A former tearoom in a village not far from Ramsgate has been knocked through to provide a pleasant bar and a couple of rustic dining rooms offering glimpses into the kitchen. With bedrooms above, the result is a laid-back retreat where punters can soothe their souls in “delightful surroundings” with “fabulous food”, local ales and easy-drinking wines. A hard-working kitchen sources the finest seasonal ingredients with admirable zeal, although it never over-stretches itself – witness confit salmon with beetroot three ways or chicken liver parfait with port jelly followed by generous steaks with triple-cooked chips, fish specials or guinea fowl suprême with haricot beans, pancetta, spinach and sherry cream sauce. Sharing platters are fun and full flavours get the thumbs-up across the board, while impressive Kentish cheeses and classic puds of the lemon posset/chocolate brownie variety fill any gaps. Otherwise, the bar menu is tailor-made for an inexpensive lunchtime drop-in. It’s also “delicious to have homemade bread, pasta and ice cream (especially the brown-bread ice cream)”, notes a fan.