Leaping Hare in St Edmundsbury

As this restaurant is walking distance from my home, it had to be tried. So the lunchtime Vintners prix fixe menu was the choice. And it was rather disappointing as was the sterile and soulless interior. Hare rillette to start. It looked good on the plate but failed to deliver on flavour. The Hare was salty and rather bland and the red splodges were incredibly sweet and the green liquid that surrounded it was equally tasteless. Topped with a radicchio leaf it added nothing to this dish other than colour. It was served with sourdough bread that was a tad stale. The belly pork main was slightly better. The pork was very well cooked, so much so most of the porky flavour had gone. The haricot beans were soft and tasteless but the chicory saved the day flavourwise. The overwhelming taste was the swamping salsa verde and overall the dish was excessively greasy. Rice pudding with prunes wasn't great. It wasn't made with pudding rice - on closer examination it looked like long grain rice and it was undercooked. The vanilla flavour shone through but it certainly wasn't an unctuous end to a meal. Quite the opposite. The service was passable if slow and the fact that they had no ice to add to drinks rather underlines the issues here at this overpriced and rather dull restaurant. Maybe it was good once, maybe it was great when Jay Rayner ate there but today it was poor and certainly not worth the money. You'd have a better taste experience with a Chef's ready meal from Stanton Coop.

We’d been looking for a different place to eat, something that offered a good menu that would suit us both (one veggie one meat lover) and discovered The Leaping Hare, we were not disappointed! The starters were wonderful and the bread was just outstanding! I was a little worried as the veggie options can leave a little to be desired sometimes but the celeriac steak was absolutely beautiful, my hubby thought the pork was fantastic too. For the quality of the food on our plates, the local produce and the wonderful staff on hand we thought the prices were in keeping with what is on offer. We will gladly make another 1 hour and 50 minute round trip to come again. We immediately felt welcome, had amazing food in a beautiful setting and an intimate dining experience, what more could you ask for? 10/10!!

Posting a low-star review in the hope they can regain their once highly-rated status. Paying a premium price means you should get premium service and food quality. Sadly not the case. Although the staff were friendly and attentive, it’s the attention to detail that makes the difference. Having the food presented to you by the server and being asked who’s the steak is very poor form. The staff should not have to ask whose plate is for which guest…they should know already. The food this time was not a patch on previous visits. Describing the steak as Retired Dairy Cow Sirloin is I guess in the eyes of the chef a positive spin, but in reality means the meat is old, grizzly and unfit to be served as a premium cut. The other meals in the group were just about passable. So, in short, our previous experiences have been wonderful, but this visit, not so much. A definite C- must try harder.

Family birthday get together. Loved the meal and the service excellent. Special mention for the desserts which were fabulous. Thankyou

With the previous chef was always good however with this new chef highly disappointed, food took 50 minutes to come out even though second people to order. We had to stand up and walk around to stretch as waiting this long isn’t good sitting for that long; when the food finally turned up the muffins were rock solid. And had to have them re cooked then when they came back again the egg was uncooked. Highly disappointed, my parents used to love coming here but will not come for a while with this type of service very disappointed. Please guys sort it out,

We’ve been there many times. Quality of food hasn’t been changed but portion wise has got lot smaller compared to 6 months ago. Their signature focaccia was served cold (used to be hot and fluffy) and small portion of olive oil to go with it. Good service but it was very slow. Pretty disappointing. We’re not sure whether we go there again.

Cannot be beaten for quality of ingredients and delicious food. The wild mushrooms, bacon, eggs and sourdough are always exceptional and yoghurt with rhubarb compote and granola is a treat. We are always greeted with friendly smiles. It’s a pleasure to visit every time.

We had been intending to visit the Leaping Hare for a while as the reviews appeared to be very good. So decided as a birthday treat to have lunch in the restaurant as having read the website the cafe was no longer available. We arrived on time however I was surprised to be shown to a table that was very close to a couple who had dogs, given that the website clearly states no dogs in the restaurant. We then waited a considerable length of time to have our drinks order taken and then another long wait before the drinks arrive. The lady who took our initial drinks order also took the wine list away so we had to ask for that again. Evenutally ordered our food and then waited for our starters which did arrive although it is fair to say that the Duck pate was an extremely small portion and this is from someone who doesn't like big portions. Another wait for the plates to be cleared and another wait for the next course... at £32.00 for the duck breast I would have expected something a little bigger and much more appealing and tasteful Duck breasts were small and the juice was nothing special. Plates were cleared and the desert menu was delivered ... another very long wait for that order to be taken. We were slightly confused as we booked the restaurant however there appeared to a cafe menu available, which we were not offered and there seemed to numerous people using it as a cafe ie.. coffee and cake which gave a very odd vibe to the setting as we had expected a fine dining experience which is what they are charging for but are most certainly not delivering. With an discretionary service charge added !!

We were treated like VIPs. The food was delicious and the staff couldn’t do anything more to make our evening perfect. Decorations at Christmas are beautiful 🤩 n the stunning barn. Thank you Josh, Briony, girls and chefs. Just amazing

We always visit when staying locally, service is always good, food very nice, only criticism would be to change up the menu a little more often and give others options for vegetarians other than risotto, still very tasty nevertheless.

A group of us ladies were here to have a celebration meal for a friend who passed away earlier this year. The menu was inviting & the staff serving were very helpful, The food when it came was delicious, all freshly prepared & very tasty, we shared a bottle of Marlborough Sav Blanc (as some were driving) and it was perfect. There is a shop next to the restaurant & we were able to leave our coats hanging up while we perused some very lovely things. All in all a very enjoyable lunch & I'd be happy to go back when I'm in the area.

We visited on a very wet day and the restaurant was warm, cosy and welcoming. All the staff were very friendly. Whilst the tea and cheese scone were good, the price is outrageous. £5.50 for a cheese scone! Just a nice, normal cheese scone. Slice of cake also £5.50. That is way above prices paid elsewhere. How do you justify that?!! Wouldn’t return to the restaurant because of it. The shop is fine but it’s lost it’s joy. Nowhere near as nice as it used to be. Used to love popping here but won’t rush back.

We went for lunch as I'd heard that the restaurant was good. We had visited the garden before, but not the restaurant. The setting is beautiful and the barn with all its beams and character is stunning. The staff were friendly and the service good. However, the food was disappointing. Maybe if we had chosen à la carte and not the set lunch menu it would have been better, but it was all rather expensive. The first course was very simple, slices of beetroot, grated carrot and grated celeriac. I didn't care for the dressing on the celeriac. There were only 2 choices for each course. No meat course for the main. There was a vegetarian option or a trout and cod fishcake with chips and salad. The chips were rather dry and cardboardy, the fishcake was rather dry too, but quite tasty and the salad was simple, a few red and green leaves. The dessert, lemon posset, was nice but the blueberry compote rather overwhelmed the lemon posset. I would have preferred them served separately on a plate rather than in a pot. I had been expecting something more in the way of fine dining for the price. We enjoyed the wine from the vineyard and I suppose £26 for the cheapest bottle hiked up the price as did the 10% service charge, but I felt that over £90 for a simple lunch for two was a bit much, especially as my partner only had 2 courses.

After giving a middling review last summer we decided to give the Leaping Hare another go. And I’m pleased to report it is back on top form! Food was excellent. Service was efficient and friendly. Also the ‘Vintners Menu’ offers really good value for money. Two courses for £26 and three courses for £30. Unfortunately we couldn’t find room for dessert! All in all - a great experience.

Hands down, this has to be one of the best lunches I have eaten in a long time! All our group had a starter and main course and each one was absolutely delicious, beautifully presented and full of flavor. Lovely venue too!

Not cheap but excellent food in a lovely rural setting. Friendly efficient staff. Would certainly go again. Helpfully found space for my wife's mobility scooter.

We were told to sit outside & someone would come & take our order - after 10 minutes we had to ask for the order to be taken - 10 minutes later we were asked to just confirm what we had ordered - 10 minutes...

It was a beautiful warm summer’s evening and my wife and I and a friend were celebrating our friend’s 70 th birthday. We were warmly greeted by the staff and shown to an outside table for pre-dinner drinks. We were given menus and were told...

17th June- we were celebrating our first wedding anniversary, so a very special evening for the both of us. We booked here upon recommendation & felt rather flat when we left. When we booked your restaurant we mentioned on the comments it was our first...

We visited last Saturday for shopping and lunch. The setting is stunning, in the heart of the Suffolk countryside. The farmers market is delightful and the shop wonderful. Lunch was excellent. Beautiful freshly made local produce. Good wine their own vineyard. Great service Highly recommended!

We were welcomed and shown to our table , very pleasant waitress. Soup for us both delicious , but expensive for a simple bowl of soup ! Our main courses were again delicious but what a tiny portion of hake, so little on my plate...

I’ve debated about writing this review because the food was lovely however having experienced being a vegan at other restaurants I reflect on how awful our experience was here. We wrote on our booking form that one diner was vegan, reminded the waitress we had...

You don’t go to the Leaping Hare for superb food - well, we don’t- but for the whole comfortable experience. On Saturday morning there is a bustling Farmers’ Market and at all times (when open) delicious shopping in the extensive house and home shop where...

We visited the leaping hare in January for a family birthday and as always had an amazing night. The food was prepared to such a high standard in terms of both flavour and presentation - we were all very impressed at how high end the...

I first visited this restaurant 25 years ago and loved it.I have visited many times since with family and business associates. One of my favourites. Today I can say that I was distinctly underwhelmed for several reasons but primarily the staff. There is a very...

We had the most enjoyable family lunch at The Leaping Hare on Sunday. Not only were we greeted to such a wonderful building in beautiful surroundings, the food was simply outstanding and the service and attention to detail was second to none. Thank you Bryony...

Such wonderful food, and beautifully presented. Great value for money considering the local produce and quality of the ingredients. The service from the staff was exceptional as always! Such a lovely aspect having the shop open in the evening so we could browse between courses!...

Long wait for food because we arrived at 11.30 and despite an order being taken no one told us that the restaurant ‘takes a break’ from 11.30 to 12. When the food did arrive three items were missing and we had to chase them up....

Having been to the Leaping Hare several times a while back we were excited to visit on a Saturday morning for breakfast. The breakfast was a great portion and great quality, I would highly recommend from a food perspective and the hall, market and grounds...

We were lucky to find a table outside in the sunshine for a light lunch (we had not booked). The service was great and the food excellent which one might expect as the prices are quite high. The gift shop is interesting, especially the choice...

We had booked this restaurant for a special weekend away in Suffolk. We arrived in the dark directed by our satnav but had trouble finding the entrance, along with other late diners.However once we were in the whole experience was magical. We had aperitif of...

We were staying about half an hour away from The Leaping Hare at Settle, it was recommended on their website so we decided to book in for lunch and we were not disappointed! The food was absolutely amazing, stunning presentation and the taste matched! We...

Took some friends here for Saturday dinner. What an amazing time. Excellent food, great wine from their vinery. Sat outside at night for our desserts. Service was exceptional. Food outstanding. Love love love this place. And allowed to walk gardens with glass of wine beforehand...

I had initially booked a table for 2 for a late Sunday lunch and then altered that a few days later to a table for 4. When we arrived the restaurant was close to maximum capacity. One table set for 3 by the external wall...

Fabulous relaxed and calm atmosphere in the beautiful barn., starting with glasses of Wyken Moonshine outside in the sun. We had booked half the restaurant for a special evening dinner with friends and our experience was beyond everything we hoped for. The food prepared by...

Repeat visit. Country house, farm, vineyard, restaurant and shop in beautiful Suffolk country setting. Excellent high quality restaurant in main, beautifully restored, large barn. Dedicated, welcoming and very friendly and polite staff. Lunch menu or a la carte. Their (very good) own and other wines....

Lovely meal in a lovely setting. An old barn with a great restaurant which can only be operated by the great staff within! Was a bit confused that my Elderflower spritz costed more than the aperitif but seemed like they had been both served in...

We visited today to celebrate a birthday with family and it was wonderful. Excellent food. Sublime in fact with friendly efficient service all round. Two of our party hadn’t been before and were v impressed indeed. A super venue and perfect for a celebration.

The food and setting is outstanding We have dined there on six occasions and the standard has never dropped Josh the restaurant manager is extremely helpful and all the staff are very efficient and pleasant.Would highly recommend

It took us an hour to get here, all in all it was quite busy, a table that arrived after us seem to get served before us. But 2 courses took 1 hour and 20 mins so I did not want dessert. And I think...

After more than a decade of regular visits to the Leaping Hare, we will not be going back. Eggs Benny for breakfast used to be high quality and the best in the County but not anymore. We had a family breakfast over the Jubilee Holiday....

This was our favourite restaurant for several years but our last two visits have been very disappointing , the food was nowhere near the same standard as before and it was very expensive which is fine if the cooking is of a high standard

We had a fabulous evening at The Leaping Hare restaurant last Friday, from the moment we walked in we were greeted and made to feel very welcome. The food was amazing, we had all three courses and was not disappointed!! A thoroughly enjoyable evening, will...

Very very disappointed with the service of this restaurant. The waiting was extremely long. At the moment of paying, I told the waitress I had invited guess and would pay the bill. Even told her to take my card while I was out looking at...

A spontaneous stop that turned into a full afternoon! We found The Leaping Hare in passing on our way back from visiting family and stopped by to investigate - hoping for a table as we hadn’t booked, we were lucky enough that the manager squeezed...

We love this place, the setting is so fantastic, have been coming for a number of years but so sad to see the obvious decline! Used to have a more inventive menu accompanied by a separate set meal option. No longer, now just pretty basic...

We had a lovely family meal here, 3 adults and 2 kids. The service, from Megan, was very friendly, accommodating and knowledgable. The chef delivered the goods and the food we ate (Al Al carte and set menu) was exceptional. We had 3 course, perfectly...

Visited for lunch today. We are both vegetarians and at first glance the menu offered limited choice but the staff were happy to discuss options. We both had the celeriac steak in the end which was truly delicious, and such a refreshing change from the...

Arrived and asked to sit outside, given a menu. Waited 20 mins to be served after trying to get the waiters attention. Ordered 2 hot drinks, scone and cake. Waited another 20 mins before asking if it was going to be much longer as we...

Ourselves and 4 friends had lunch here during February 2022. It was easy to find, has ample off road parking and is in a delightful country setting. The food was very good quality and the servings plentiful. We are looking forward to dining at the...

We have been coming here for about ten years but will not go again Something has happened with staff , food , prices ( Unbelievable hikes ) Now vastly over rated - bring back the original owner

What has happened? Used to be our go to place but this visit was just about ‘ok’. Food is still good but prices are significantly higher and service noticeably worse. Perhaps that is why the restaurant was half empty today.

We go here periodically for coffee and scone in the mornings usually. Very nice atmosphere, good service, clean, lovely place to sit. Having said that, I don't think this is a morning coffee sort of place to go. This restaurant probably deserves 5 stars, but...

Amazing breakfast. The service was amazing even though everything looked busy the staff always talked in a calm manner and the atmosphere in the restaurant was incredible. And finally then when our breakfast was delivered it was cooked beautifully. we will definitely be returning Steve

We were passing in the week before Christmas,and had not booked a table for lunch. Still, I have always enjoyed pleasant stopovers at this cafe/restaurant so we called in. Our table was very small, with two bedroom type wicker chairs.The service was reluctant, and when...

Our meal today was absolutely fantastic, as it always is. We eat here regularly and enjoy the consistently fine food (the expertly cooked, local, seasonal produce is appreciated), well chosen wines and kind, personal service. We expect to relax and savour the experience - what...

Amazing food and service, in a fantastic location. I have already written a post on Wyken Vineyards.

Great food, delicious local produce, friendly staff and Great service. We came for a special occasion and it didn’t disappoint. Thanks so much

We went for Sunday lunch and £260 later we left feeling OK - in reality, however, the bill should have been around £160 as it wasn't a great experience I'll come on to the food later as the service at the Leaping Hare really is...

We visited with friends who live locally and this restaurant is located in a superb old timber-framed barn. It was quite busy when we arrived for Saturday lunch and the service was not good. They appeared to be short-staffed in the kitchen as the food seemed to be very slow in being served to the table. The waitresses did try their best but lunch was overall painfully slow. After paying the bill and pointing out the disappointing service we were presented with two bottles of their wine when we left which was a nice gesture. The food itself however was excellent and could not be faulted. It was a shame about the service but hopefully, they will have resolved any issues before we visit again.

Am a regular customer or was! Took two friends there yesterday to impress them Standards have dropped dramatically It doesn't feel special anymore. The food was not the same high quality:(.Has the chef changed ? We were ignored took ages to actually be asked if...

I have coffee/cake/lunch here quite often. I have never been that impressed, but my friends like it and I go with the flow. Often we are blatantly ignored at our table, the last time we arrived at 1.55 and wanted coffee and cake. We were...

We had a fantastic lunch here, with the highlight being the setting and surroundings. The woodland walk to the vineyard is recommended. The wine is delicious, and the lunch we had was all tasty. Starters of pumpkin and squash soup, Waldorf salad with binham blue cheese, mains of a mushroom and leek risotto with a rich truffle flavour and lashings of parmesan, and a trout and cod fishcake with a sweet chilli sauce that kicked, and a sorrel sauce that was smooth and delicious. All in all, highly recommended, and I can imagine it's a great place to come for a drink or breakfast too, or on a farmer's market day.

Yes the food is good; the service is helpful but some are clearly inexperienced (had to send wine back to be filled to the right level in the glass). Who pays £75 for lunch for one in Suffolk? Shame, as another reviewer noted, this was a lovely place for a light lunch; not now.

Very nice lunch at The Leaping Hare. Interesting menu with local produce. Attentive, well trained staff. Will revisit

A very humble Michelin restaurant that serves amazing and tasty food. You will never go wrong on whichever meal you will choose. We will definitely go back.

We had a wonderful meal for our 25th wedding anniversary. It was great to dress up and eat out again. It’s a shame we still have to put up with paper table cloths but these Covid times remain confusing and challenging for all. The staff were professional and attentive throughout and the food was exceptional. The location is fabulous but always second to the quality of the food and the service.

Visited today with friends. Did a lovely long walk in neighbouring countryside topped off with tea and a delicious cheese scone, one of the best I’ve eaten and I’ve eaten a lot! Friend had the raspberry and almond cake, served warm snd with yoghurt which she thoroughly enjoyed too. Finished with a visit to the lovely shop which has many tempting and high quality goods. My fudge loving don in law rates the fudge top class too

Great food and service. Very friendly staff with the food to match. We will definitely come back and would highly recommend.

The restaurant area used to be half restaurant and half light lunch and coffee place. It was just lovely and a friend and I have been going for years. Now things have changed, I guess in order to recoup money after being shut for a while; it is all expensive restaurant now and no light lunch possible. Some of us don’t want an expensive main meal at lunch time so my friend and will not be going again, and left today not having eaten anything for lunch. We also sat for 2 hours only having been given coffee but not approached otherwise. I got the impression some staff are not happy with this situation either.

We had lunch which was beautifully presented and tasted gorgeous. We liked the the the converted barn and its ambiance. Service attentive but not obstructive. The warm rosemary bread was brought to our table at the start of the meal was lovely and went well with our starters of smoked chalk river trout and crab and mozzarella. The main course was breast of chicken with tarragon, mushroom puree, and pork loin, peas and broad beans and potatoes. This was accompanied by Wykens excellent white wine. We finished with ice creamed an affogato. What we also liked was the all the ingredients were locally sourced, where possible. It was was one of the most enjoyableand memorable meals that we have had in recent years.

5 out 5.First time at this venue.When we arrived there was a market in full swing and a queue to get into the moonshine cafe.We had ask one of the stall holders for directions to the restaurant. It's in an a lovely location. Meet and greet and shown to our table beneath the bees.Good choice of starters and main course.We went for the smoked chalk strem trout and the pork rillette. Neither were huge, but both delicious. Then chicken and pork for main. Again both delicious and cooked to perfection. Still room for a dessert. Iced pavlova gooseberries and vanilla icecream with a shot of espresso. All in all a lovely meal with pleasant service. Have already booked again to back in August

We went for a pre-booked pizza to start with. It was ok. I wouldn't rave about it. No plates or proper cutlery, you have to basically eat it out the box with your hands, and when we tried to cut ours in half to share, the cheese all slid off, so it was a REALLY messy business, and I wouldn't be rushing back. However, the area to sit in is nice, and it's a child friendly sort of place by the looks. The gift shop is lovely, and then we went round the gardens. I have given this 5 stars because the quality of the gardens, the plantings, variety of plants, the design, is all absolutely lovely. I plan to go again. The Leaping Hare restaurant we went to after the gardens and had afternoon tea. It was a hot day so we opted to sit in the medieval barn. Good spacing of tables, loads of head space as it goes right up to the rafters, fantastic building. No horrid background music, and because of table spacing its quite private for conversation. Tea / coffee / cream tea was lovely, sensibly priced. Wasn't so fussed about the cake, but the scones lovely. Service was excellent. Whole afternoon was a good trip out, property was exceptionally clean and it wasn't over-run with children. Parking was easy.

Our first visit today for Sunday lunch. It was just about perfect. The barn is beautiful, clean and unpretentious. The staff were friendly, attentive with perfect timing and were knowledgable about the dishes and in ngeredients. One of the great things about the drinks choices is there were many choices for us non drinkers where I usually have a choice of water or sweet fruit juice based drinks. Today there were non alcoholic cocktail type choices and cordials which mixed with sparkling water or soda are served in a wine glass and are very palatable indeed. I bought the Pink Ginger cordial from the shop to enjoy at home. I’m the restaurant it was only £2.50 a glassThe food was sublime. I started with a salad of broad bean, hazelnuts, goats cheese and my husband had the equally delicious crispy braised lamb. For our main course we both had the Suffolk pork loin with a caper and mustard sauce and it was delicious - I didn’t want it to end. We still had a little room for dessert and enjoyed a vanilla parfait served with strawberry ice cream; strawberries and honeycomb, beautifully decorated with edible flowers and gooseberry and elderflower pavlova. We cannot wait to return

Saturday lunch after a long break during the pandemic. Better than ever. The dishes are flavoursome and more complex than we remembered. Good local produce, well prepared. Lovely, helpful staff. The covid security measures are thorough and much appreciated. We've made two more bookings! Thank you.

I had a really lovely lunch this afternoon. I thought that it being a dull Wednesday afternoon the restaurant may not be busy, but when we arrived at 1:30pm every table was occupied. It’s in a beautiful building and all the staff were welcoming and helpful. The food was really, really good. I had the lamb to start, then the cod and chocolate for pudding, all were delicious and would recommend. We had a bottle of the wyken sparkling moonshine, which we very much enjoyed. I must also mention the wonderful bread. I will definitely return, thank you Leaping Hare for a delicious meal.

Really enjoyed our dining experience here Friday evening. Firstly, the table we sat at was very well considered with open windows allowing a cool breeze on such a muggy evening and laid beautifully. Staff were super friendly and attentive. Secondly, the food was outstanding with a dessert that was “0ff the scale” best ever!! It’s a “must go” place to eat that goes beyond a restaurant. Stylish shop and stunning grounds to boot!

Fantastic setting, really interesting and tasty menu and top notch serving staff who were all very knowledgable and helpful

I was so excited about visiting the Leaping Hare - it is very local to us, and I’d read so many good things I thought it would be a new regular for us. Firstly I will say the food was lovely. I was rather disappointed with a very limited menu, but the overall quality was good. I had the fish cake which was heavily over-seasoned and I couldn’t actually taste any fish, but the rest of the meals enjoyed by our family were good. Unfortunately I did have soil on my salad (not just a little bit either) and when we pointed this out to the waitress she didn’t even say sorry, just took the plates and fled. The thing which really let this experience down was the service. Through the night we had at least 4 different waitresses, only one of whom had any front of house ‘spark’. We had to constantly call to people to get service/drinks etc, and empty bottles, glasses, used plates/cutlery was often left on the table for considerable time/into subsequent courses. I felt embarrassed to keep asking for more drinks, and after we finished our desserts we were left for 20 minutes with dirty plates in front of us before anyone came to clear (despite the restaurant being almost empty at that point). No one asked if we wanted coffees/digestifs and after a further 15 minutes with no one even venturing to our end of the restaurant I had to go and ask for the bill. I have eaten in a lot of restaurants, all over the world, and it was the first time I have ever asked for the service charge to be removed from the bill - it was that bad! Would I go back? Not in a hurry. It’s a shame as the majority of the food was very nice, but not even an apology for dirty salad, and terrible service really ruined the evening.

Just simply a wonderful restaurant to eat. Great food in great surroundings served by staff who know what they are doing. We have been here many times and each time it does not disappoint. Quite the opposite. Highly recommended.

We booked with great expectation and were not disappointed. The staff were impeccable and the food outstanding. My chalk stream trout starter and iced buckthorn pavlova were the stand out dishes. The exceptional Wyken rose was delicious. We are new to the area and to have this gem on the doorstep is incredibly fortunate . Have already booked a 2nd visit.

What a great shame that informal impromptu chatty cafe lunches with friends at Wyken are now a thing of the past. The a la carte lunch, in both the cafe & restaurant, is now by reservation only & cafe meals restricted to breakfast and afternoon tea. So, we arrived for a late lunch on Thursday to find afternoon tea our only option. Our tea & its presentation were underwhelming, to say the least: stale wholemeal scones, a modest portion of jam served in a jar & clotted cream in a plastic peel back pot. Not what I expect from Wyken, particularly at £5.45.These new arrangements were explained, somewhat patronisingly, by the restaurant manager who also blithely mentioned that this new reservation system made life easier for the staff as well as being more economical for the business; clumsy PR & hardly a selling point for loyal customers.

Had Sunday lunch here sitting by the log burner feeling relaxed and safe with a glass of Moonshine. Staff are delightful the food is delicious and the ambience lovely.

We visited The Leaping Hare Restaurant at Wyken Vineyard for Sunday Lunch. We have had many an enjoyable breakfast there whilst visiting the Weekly Farmers Market on a Saturday. This was our first experience of eating a 'formal meal' at the restaurant and it didn't disappoint. The a la carte menu provides plenty of choice and amongst the dishes we had were a distinctly smoked trout starter, a wild rabbit main course, lamb rump main course and a Tarte Tatin for dessert. All absolutely delicious and richly flavoured. Accompanying the meal we drank some of the vineyard's own white white - dry, floral and rounded. The service was impeccable, friendly and efficient; you felt as though you were being well looked after. A leisurely lunch in a perfect and relaxing setting - perfect for a Sunday

We enjoyed a fabulous two course lunch here last week and cannot fault it. The restaurant is delightful - beautifully decorated and tasteful in every way. The staff are super friendly and helpful and there is no problem about covid safety. The menu is superb - we had deliciously smooth, velvety butternut squash soup followed by fishcakes. The adjoining gift shop is lovely too (albeit very expensive!)

Very good breakfast in early October. Nicely spaced and excellent food. Smoked trout quite strong with the egg!

Several people have recommended the Leaping Hare, so we thought we would try it for a special family dinner. We were not disappointed, the location is excellent, the staff were brilliant and the food and drink exceptional. Also given the current situation we felt very safe and relaxed. All the food was delicious, much of it locally sourced and the flavours out of this world. Some of the outstanding dishes were the crab starter, ham hock terrine with Suffolk cheddar, rack of lamb, venison and St Emillion chocolate torte and Rasberry panna cotta. Also enjoyed the local Bacchus wine. Will definitely return and recommend it to others.

Four of us arrived for lunch, which you have to book. Service was excellent right from the start when we were shown to our table. A paper table cloth so they can be thrown away after each table has been finished with. But lovely crisp linen table napkins. A good choice on the menu also the wine list. The menu stays with you until you leave. We had the fish cakes, absolutely lovely. Nice bottle of New Zealand wine. Service throughout was top class, ladies were served first! The homemade bread and olive oil was to die for. All served in a wonderful old barn which has a great atmosphere. A must visit if you are anywhere near.

Our first meal out in 5 months had to be here at the Leaping Hare. It was so well thought out- from drinks on the terrace, the delicious menu (as usual) and attentive staff. It was a very warm evening but the ladies serving never lost their cool despite their masks and a few overly demanding customers (come on, these are tricky times!). The chicken was excellent as was the venison. And my favourite chocolate st emillion dessert. Well done Wyken, we’re glad you’re back!

We took my 85 year old Mum for a belated birthday dinner, having had a very enjoyable meal here a year or two ago. We were disappointed on numerous counts: the service was extremely slow; my husband had to request butter twice as it appeared that the first server forgot; I had notified that I’m wheat-intolerant on my booking but the server was unaware and offered me toast in place of the focaccia because apparently the baker can’t supply gluten-free bread - go buy some in Tesco, which I’m sure is where the sliced one comes from that you toast to order...the portions were minute - two of us ordered rack of lamb which, when it arrived was definitely not a rack, it was only 2 small cutlets with very small servings of creamed potato and beans; my husband had fish cake, which was also a small portion; my mother requested mint sauce which never arrived; my mother chose Affogato which was one small scoop; I chose cheese and received a good portion but the only gluten-free cracker substitute choice oat cakes, which are like eating cardboard- shame, as there are some delicious gluten free crackers available. The ambiance and decor are fabulous, the food is mostly delicious and the Leaping Hate is close to home however we are unlikely to return and will not recommend it to others. Very disappointed.

They only reopened 10 days ago but it was very well run the staff were so welcoming and determined everyone should have a wonderful experience. Moonshine in the garden and a meal In the beautiful barn as good as ever - delicious! We will be back and also to try the pizza wagon experience which looked great fun.

Pizza like no other in Suffolk! Proper sourdough bases, inventive and tasty toppings, plus Strawberries and Cream if you’ve space to spare. The Leaping Hare currently closed due to virus regs has this great new offering with permitted picnicking in the orchard. An attractive Anglo Italian combo which makes makes for a memorable experience.

My wife and I were treated to dinner here this evening by our son and his wife. My wife telephoned the restaurant earlier to advise them that she is onion intolerant. When we arrived a staff member was aware of this and had already marked up the whole of the menu those items that contained onions and those that didn’t. He also advised that some of those with onions could be adapted to leave out onion. This was so welcome. So often restaurants are unprepared and show no understanding of the problems. The meals were excellent. Fresh warm rosemary bread with olive oil was delicious. We both enjoyed the steaks - cooked to perfection! For desert I went for the Moelleux au chocolat with pistachio ice cream that was excellent whilst my wife tucked into the passion fruit pavlova.Service was excellent and very professional. A very enjoyable experience.

Not been here for a while but always impressed with this barn, it's large but cosy with a log burner keeping it nice and warm. We ate in the restaurant section and found the choice of food very good . One of our four is a vegetarian and she was very satisfied with her choice. Had a Wyken white wine, Madeleine (I think), superb. Staff very friendly and helpful. Love the fact the shop is next, I had to treat myself!

The Leaping Hare is one of my favourite haunts, I come here whenever I can find the time. Whether it is a lunch with a girlfriend or dinner with friends. The food is always dependable and never boring. The service is great and you are never pressured to order or leave your table - don't we all know us girls when we meet for lunch it takes an age to order and the waiting staff here are always patient. If there is Venison the menu, or any other game, order! Similarly, the fish is great - actually it's all great. The wine is super too. Congrats to everyone concerned for keeping the standard consistently high.

We were 3 people for lunch and it was exceptional - Partridge, goats cheese and duck liver parfait starter, Steak, Pheasant and Cod main course, ice cream and Rhubarb parfait puddings.Superbly cooked with interesting sauces - I always like to judge a restaurant by the way they prepare the food and could we do the same ourselves at home ? - in this case not in a million years ! The wait staff were very quick to bring our drinks and very polite - good value and the English wine was great - the barn is a wonderful venue - Many thanks to everyone for a memorable visit.

Met a friend for lunch in the cafe which was as busy as ever the service was excellent and friendly the menu more varied than before but still our favourites as well. We really enjoyed our meal and browsing in the stylish shop later .

Whilst enjoying a gorgeous breakfast of orange juice, coffee and a tasty pastry a rather strange display caught my eye. I saw a staff member being rather loud with a group of people she obviously knew quiet well, whilst retelling a story she displayed the action of vomitting several times, obviously something ro do with the story.Obviously she was not bothered about the 20 or so people who were also having breakfast and may or may not have seen her rather strange display, needless to say i finished up and payed. Luckily she was manning the pay stand and i got to air my dismay. I think she was management as she was dressed slightly differntly. 1st Feb 2020 9.30am. I will not return.

3 Friends visited one cold January evening. The menu is comprehensive. medium priced. The food was fantastic, 3 courses each, the staff are attentive and very knowledgeable. great wine. fantastic converted old barn. Cannot suggest any improvements.

This is a very nice place to enjoy a relaxed meal away from people dropping in as they pass by, this is due to it's remote location and as such is a hidden gem only available to those in the know.The food was fantastic, however it is a bit overpriced but worse than that, it stated on the menu that payment for service is voluntary but should be in the region of 10% but when I asked for the bill, I found that a 10% service charge had automatically been added without asking.I may have wanted to offer more or not pay as much for service if I did not like it but that option was not given to me. Had it not been for that, the whole experience would have been perfect.