The Cloisters, Coombe Abbey, Brinklow Road near Coventry
Approaching Coombe Abbey along its long straight driveway sets the mood for the night.
As the building comes into sight, the view is breathtaking and out of a taxi in front of us step four people dressed in medieval costume.
Steeped in history, the former abbey - now a hotel - is magnificent, as are its surroundings.
As we stepped inside, the grandeur continued. We had been here before, but for a medieval banquet which involved eating a potato with a knife and being entertained by buxom maids and jangling jesters. This was going to be a more subdued and elegant evening.
The Cloisters steers away from the 12th-century look, with large high-back green velvet chairs and a largely white interior.
We had chosen a fairly quiet night but the mood relaxed as a few more diners arrived. For a starter I chose the chicken ballontine wrapped in parma ham with a thyme rosti, which was an excellent choice, and my partner went for the fois gras terrine which he thoroughly enjoyed.
The Cloisters lends itself well to small groups wanting a quiet evening with excellent food, but as we had heard before, the service seemed a little rushed.
No sooner had we finished our starters than the main courses arrived. Again the food could not be faulted.
I chose the duck in orange and blackcurrant sauce which was served with spinach, and my dining companion was impressed with his beef fillet which was accompanied by spinach risotto.
We had wanted a meal we could take our time over, enjoy some meandering conversation and feel like we had spent a long evening in a well-respected restaurant.
But again the dinner plates were removed and dessert put immediately in its place. We had made an early booking and felt we were being rushed for the next couple to take our seats. This was despite the fact there were still empty tables in the room.
My partner chose the tantalising warm chocolate sponge with ice cream and I settled for the British cheese and biscuits. The bill, including a bottle of wine, came to around £100. Overall we were more than happy with our evening and the food was out-of-this-world.
Staff were very friendly, helpful and professional but the whole dining experience did take a bit of a blow because of the haste with which each course was served.
This was not enough to ruin our evening and we will be returning to The Cloisters for a second taste of fine food.
OUR RATING: 4/5 (Reviewed July 2002 by Calista Duffield)
