Set within a 16th-century coach house in Dunmow, with a pitched conservatory ceiling, The Starr Inn has been transformed into a beautiful spot for casual but refined dining. It's an updated pub, with several dining areas with exposed wood beams, and a tasteful colour palette. It's a local institution, known for great service and brilliant classic menus.
The Starr Inn menu begins with classic starters such as carrot and coriander soup with sesame, herb oil and crusty bread, the avocado salad made with tomato, cucumber, pearl barley, lentils and chickpeas, dukkah spiced vinaigrette and toasted nuts, along with a chicken liver and cognac pate with redcurrant and orange sauce on melba toast. The mains are a mix of luxury and classics, with the venison and wild boar burger layered with smoked bacon, smoked cheddar, seasonal chutney, lettuce, tomato, gherkins, and slaw, and the rich calves liver with confit onions, smoked bacon, red wine jus, mustard mash and sauteed seasonal greens.
Vegans will love the Mediterranean vegetable parcels that are tossed in a tomato and basil passata with potato salad and lettuce. But there’s also an a la carte menu, that features more elevated specials. Try the steak tartare with finely diced beef fillet, anchovies and wholegrain mustard to start, followed by pan fried sea bass fillets served with garlic and herb roasted Mediterranean vegetables, olives, diced potatoes and vine tomatoes. On the side, you can order mustard or horseradish mash, deep fried tempura vegetables or chunky chips.
Have a sweet tooth? Try the salted caramel sticky toffee pudding with clotted cream ice cream and honeycomb, the hedgerow berry Eton mess with whipped cream, meringue and strawberry coulis or the panna cotta with Champagne, raspberry and mint, topped with chantilly cream. They all sound equally delicious to us!