 2000 to unveil the restaurant’s new stylish interior. From my experience it was certainly a lot of time and effort well spent.

Useful to knowThe total bill came to �19.90 for two courses and drinks. This is an independent review, featuring a restaurant selected and experienced by our food and wine writer. The restaurant was not told it was being reviewed.

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Book a tableThe Case Restaurant with RoomsFurther StreetAssington Sudbury CO10 5LD01787 210483