St Helena Restaurant, Elstow, Bedfordshire

St Helena is set in what was the birth village of the famous Christian writer John Bunyan.  Converted from a private 17th century house it sits in a lovely walled garden not far from Elstow’s picturesque village green.

 

Four separate dining areas greet you upon entering through the garden, culminating in a contemporary garden room.  Beyond this can be found a small walled seating area heavily scented in the summer with fragrant roses, lavender, honeysuckle and rosemary. Fine paintings, beautiful mirrors and antiques give the interior a tranquil and peaceful feel during quiet midweek periods with a much busier feel at the weekend.

 

Brothers-in-law Raffaele and Franco offer an appealing classic and contemporary menu with Italian/French influence.  Over 300 wines can be found on an interesting wine list which includes many in the fine and rare bracket!

 

Meats including aged beef and rare breed pork or game are regular dishes, along with the ever popular St Helena fillet stuffed with stilton.  Scallops, crab and oysters come from Bigbury Bay near Salcombe in Devon along with Cornish lobster sometimes served as “Posh Fish & Chips”.