Augustus

Neighbourhood bistro with class

Taunton’s favourite bistro has been burnishing a solid reputation since Cedric Chirossel and Richard Guest decided to set up their own restaurant 11 years ago.

Hospitality is at the heart of the operation and Cedric takes pride in looking after the legion of loyal customers who visit for informal but beautifully cooked lunches and suppers.

Richard’s menus are built around high-quality locally sourced ingredients, most of which are delivered or collected on foot from local independents, including greengrocer Granny Smiths, fishmonger Phil Bowditch and nearby Riverside Butchers.

There’s French influence in Richard’s cooking which he translates into crowd‑pleasing dishes such as sirloin steak with tarragon butter, hash brown, watercress and shallot salad, and slow‑roasted duck with potatoes anna, creamed greens and duck jus.

The simplicity of good ingredients cooked with skill, a well‑considered wine list and on‑point service in an unpretentious town centre setting is somewhat rare, making this a special spot.

Trencherman’s tip: Augustus recently received a delightful review from Jay Rayner in The Guardian, so expect competition for tables to be stiff for a while – book well ahead.