The Lamb

Destination dining at The Lamb

Make the short journey from Exeter to the quiet village of Longdown to feast on local produce at welcoming country inn, The Lamb.

While the setting is traditional, the food certainly isn’t: chef proprietor Dolton Lodge takes a contemporary approach and crafts smart dishes from locally and ethically sourced ingredients such as Perridge Estate deer, Elston Farm lamb, Brixham scallops and Cornish cod. Meanwhile, seasonal tasting menus (available Thursday to Saturday) satisfy indecisive diners who are happy to sit back and let Dolton take the driver’s seat.

The attractive à la carte dishes are fortified by pub favourites which also benefit from a dose of the chef’s creativity – think honey-glazed gammon chop with lacy fried duck egg and triple cooked chips, and aged beef-short-rib burger with cheddar, tomato, lettuce, smoked burger sauce and fries.

Complete the relaxed rural encounter with a post-dinner tipple (there’s a good selection of local spirits behind the bar) by the roaring log fire.

Trencherman’s tip: pair a visit with a rural ramble in the surrounding verdant countryside.