Restaurants in Somerset are celebrating after being named in a prestigious restaurant guide.

Now in its 28th edition, AA’s The Restaurant Guide 2022 provides food lovers a reference guide to all the places to dine across the UK – this year 16 Somerset establishments have made the grade.

Broken down into regions, the book includes a description of each destination along with information on the type of cuisine, price guide, opening times and the all-important AA Rosette Award rating.

Restaurants can be awarded 1 to 5 Rosettes based on a meal visit or visits by one or more hotel and restaurant inspectors.

Somerset AA’s The Restaurant Guide 2022 entries

THREE ROSETTES

The Bath Priory Hotel, Restaurant & Spa

Weston Road, BA1 2XT

CUISINE: Modern European, French

WHAT THE GUIDE SAYS: “An elegant dish of squab pigeon with confit leg tart, cherry and braised kohlrabi in a superb Madeira jus starts the meal, followed by Cornish wild turbot with scallop mousse, sliced morels and caviar. For a light finish try the apricot souµé with yogurt ice cream.

The Dower House Restaurant

The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa, 16 Royal Crescent, BA1 2LS

CUISINE: Modern British

WHAT THE GUIDE SAYS: “You might start with good-quality, freshly baked Bath Ale bread with smoked salmon or cep espuma, wild garlic flowers, crispy chicken skin and shimeji mushrooms.

“Next, a Dingwall scallop, spiced pea and mussel broth and lobster emulsion. Following courses continue to showcase big flavours such as roast lamb, braised shoulder tart, peas, barbecue lettuce and black garlic and desserts offer a touch of indulgence, with strawberry cheesecake, caramelised white chocolate and crème fraîche ice cream.”

The Olive Tree at the Queensberry Hotel

4–7 Russell Street, BA1 2QF

CUISINE: Modern British

WHAT THE GUIDE SAYS: “A winter meal might begin with raw Orkney scallops with horseradish mayonnaise, pink grapefruit and a good hit of aniseed from dill oil, the whole dish a perfect combination of clean, individual flavours.

“The main course might bring poached Cornish turbot with Roscoff onion, Exmoor caviar and a spicy citrus zing from yuzu kosho, while pink and tender Woolley Park Farm duck breast gets a kick from a punchy kumquat gel, with more big flavours from the accompanying duck bolognaise.

“End on a high note with a beautifully indulgent warm Tulakalum chocolate mousse with crisp chocolate ‘brittle’ and refreshing yogurt sorbet.”

TWO ROSETTES

  • Bailbrook House Hotel, Eveleigh Avenue, London Road West, BA1 7JD
  • The Marlborough Tavern, 35 Marlborough Buildings, BA1 2LY
  • Menu Gordon Jones, 2 Wellsway, BA2 3AQ
  • Olio, Abbey Lane, Freshford, BA2 7TB
  • The Bath Arms, Bath Street, BS27 3AA
  • Congresbury Arms, High Street, BS49 5JA
  • Woods Bar & Restaurant, 4 Banks Square, TA22 9BU
  • The Luttrell Arms Hotel, Exmoor National Park, TA24 6SG
  • The Holcombe, Stratton Road, BA3 5EB
  • THE PIG near Bath, Hunstrete House, Pensford, BS39 4NS
  • Charlton House Hotel & Spa, Charlton Road, BA4 4PR
  • Augustus, 3 The Courtyard, St James Street, TA1 1JR
  • Goodfellows, 5 Sadler Street, BA5 2RR

ONE ROSETTE

  • The Circus Restaurant, 34 Brock Street, BA1 2LN
  • The Hare & Hounds, Lansdown Road, BA1 5TJ
  • Woods Restaurant, 9-13 Alfred Street, BA1 2QX
  • The Litton, The Litton, BA3 4PW
  • The Globe, Fore Street, TA4 1JX
  • The Notley Arms Inn, Front Street, TA4 4JB
  • Crossways Inn, Stocks Lane, BA4 4EU
  • The Oakhill Inn, Fosse Road, BA3 5HU
  • The Rock Inn, Waterrow, TA4 2AX
  • Crown & Victoria, Farm Street, BA22 8P

In addition to restaurant listings, the guide includes interviews with some of the most exciting culinary talent in the UK, such as 26-year-old gastronomic prodigy Tom Booton (Dorchester Grill, London W1), Paul Leonard (Forest Side, Grasmere, Cumbria), and Nathan Outlaw (Outlaw’s New Road and Outlaw’s Fish Kitchen, Port Isaac, Cornwall).

:: The new Restaurant Guide 2022 is available to buy now priced at £16.99.