Dartmoor pubs may tend to serve traditional fodder, but this gem in the market town of Moretonhampstead offers a far more unusual experience than the standard roast with all the trimmings.
Head to the family-run pub for Mediterranean-inspired cooking in a classic pub setting. Chef-owner Nigel Hoyle dishes up a menu that majors on pizzas, but don’t let this put you off as these are far from the ordinary takeaway variety.
Thin-crust, twice-risen focaccia dough is piled with locally sourced and Italian-imported artisan ingredients. Crowd-pleasing combos include the Vesuvio (‘nduja sausage, chorizo, fresh onions, confit potatoes, buffalo mozzarella and oregano) and The Eastern (spiced lamb, peppers, cumin-roasted onions, harissa and tahini).
Away from the pizza oven, there’s a regularly rotating selection of seasonal specialities. Try home-cured bresaola (Dartmoor beef topside cured for two weeks in red wine) served with Indian achar pickle and goat’s cheese, or the vegan super salad featuring cumin-roasted onions, cauliflower, broccoli and spiced dukkah with a zingy lime dressing and vegan yogurt.
It’s a great spot to visit with a crowd so you can order a range of antipasti and pizzas. What you can’t eat can be taken home in a takeaway container.
Trencherman’s tip: G&T fans can select their spirit of choice from the lengthy list of uber-local Papillon Gins, which are distilled just next door.
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