Brotherfood in Cheltenham

Tried the 5 course menu one evening at Jonas at GL50. The quality was fantastic, superbly prepared and presented with style and enthusiasm by the chefs themselves. The flavours were intense on every course but not over flavoured. The front of house was also very good. This restaurant deserves to be very successful. My only feedback on changing things was that the wine flight, at £45/head for three small (c125ml) glasses of wine each, we thought excessive. Nice wines but (to us) no more so than the wines we would normally chose in a quality restaurant for £30-£40 for the bottle. I think adding just more one glass of wine so you didn’t need to ‘manage a glass across two savoury courses’ would make the wine flight feel a little better value.

Very disappointed. The place was cold so sat in our coats. I had a coffee to warm me up which cost £4.75 - ridiculous price. We had to wait an hour for our food even though it was not busy. The food was nicely cooked but very small for the price. Will not be going back in a hurry.

Daphne is always a great place to get away from the festival crowds in a pretty side street just off the Royal Well Crescent and a short walk from the vibrant Promenade. Ilhan the owner and chef is always there with a warm welcome and cooks everything fresh to order. We love the fillet steaks and last night’s were just perfect, not an ounce of fat in them and cooked medium rare just as we asked. The mixed mezze mini salad starters are really tasty too, including minty tabbouleh, fish and beetroot salads, all home made and served with baked bread. It is a family run business and so if you can book ahead that’s great to help them prepare service but they always welcome walk ins too.

We sat down in the corner of the pub with our drinks planning on getting food and probably staying there for a while. The table was not reserved in any way, we were sat there for over 30 minutes having a nice quiet drink until the rudest, scruffiest man with long greasy hair and moustache came over and told us to 'get up, I need the table'. Didn't even bother to explain why, or even apologise then just stood there saying 'get up'. I genuinely didn't even realise he worked there.. I thought he was some random man asking us to get up. The pub was full with no other tables available. We were clearly an easy target being one of the youngest (29 and 31). The pub was full of over 50s. Not our fault you couldn't organise enough chairs and tables for a larger group. Clearly an error on your behalf. Safe to say we will never step foot in this place again.

After leaving it for far too long we returned to our favourite restaurant in the UK last week. I've written before how good it is and I'm about to do so again. Living in Birmingham we have a choice of Michelin starred restaurants on our doorstep, now sadly one one less with the closure of Purnell's, but it's a scenic round trip to a Cheltenham restaurant that tops them all. Obviously the level of cooking at these places is top notch but the overall experience of LCS is what sets it apart. There is no tasting menu but set lunch and dinner menus (two or three course) - which offer incredible value - as well as an extensive a la carte menu. The wine list is extremely well put together and has a pricing range which suits all pockets, unlike some of its contemporaries! Some reviewers bemoan the lack of music; others compare it to a library or church but not in a good way. We find it has a calm and pleasant ambience. The tables are well spaced and people are chatting and laughing quite freely - possibly helped by mobile phone use not being allowed in the dining area. We had the set lunch menu which allowed us to taste gurnard for the first time as well as an exquisitely cooked beef and ox-tongue dish which melted in the mouth. The cheese board is - as it always has been - a masterpiece, arriving in a wicker basket full of cheese for you to choose at the table; or let chef David select for you allowing for personal preferences to be included. The coffee and petits fours are a sublime way to finish your meal. The latter are particularly fine, varied and plentiful. I haven't mentioned the nibbles, amuse bouche or the breads including a signature brioche with bacon but they, and the excellent front of house service provided by Helen and her team, all combine to consistently deliver a superb dining experience. Parking is available at a nearby car park, currently £2.30 for three hours - a time span which is perfect for a leisurely lunch - only a short walk away. We won't leave it so long for our next visit!