Restaurant at Combe House Devon in East Devon

"One of the nicer places we've dined at for a while- location is a bit out of the way but each of the dishes was full of flavour, and for the standard was good value for money"

"Extremely comforting on a Winter's Day with charming service and good quality hearty food. Generous vegatables. Extremely solicitous about dietary restrictions. Other restaurants could learn a lot from Brown's Pie Shop."

"Busy, buzzy, and expensive. Excellent food."

"Busy, busy, busy and speed of service and delivery of food showed the strain. Other than the vegetarian risotto which was uninspiring in the extreme the food and wine lived up to the usual high end neighbourhood restaurant standard it has built its reputation on."

"Burgers are still good despite the competition. A safe option. The lunchtime deal is good value, especially as the other chains don't do that."

Visited for a coffee break whilst in the area,eat some nice homemade bread with devon butter and jam.Building looking tired,but I understand that it will be closing shortly.Very sad.

Esta es la segunda vez que hemos revisado este restaurante. La primera vez que visité fue excepcional, ahora por desgracia el lugar es cierre de seis semanas y el personal parece haber perdido su mojo, incluyendo el chef. Nos esperábamos algo sublime y en su lugar nos fuimos con tener una experiencia. Aún así era bueno y probablemente muchos establecimientos estaremos encantados de ofrecer tal, pero este restaurante fue una decepción en cocina y servicio. Todavía hacer pan fantástico, y ya que debemos ser un lío, nos quedamos con piscinas de migas, puesto que la camarera entonces nuestro bouche amusee y nuestro primer campo bajo. Nos quedamos con el menú de degustación, tal era nuestra confianza en el talento del chef, con vino para acompañar cada plato. La camarera también se olvidó de traer el vino con cada plato, así que nos sentamos con comida caliente a fría mientras tratamos de atraer su atención a llevar el vino. Cuando les pedí otra camarera para eliminar a la migas antes del plato principal llegamos, ella me dijo que no solemos hacer esto hasta pudding, ya que cuando ha habido una regla sobre cuando ordenado una mesa? La comida no llevar el sabor y la inspiración de hace un año, que no estaba mal, pero no es sensacional - me imagino que debe ser difícil saber que se encuentran en las últimas etapas de algo y que siguen interesados, no digamos para llamar genialidad creativa. Me di cuenta de que estábamos en una pequeña habitación con cuatro mesas de tres de las cuales tenía folk sprightly jubilados de edad tener el almuerzo, también me di cuenta de que los malos decoraciones, estas impresiones eran más fuerte es la comida. Nos fuimos con una sensación muy pesadas desenfadado, está ansiosa de lo que podría haber sido.

Puntos fuertes Combe House es nuestro lugar favorito para comer y reconstruida está cambiando de manos. He estado viniendo aquí regularmente para ocasiones especiales ya que yo, como un adolescente hace 30 años y tiene sólo mejoró. Es un hotel precioso en una antigua casa de campo y sin duda alguna una reforma en algunos aspectos, pero es difícil imaginar la comida y el servicio hasta reciente experiencia. Nuestros mejores deseos para el personal que siempre cuidó muy impecablemente - otros establecimientos será afortunado de haber!

Celebramos nuestro aniversario con el almuerzo de tres platos. También nos obsequiaron con deliciosos canapés y un delicioso amuse bouche. Teníamos el cangrejo y codornices para principiantes y el cerdo de la danza del vientre por la principal. Todos los platos estaban muy bien cocinados y presentados. El servicio era cálido y eficiente, y la casa en sí era carismático y encantador. Sin duda fue una celebración de aniversario para recordar aquí. Esperamos que los nuevos propietarios se conservan el encanto de villa Castle Combe House.

fantastic meal - we ate like kings! lovely canapes to start, followed by an interesting and varied menu. top marks to the kitchen!

Es difícil imaginar una ubicación mejor para una comida especial en familia o para una comida romántica.

We had a luncheon party for 14 three courses which canapés, coffee and pettie fores, the food was delicious service was excellent and the venue was super, I would highly recommended a visit and meal at Combe House.

Nos hemos alojado en el villa Castle Combe House Hotel cada año durante los últimos 6 años. Hemos compartido un número de ocasiones especiales que van desde una boda, cumpleaños, bautizos, aniversarios, tiene siempre superó nuestras expectativas. La comida y el servicio excepcional siempre nos hace volver. Tiene un ambiente más relajado y el personal está encantado de ayudar. Espero que los hoteles reforma y redefinir y espero volver el próximo año.

Me he alojado en este hotel regularmente durante los últimos 13 años, tanto como un hotel y una experiencia. La calidad de la comida y el servicio completo del Servicio de recibimiento y hasta que la llamada para el taxi para que nos llevara casa era nada de excepcional. Excelente relación calidad-precio, vale la pena cada centavo. Por desgracia todas las cosas buenas vienen a un fin y me he enterado recientemente que los propietarios han decidido vender y volver a Australia. El hotel cierra este otoño y no reabrir con sus nuevos propietarios hasta principios del año que viene. Les deseo suerte pero el bar es muy alta y tienen que trabajar muy duro para igualar el servicio actualmente.

Some of the finest food, not too fussy and I can't fathom why Michelin hasn't popped a star or two above the front door?

Quintessential English country house. Lovely sunny day when we visited so wandered around the grounds before we sat down for tea. Delightful staff who could not do enough for you and the afternoon tea selection and the cakes were delicious. All in allI a very pleasant way to spend an afternoon.

From start to finish, our experience was extraordinary. The setting could not have been more perfect and the service was excellent. The food for our group of 4 was over the top amazing from appetizer to dessert. In fact my tastes of the mango panna cotta and the white chocolate parfait were both so good, they brought tears to my eyes. I had scallops for a first course and lamb for the main course. Every bite was superb. Many other reviews here have been concerned about the price, but for the experience, the setting, the food and service....it was well worth every penny.

Visited for Afternoon Tea with my Mum and Aunt. Wow....it was such a treat. From the moment we arrived, the staff were attentive, friendly, accommodating and obviously all love their jobs as they all wore constant smiles (mind you what an amazing location to work!!). This place is very dog friendly and Merlin was made to feel like royalty. We took Tea in the Great Hall as we were with dog and Merlin was served his own bowl of water. Another group arrived and also opted for the Hall as it is such a atmospheric room. The cakes were delicious and we were allowed to take home what we didn't eat. The gardens are both beautiful, functional and have some hidden gems! Also lovely to watch the Arabs running free. I very highly recommend and I'm planning my next visit already!

For the £120 bill which didn't not include alcohol this place is undeservingly expensive. Both my client and I are vegetarians but not one meal was truly vegetarian bar the soup. The chef did not know what rennet was and thought Parmasen was vegetarian too. No cheese dish was available using vegetarian cheese ie rennet free. They served the soup and left us without cutlery. They served the makeshift plate of veg as there was nothing else available again without cutlery.For goodness sake owners, sort yourself out. This place could be great. Unfortunately it isn't.Great house, lovely setting but that's it.Sorry

We came her for lunch on Monday - by no means the first time but the first time on a Monday; once again it was superb.Despite being quiet, everything worked flawlessly. The food was excellent and included a special and quite marvellous lobster appetiser as a special "to celebrate a lovely day" at no extra cost. Their lunch, at £36 for three courses, really is great value. Some lovely canapés with our drinks beforehand,a choice of artisan homemade breads, a very tasty (Rabbit Rillette) Amuse Bouche, the aforementioned lobster and then mains were deliciously cooked pork loin and belly and others had the guinea fowl. Some were too full for anything else - I had the cheese which was well presented and plentiful. It really is a lovely place and very friendly. If I wanted to make any criticism it would be that the wine list is really quite limited - but what they do have is very good.

We got married here nearly 11 years ago and have just returned for lunch. It is a very special place in beautiful surroundings. We had a superb lunch with faultless service. It is expensive (£10 for a glass of wine!), however it is a special occasion place to celebrate anniversaries, birthdays etc.

we had never been to Combe House before, invited as part of a celebration and had a truly excellent set meal, perfectly cooked, fantastic canapes when we arrived and equally excellent chocolates following the meal, beautiful surroundings and I am told an excellent place to stay as well although we didn't as we were local!

We have dined at Combe House for many years and have never been disappointed with the consistently super food, beautifully served with great attention to detail, and possibly just as important, we always receive a very warm welcome from the manager, and his friendly, efficient staff. We visited for Sunday lunch, and every course was delicious.

We had a lunch in this restaraunt. Amazing place located in beautiful surrountings. Good accessible by public transport (short taxi ride from Honiton). Excellend food and service.Friendly personal: showed us the house, a little exсursion. I am afraid my English is too poor to describe well enough this place. Definetely will return.

My husband and I have been all over the world and are very fussy eaters but we love Combe House so much that we constantly recommend friends and family to have parties there and ask for Combe House tokens for our Xmas and birthday presents from family. We took our teenage boys for a tasting menu lunch last weekend - we tend to choose set menus so that we all try new things and eat things the way the chefs would like us to. Sadly the first course to appear was fois gras - admittedly delicious but such a painful thing to eat in terms of the animal cruelty it incurs. Surely a restaurant heralding local produce could avoid such controversial items on the menu. The pollock with crab that followed was utterly divine but then the pork belly and the chocolate tart were just not as great as we have come to expect of Combe House. I think we will have to just stick to the dinner tasting menu which has never failed to delight us in every way. The service was however impeccable as always.

This was one of the best lunches that my wife and I have experienced. The parkland and the Grade 1 listed house are charming; the gravel has the correct level of crunch; the welcome from the manager was genuine, he is interested in his guests; the service is friendly and faultless. The three course al la carte lunch was magnificent, the wine list is small with some reasonably priced wines, the belly of pork was complemented by a bottle of Brouily 2013. The cost is reasonable and excellent value.Coffee was in the lounge where the manager asked us if we enjoyed our visit, what we were doing for the rest of the day and hoped we visit again.We most certainly will!

A superb venue and wonderfully warm staff. The food was excellent and very good value, not cheap but well worth it. I would really love to return here and make a proper day of it. We ate lunch for my daughter's birthday and to celebrate my mother in law's 70th. In hindsight, it would have been lovely to have arrived earlier and enjoyed the beautiful scenery and surroundings before the meal. The staff provided warmth and a perfect welcome and thrre was no hint of snootiness that I have sometimes experienced when arriving with little children. The fixed lunch menu provided a nice but not overwhelming choice of high quality food. Between us, we sampled nearly all the dishes and they were all of a very high standard. The only small disappointment was that the risotto could have been more generous in portion-size. A unique restaurant. If you have the good fortune to visit here check out the grounds and the mud-hut!

Their breakfast actually did have freshly squeezed juice. Hot water bottles in our bed at night, but theist of all was and eager attitude to please1

This our location of choice when we want a treat or to share special times with friends and family. It never fails to be anything but incredible; from the beautiful grounds and surrounds to the attentive staff who make every effort to be personalable and welcoming, to the incredible food. Worth every penny and somewhere I would highly recommend as it never fails to impress.

Wouldn't it not be good of every restaurant were like Combe house? The food has flair, love, taste and The mark of professional chefs. The service is old fashion but there is nothing wrong with giving proper attention to your guests. It's a bowl of fresh air after a disappointing ( more expensive) meal at the Holt In honiton

Our eldest son was 17 today. Nowhere was open, nowhere would suit a special birthday so my husband and I spent hours on the internet trying to find somewhere that would be, welcoming, warm and inviting with good food. Nowhere seemed to fit the bill. My husband found Combe House and read the reviews - look at this shall we try it? I felt very little thrill to be going out to yet another well meaning establishment, especially so soon after Christmas. We had been to a couple and due to staff being on holiday, the chef being away or the restaurant being busy/not busy we'd had complete let downs in experience, and an absence of either good food. Could I yet again be conciliatory to a serving person who couldn't juggle taking a whole order with carrying food to a table - did I have the patience for yet another lacklustre lunch? How wrong I was. From the moment we walked through the door of this amazing Elizabethan house with roaring log fires in each room we began to feel a thrill of possible excitement, could this be other than the usual mediocre affair, could this actually deliver on what was stated?Yes, yes and again yes. We were met at the door by a young lady who simply said "come and join us by the fire". We felt like we were actually wanted. We sat down and were engaged by a warmth of hospitality that felt different to the norm. After one of the most delicious lunches we have had in a long time, one member of staff stated that everyone who worked there was there because they really wanted to be there, and that they felt part of something exciting. Me too, I wanted to be part of this and we were for several hours, what a joy Combe House is and what delights the chef produces.We had canapés by the fire, which were hot fresh and delicious. We sat down at the table and started with a dark red sweet beetroot soup in a small cup with a froth of horseradish, simple but made to perfection. The bread basket alone was amazing - so much so we asked for a couple of loaves to be added to our bill - onion bread and the rye, absolutely knockout!We then all ordered carpaccio of beef with feta and truffle dressing, incredible and again it worked to perfection. I had begun to let go, whatever they bring next will be good, my faith was gaining. Vension with red cabbage does not describe what the chef created, the flavour was sublime. Could we manage pudding? Of course, we had to see what the chef could do, what flourish of mastery could be produced. My son and husband had panne cotta which instead of being plain baked cream was a passion fruit version - I had a salted caramel and chocolate ice honey comb. It was all just, wow.The owner met us at the door and hoped we had enjoyed our visit - we had just sat by the fire for an hour after the lunch with coffee, feeling completely unhurried and still welcome. Of course we had enjoyed our time, it was us who thanked him for the hospitality. And that is how it felt - we had come in from a dark January day and been made to feel special, we had been tended with interest and care and had one of the most delicious lunches we had had for a long time.Go now - straight away, do not hesitate, do not think about it. We may see you there!

Booked for family lunch just after Christmas and we were not disappointed! Had read reviews and Combe House excelled expectations. The setting and the house are beautiful and even more so with the Christmas Tree and the log fire burning in the hall. From the moment we arrived to the moment we left, the service was exemplary and we were made to feel so welcome and relaxed. We were seated in a beautiful dining room after canapes and drinks in the lounge and then followed a most beautiful meal. I opted for the marinated mackerel, followed by venison and chocolate bombe with salted caramel ice cream. We also had a delicious oyster and celeriac amuse bouche and an apple and cream jelly in-between courses. Other members of the party had equally delicious food and we then retired, suitability contented, to the lounge to take coffee and petit fours. We all enjoyed the experience and I have to congratulate the manager, the staff and the chefs. We had a beautiful afternoon and cant wait to go back again to this lovely place. For the service, the food and the experience, it is very reasonably priced and I would happily pay more to eat here.

Never had anything but first class meals here, better than many Michelin starred restaurants.Taster menu rich and scrumptious. Service prompt and solicitous and the building magnificent. It is on the pricey side which at least allows you to get a table Saturday night without advance booking.

Marvelous, locally-sourced food, imaginative but not weird, beautifully served & plated in one of two charming dining rooms.

Beautiful location and great service. Food was of a high standard. No complaints, perfect for a wedding reception. Recommended

Recently went to Combe house to treat my wife to afternoon tea. Lovely setting, the house is beautiful and staff all very helpful and attentive. The food was quite average, finger sandwiches on white bread (no choice of breads) followed by a selection of cakes. The cakes were really dissapointing, whilst there was plenty of it they weren't anything to write home about, there was even a cupcake each on there which is not something you'd expect on a high end afternoon tea menu. My wife enjoyed it so i guess thats the main thing but at the prices their charging i would have expected something to more reflect the price.

Its like stepping off the world and entering a place where you are spoilt rotten and nothing is too much trouble.

Discrete attentive service. Watch the horses from the dining room. Beautifully cooked & presented local seasonal food - highly recommended!

We visited Combe House, Gittisham to celebrate our son's 30th birthday. This was an ideal venue. I would highly recommend this place, if you can afford it, as it's not cheap, but as they say, you only get what you pay for. We were certainly not disappointed.The whole setting is lovely, in beautiful grounds. The food is out of this world, service excellent. A lovely place to visit. We would most certainly go again.

This is the first time we went to the Combe House Hotel. It sits on a lovely ground and I would love to go back and have afternoon tea in their outside seating area.We were seated in one of their front room, it was lovely, it only has 4 tables so it quite a private dinning experience.The service was excellent, we were well looked after by their staff. The food is out of this world, I had lobster and potato salad as starter and John Dory and Squids for Main, they were cooked to perfection! Pudding was lovely too!Will definitely recommend this place and will go back again for sure!

We did not get off to a good start with this place – we couldn’t book either Friday or Saturday because of a wedding. Then we found that taxi drivers do not seem to work in the area on Sundays.The house is set deep in the Devon countryside. It felt like a National Trust property with many fine paintings and period furniture. We had an aperitif in the lounge. I was quite thirsty so I chose cider. It was surprisingly good.We thought about the tasting menu but in the end chose the table d'hôte. We were presented with canapés consisting of crab with avocado puree, goat’s cheese, and duck spring rolls. Once seated we had an amuse bouche that was a cold beetroot soup with sour cream. My wife liked it but I couldn’t finish it – it was too pungent for my taste.My wife chose the air-dried beef with foie gras. Part of this was inedible because it was chewier than jerk beef. I had a lobster potato salad that was very good but not outstanding. The John Dory I had for my main course was the best I have had in England this year. It was perfectly accompanied by squid. My wife was less lucky she had pork tenderloin that was cooked to a level that if it were steak would have been medium rare. She couldn’t eat it and it put her off having anything else or indeed having it re-heated.The chocolate marquise I had was a little too heavy, the best examples I have had of this dish have a consistency a little more towards the mousse end of the density spectrum.Service was very good although we had to request our bill having sat for quite a while after our meal. The restaurant tried to overcharge us by £35 for a bottle of wine. A further surprise was that it didn’t accept American Express.The restaurant is a beautiful space and we had a very good table right in the window. In the winter it would probably not be such a good table as it was very drafty. They could do more to keep the houseflies at bay.

I celebrated my birthday with my family at Combe House Restaurant and we had a truly memorable evening. The evening started with champagne in the comfort of the elegant lounge and continued with a wonderful dinner in the most beautiful dining room. The service was impeccable and the wine outstanding. I need an excuse to go back and do it all over again.

From start to finish Combe House is absolutely gold star quality. We attended as a family of four to celebrate my parents 40th wedding anniversary on Sunday 29th July and having not really researched the venue prior to arrival, except finding a postcode for this rural retreat, we had no preconceptions of what to expect.....The house itself is the most beautiful of buildings, set within a huge estate of rolling green hills, you drive along the long, winding driveway up to the main house and are warmly welcomed inside by the front of house staff, who could not be more pleasant or helpful. We sat in the drawing room and enjoyed a celebratory glass of Champagne before being presented with some delightful amuse bouche, which were all delicious.We were then escorted through to the restaurant, which was really nicely presented with huge murals across the walls depicting the estate, apparantly drawn by the previous owners wife! The food was fantastic, I opted for the chicken and foie gras terrine with candy beetroot & tarragon mayonnaise to start, as did my father, my girlfriend took on the Asparagus with poached Burford Brown egg and hollandaise and my Mother went for the Scilly Island lobster mayonnaise, Gazpacho and chilli jam. I followed this up with the Maple smoked pork belly, roasted loin, spiced carrot purée, sour cabbage and gratin potato, which all together melted in your mouth and complimented each other gracefully! My girlfriend, Mother and Father all went for the lovely rare roast beef which was all equally well received. For pudding I opted for the Caramel mousse, Orange jelly and chocolate ice cream which sounded a bit odd but as all the other options had been chosen by my family, I thought it only right to give it a go and they way the chefs had constructed it made it equally delicious as everybody elses puddings! The waitresses were extremely attentive and friendly throughout the meal, without being overbearing and in your face as they can be in certain establishments! - In fact they all had a really good sense of humour but were thoroughly professional and knew pretty much every question we posed of them!Unfortunately the meal ended and it was time for us to wend our merry way homes, not before letting lunch go down with a nice leisurely walk around the glorious gardens and vegetable patch!In summary, we cannot fault Combe House (and I am honestly trying to find something as my family and I are fussy so and so's!), it is absolutely top class, from the service to the location to the culinary experience and I cannot wait for an excuse to go back and try their more in depth 'a la carte' evening menu! Thank you for making us all smile and making my parents anniversary one they will not forget (well, at least until the onset of senile demensia)!

My wife and I celebrated our silver wedding by having a meal on New Year's Day 2014, joined by grown up children and grandchild. It was a superb experience in every way: the service was excellent, present but not overbearing and the food truly delicious. The ambience was restrained and elegant, from our reception in the bar, where we awaited our table and gave our order, to the dining room. We ordered special commemorative flowers for the table, which were delivered and in place when we sat down and the chef made us 'celebratory' desserts without being asked. Our 12 month old grand-daughter was given a high chair at the table, and her own version of the chef's food - not some thrown together after-thought, and was treated really well. It wasn't cheap, true, at £250 for 4 adults and a child, but worth every penny. For a very special occasion worth a room too - but that would really push the boat out.

Great service, excellent menus and wine list. Their eggs were superb....they must have their own hens. Their fruit and vegetables were also outstanding. Again, I think they must grow their own, or buy locally.

A very well presented and beautiful piece of pork, add in lots of very nice extras combined with a good wine list made this restaurant a great experience.

A wonderful and well put together tasting menu with the flight of wines that was better chosen than some I've had quite recently. A most enjoyable evening and wonderful service in a splendid environment.

Another hugely enjoyable experience at Combe House. Great food, beautiful location, relaxed atmosphere and fantastic staff, brilliantly led by Mark. What an asset he is! Keep doing what you do guys. See you again soon I hope. My only criticism might be the recently greatly reduced wine list, but the quality remains good.

the drive up to the house makes you feel quite special, with arab horses in the fields plus pheasants all around,then you see the house what a setting, magical. we were greeted at the main entrance by name and as this was for a birthday treat, compliments mentioned, all the staff new why we were there and could not have been more helpful.the staff were very knowledgeable with the food and wine and the area. then the meal what can you say, we have eaten around France for years and this was as good. compliments to the chef, we shall return as we do most years.

Nice setting and pretty house but poor food and rude service. There is no privacy and it appeared the staf were constantly trying to listen to our conversations. The resturant was cold and drafty, and really in need of a refurbishment. Price was well over the top.

We have just found Combe House after almost visiting 4 years ago, but illness forced us to postpone. This time we were there as part of a Thanksgiving Service for our good friends mother. We were met by very enthusiastic and correct staff who ushered us into a side roof were they served copies amounts of wine and soft drinks to help raise the mood. The nibbles were fantastic and the all-round ambiance given by the staff was first rate. A little wander around the hotel and grounds has made us and several friend make adage that we will all return in the spring for a fun foodie weekend. The menu is fantastic and the staff make us want to return. I believe we can even bring the dogs with us. A very worthwhile visit and can't wait to come back.

We visited Coombe House to celebrate our daughters 21st and were not in anyway disappointed. From the minute we walked in the door to leaving, rather late! the young staff were excellent and nothing was too much trouble. They remembered it was a birthday celebration and a special dessert was presented without us asking, the food overall was superb and we spent a relaxing couple of hours in the bar afterwards sampling liquors etc. We have been many times but we still enjoy the ambiance and food, you have to go to Gidleigh to beat this locally, pound for pound it can be just as good. We will be back. Thank you for a lovely evening.

Wonderful friendly but attentive service. Gorgeous delicious food. Have had Afternoon Tea and a Dinner here now and really love this place. Idyllic setting too. Looking forward to trying Sunday Lunch next!

This is a very special and beautiful venue. It's intimate and relaxed but maintains high standards throughout. The staff were a delight who gaged the right balance between attentive, friendly and unobtrusive. The food was delicious and reasonably priced for the quality and venue.

The MemSahib previously took me here for a sleepover on my birthday and it was a wonderful experience. Last weekend my mother kindly took us and, while I was a little concerned that their standards might slip for "Sunday lunch", none of us were disappointed. Indeed, "One of the best meals I have had for a long time", quoth she.The building and grounds are magnificent, and even better on a sunny day - post-prandial perambulation greatly enhances digestion. The staff are welcoming, courteous and attentive without being in any way pretentious. Guests timing is carefully staggered so as to allow the full attention of the staff and the kitchen. Drinks and canapés were served in a sitting room while menus perused and we were then ushered into a lovely oak-paneled dining room.Two Scallops were excellent, with some lovely parmesan gnocchi, and the Crab Mayonnaise pronounced perfect by a very discerning critic of the Decapod. Two Roast Lamb (it was Sunday) were delicious, very well presented, pink and tender (and generous) with crisp roast potatoes. The Sea Bream perfectly cooked and light, as required. Two lovely deserts (Sticky Toffee Pudding and Lemon Tart) were only outshone (IMHO) by a lovely range of five cheeses, all in perfect condition. Our dining was greatly enhanced by our waitress was delightful, cheerful and very attentive.The wine list was excellent, unpretentious and reasonably priced and, for lunchtime drinking-by-the-glass, helpfully suggests specific wines with specific foods.Overall probably not as good as good as the dinner we had there but excellent for Sunday lunch whether as family or a more formal treat. We will return!

Met up with old friend for Sunday lunch and had a warm welcome from all staff followed by drinks in the old part of the hotel. Taken to a superb round table for 10 - one of several and had perfect scallops, roast beef and then parfait before coffee outside. Lots of treats as well all followed by a walk round the wonderful grounds. Great value for less than &50 per head with wine

Invited as a special guest I had lunch with Ruth and Ken. What a treat it was! The hotel, situation, log fires, service and food were superb! This is the second time I've eaten here and it was divine! Thank you both. Tracy.

We took our Mum for here Easter lunch and had a lovely time. The service was excellent from the second we stepped foot from the car, warm and friendly without being overly attentive or too fussy. The food exceeded my expectations and was great value for money. I particularly enjoyed the chocolate orange truffles after lunch. Yum! The beautiful old house is in beautiful peaceful surroundings. If I was being picky the decor looks a bit tired, but that is also part of its charm, and I have had my head in Elle Deco magazine far too much recently. Either way, the food was worth returning for.

Sometimes with 'posh' places you feel so uncomfortable you just want to get out as soon as you can. At Coombe House you feel cosy and welcomed. It avoids the formality that often afflicts historic eating places. We had a very good lunch and will certainly return.

There was a large party in one of the dining rooms so our lunch was served in a side room. So we had a quiet meal with a member of staff to ourselves. They had asked us to come later than usual to get the large party underway, so we were not delayed. Wide choice of food and excellent cheese.

The house is magnificent in a magical remote setting. I was brought here for my birthday and it was great for high tea. I felt very spoiled. The staff were friendly and not pretentious, they showed us round the house and let us wander round the garden. I would love to go there again.

Combe House is just lovely! The surroundings are beautiful, the house itself is lovely and the food and drink matches!! There is a great selection of drinks. The staff and really lovely. The service is excellent. I would recommend lunch and dinner here...you will not be disappointed!

Magnificent food, wonderful service and a lovely setting, what more could you want. Combe House is a true joy, the staff are attentive and friendly, the dining rooms are lovely and the food was beautiful. There is not much more I can say except that you must go there if you can !

There is nothing more quintessentially English than Combe House, an historic manor house near Exeter in glorious Devon. We recently enjoyed afternoon tea in this honey-coloured stone Grade 1 Listed Elizabethan country house, the heart of the 3,500 Combe Estate. Everything about Combe says "gracious living" but there is nothing ostentatious about it so for afternoon tea cupcakes with sprinkles will be conspicuous by their absence! Until December you will have a Afternoon Devon Cream Tea but after the beginning of December the menu will change to the Festive Afternoon Tea which will include cinnamon and sultana scones, Christmas cake, a traditional Yule Log, mince pies, gingernut biscuits as well as honey roast ham and smoked turkey and smoked salmon finger sandwiches. The afternoon tea we enjoyed included cream cheese and smoked salmon and traditional cucumber sandwiches, delicous light-as-a-feathera homemade fruit scones with the Chef's homemade preserve made from home-grown Mara des Bois strawbeerries, Devon clotted cream (served as quenelles, rather than plonked in a dish), tartlets filled with creme patisserie and fruit, eclairs, homemade buttery shortbread and chocolate brownies.Fine quality tea - the essential component of afternoon tea - is loose leat and you may choose from a wide variety of blends, also fruit and herbal teas, and Freetrade coffee and chocolate. And of course, as this was such a special tea, we each chose to have a glass of Champagne (there is the option to include Champagne with this delightful afternoon tea.) How can I sum up the experience? Well, there are no gimmicks here. Empahsis is on quality of ingredients and the kind of tea you would love to be able to present to guests in your own home - wonderful scones, neat-as-pie sandwiches, and gorgeous cakes and pastries. Furthermore, there is a genuine wish by the owners and their excellent staff to make visitors feel welcome and totally 'at home' while they are at Combe House. HIghly recommended.

Combe house hotel is a treasure to find and cherish for special occasions. Beware of the imitation website of another establishment which is passing itself off as being Combe House. It is not. This time we were fooled into calling the wrong restaurant so when 6 of us turned up for lunch there was no reservation but the staff were very kind to fit us in and make us feel welcome. The dining room is so pretty and the food and wine delectable.

A birthday outing for four family members. Welcomed at the door and shown to soft chintzy sofas by a log fire in this beautiful Grade 1 listed country house hotel. A bottle of fizz arrived, courtesy of son and daughter in law as we looked at the menu and ate the delicious canapes; smoked trout, some sort of parfait on a spoon and exquisite cheese straws. We moved into the bright, intimate dining room and our drinks followed. Warm rolls, fresh butter, nice flowers. A tasty amuse bouche of warm wild mushroom soup. Hard to remember everything but there was foie gras parfait, crab and veal shin shredded and wrapped in caul, all garnished with leaves, sauce and drizzle. Delicious. Main courses included fillet and blade of beef, partridge breast and leg confit with wonderful crisp vegetables. Tempting puddings that looked a treat and cheese with no extra charge. Reasonably priced wine (bottle and by the glass) and port to finish. At £52.00 for 3 courses including canapes it is not cheap but the service is excellent, the food wonderful (every time) and the ambience delightful.

Stopped here en route to holiday in south hams. From the moment the door was opened we couldn't fault the attentive and friendly service. Low key luxe - spot on for the stunning venue! Great food, great wine - definitely worth it!! Will be back, to stay not just lunch!!

I booked a table for my wife's birthday last month and the whole evening was superb. The location is in the middle of a huge park surrounded by cows, deer and a very impressive kitchen garden. We were met and shown into the gorgeous panelled bar where we were served canapés and aperitifs while we perused the menu before being shown into the dining room. The food was exquisite and although the portions weren't huge, we felt strangely replete well into the next day - evidently down to the quality of the ingredients used.

We had an excellent lunch at Combe House today. The food was superb and the service faultless. Will definitely return again.

Ate here for my birthday, the food and service were excellent but the atmosphere was a little lacking. It was mid week and there was only my husband and I and one other couple in the restaurant. There was no back ground music so we ate to the clinking of knives on plates.

The stunning manor house at the end of a long drive does not disappoint - not does the food in the hotel's restaurant. First, a mention of the service from a young team who were attentive, polite and friendly. We ate Sunday lunch - around £37 for three courses and had a choice of around five dishes for each course. My starter of a very fresh mackerel with Japanese spices was excellent. The gazpacho with boccancello was similarly superb. Our main courses of beef, lamb, plaice and belly pork all resulted in empty plates and complementary remarks. The highlights were desserts - a panacotta with strawberries and pistachios (excellent) and a cointreau and espresso parfait with mascarpone sorbet raised the roof. Brilliant !! Coffees and teas in the lounge finished off an excellent meal. One consideration for the hotel management: we ate in the restaurant with the mural. An update of the decoration perhaps ??

I think I had one of the best meals of my life last week. The chefs at Combe House deserve huge praise for their delicious food. Although the choice is limited I had no trouble making decisions and wasn't disappointed with any of the courses. Before we sat down to lunch in the pale green dining room with fantastic hand-painted walls, we were presented with a delicious plate of appetisers along with our gin and tonic in the charming lounge.Lunch was preceded by an 'amuse bouche' in the form of a fab soup served in a tiny cup. The mackerel with Japenese salad was gorgeous, the belly pork fantastic and the summer pudding -well, words fail me! And then we had petit fours with our coffee. Excellent value for money. Do go!

We had a meal here to celebrate my daughters birthday and it was a great success. The food was delicious with the foie gras starter being especially worthy of mention. The hotel is wonderful both inside and out with a small but beautiful garden to walk around. Throughout our visit the service was faultless and very friendly. This is the best restaurant we have been to in Devon by far.

Our first visit here and we were very impressed. The setting of the hotel and restaurant is stunning, in the rolling hills of Devon. A little hard to find but well worth the effort.Service was excellent, with friendly and knowledgeable staff, a cosy bar and speldid dining rooms. Lunch was so good, and although a little on the expensive side, it represented good value.

Excellent food with good atmosphere. Just what one should expect. Friendly staff, will definitely return.

Dined here as a group of 3 for a late evening meal and I cannot say one bad thing about this place, the food was simply exceptional and everything from the extremely welcoming and friendly staff to the beautiful building with stunning rooms and grounds was magnificent! My expectations were high due to the numerous awards Combe house has won, and of course the good rating here on tripadvisor, but I certainly was not let down in any way during our dinner.I rang to book a dinner reservation and the lady I spoke to was so friendly and polite, and said it would be no problem at all if we arrived late as my mother was travelling from the Midlands that day and I was worried that we would miss our reservation time. As soon as we arrived at Combe House we were blown away by the amazing views from the house over the beautiful Devon countryside which looked amazing in the sunset. Upon walking into the house the Great Hall was a room that had much grandeur and I was so very impressed by the way the proprietors had retained its fantastic character. We were seated in the sitting room by the bar which was lovely and we thoroughly enjoyed our drinks and our first canape. We choice what we wanted for our 3 course meal and then were seated in the beautiful Mural Dining Room, which had a lovely atmosphere and feeling to it.The meals themselves were out of this world and tasted amazing, the combination of ingredients were extremely well matched and the presentation of the dishes were also divine. We enjoyed a basket of a selection of breads and another complimentary canape, before going on to eating our 3 course meal. The rabbit wellington starter was to die for, every mouthful was delightful and the flavour was fantastic. We all agreed it was an exceptional dish. I had the lamb for main which was gorgeous and cooked to perfection. For desert I enjoyed the lemon cheesecake and honeycombe ice-cream which again was really special.The obviously highly talented chefs even wrote happy birthday in chocolate on my desert dish as my mother mentioned to our waitress in the drinks room that it was my birthday a couple of months ago. So that was a lovely and thoughtful touch by the chefs.We then had tea in the Great Hall to finish. Combe House is a fantastic manor set in stunning surrondings, and everything about our evening was fantastic. I cannot remember the last time I had a evening meal that was this good. Also the food and drinks are extremely good value, which is something hard to come by in establishments such as this. Well done to all the staff at Combe House and the chefs, they should all be very proud!!

We had an extremely enjoyable lunch for four here on a very hot Saturday in May. The food, from a £33 lunch menu, was exceptionally good, with stand-out dishes including wood pigeon (as a starter), guinea fowl and pollock, plus a bitter chocolate tart that might persuade me to take desserts, which I sometimes don't bother with; the whole thing easily Michelin-star quality, I would say on the basis of recent meals at a variety of starred restaurants. Service was relaxed but superb, with the manager of the hotel making us feel like old friends and the staff each doing a turn in showing us how to make an occasion feel special. Great (if short) wine list, with a genuinely interesting selection available by the glass. The location itself is very special, even if the signposts are deceptive about the distance you need to travel on very narrow roads (terrifying at times!); a magnificent house, in stunning grounds. They were happy for us to walk around after lunch and it was worth it to see their kitchen gardens and the range of ingredienents they grow on the spot. My only quibble maybe is that they have three rooms to eat in and we found ourselves isolated in one of them, alongside one other couple with a (thankfully well-behaved) baby; that dulled the atmosphere, although it did mean we got to see at first hand the fascinating mural that was painted around the four walls of the room. We would certainly go back, though, and thoroughly recommend a visit here.

Had a super lunch at this hotel yesterday. From the moment we arrived the service was friendly and efficient. The food could not be faulted and when staff realised it was our anniversary we had 'Happy Anniversary' piped onto our plate of petit fours. The wine list was extensive. After lunch we were encouraged to have a walk in the gardens which were lovely. The staff were really good with a family who had 2 very young children. Altogether a delightful lunch and no service charge automatically addded to the bill. Definitely will return and have diiner there hopefully soon.

This is an excellent location for a special occassion or just to have a treat. The staff are second to none, the food excellent and venue superb. Booking essential at weekends.

I invited an old schoolmaster of mine to show him the difference between school dinners and Combe dinners. He was impressed and didn't call me 'boy' once

Great good,Great place, You are always treated very warmlyHighly Recomended!!

Very good quality food ,excellent service and great views fom both dining rooms

We celebrated my husband's 60th birthday with a meal here. The building itself was impressive, even on a dark winter's night. The food was excellent throughout, including the canapes which were served prior to the meal whilst we were seated by the enormous roaring open fire. I found all of the courses to be delicious and well-cooked and was particularly taken by the fact that on discovering that it was my husband's birthday his dessert was decorated with a "Happy Birthday" message. The wine list was extensive and we were given plenty of advice and information from the sommelier. The staff are professional and courteous, but the overall atmosphere is relaxed and friendly rather than stuffy. We shall defintely return in the summer when we hope to see the impressive surroundings.

A choice of restaurants, good selection of wines and delicious food, served by friendly, professional staff. Well done !

I stayed and ate here recently and was pleased to see so many of the wonderful staff still here having met them on previous visits! My every need was met and nothing was too much trouble. The atmosphere and setting of this place is incredible, a beautifully kept and clearly loved building offers comfortable and luxurious surroundings, with immaculate and unique rooms, and mine had the most breathtaking view overlooking the unspoilt, lush east devon valley on which combe house overlooks. My dinner was divine, I enjoyed every bite from my canapes to my petit fours, it is clear that this place has a talented and passionate kitchen team! The standards were consistent throughout our meal, and our cooked breakfast was superb! The food and service here reminds me of certain top, award winning restaurants which I visit in london! I will return soon!

For years, we have sung the praises of Combe House and we were looking forward to our return. Four of us went. We all had extremely poor meals. Maybe we made a mistake going on a Sunday and not having a roast, but if you are going to have other food on the menu, it should be excellent, especially at £36 without wine or coffee. All the courses were pre-prepared. The hamhock fritter was no better than an egg roll in a local chinese restaurant. The vegetables with the brill were a thrown-together mix reminiscent of a (poor) bubble and squeak. The lemon tart was not as good as Marks and Spencers' and the rhubarb trio had nothing memorable about it. The previous day we had lunch at 'The View Cafe' just west of Plymouth - half the price and ten times better. What a shame. When I answered the smiling young man at the desk's question about the meal, I was polite but honest. He just kept smiling and mumbled a few inaudible words.

There are many restaurants that offer fine dining and this is certainly one of them. What sets this apart from most is the setting and a level of service that is not matched outside the top London restaurants.The staff provide a relaxed dinning experience which is to be enjoyed.We have dined here regularly for years and it is the service as much as the food that keeps us coming back.

Beautiful location, warm and welcoming inside, wonderful service and food.They never fail to provide a totally enjoyable experience.Go there!

Visited for our anniversary meal which was noted when we made the reservation.Combe house is set in the most stunning setting, the drive up to the house through the estate is wonderful.We arrived a bit late for the sitting and were greeted by Maitre D at the door who already knew my name. Fantastic drinks and the best canapés I have ever had in a beautiful lounge.Everything was fantastic, check the website for the sample menu.The Amuse Bouche of pea and ham hock chilled soup is one of the best things I have ever tasted anywhere, it was that good, so much flavour fitted into quite a small cup! My crab for starter had so many nice touches, and the Main of Arkham chicken was incredible, it included a confit of chicken which was fantastic. Other half had lamb done 2 ways which was also excellent. Desserts are best left to the imagination! I went for the cheese and was not disappointed.Mostly European wines from a massive list, we ordered by the glass and both wines were very nice.Coffee and Chocolates were served back in the lounge, when our chocolates arrived they had written 'Happy Anniversary' on the plate in white chocolate.The meal here was one of my best ever, which is great to say about a restaurant in the UK. Cant wait to go back...

Much has already been said and many words written about the Grade 1 Elizabethan Luxury Country House Hotel that is Combe House Hotel & Restaurant in Gittisham, Honiton, Devon. How delighted we were to discover at first hand that it lived up to all expectations. The wonderful country setting was lovely and provided the perfect backdrop for an all too brief visit.On arrival we were welcomed by Rachel’s bubbly personality and courteous smile who informed us that we were expected by our hosts Ken and Ruth. This was a good sign which augured well. Imagine our delight when a glass of champagne and a tray of canapés arrived as a precursor to luncheon. We were escorted to ‘The Pink Room’, one of three intimate dining rooms decorated with chandeliers and hand-painted mural walls. Here we sat at our table in the bay window and looked out over the grounds where Arabian horses grazed in the fields and pheasants strolled across the lawns. It was a truly wonderful setting.Head Chef Hadleigh Barrett and Sous Chef Stuart Brown (both Master Chefs of Great Britain) provided a meal fit for royalty. Our choices from the luncheon menu included (Appetiser) pea veloute; (1st Course) rabbit confit and truffle terrine, foie gras mousse, pickled vegetables; smoked salmon kedgeree, hot smoked salmon, lightly curried risotto fritter, parsley oil; (2nd Course) lamb, roast leg with herb crust, braised neck fillet, gratin potato, pea puree. We did not avail ourselves of the 3rd Course but had we done so we would have chosen blood orange sable, blood orange sorbet; mascarpone and amaretto mousse, chocolate sorbet. The food was perfectly cooked, beautifully prepared and presented, and tasted delicious. Feeling suitably replete, we retired to the sitting room to enjoy coffee and petit fours. The entire culinary experience was an absolute delight and thoroughly enjoyable.Our hosts Ken and Ruth very kindly took us on a whistle-stop tour of Combe House. All rooms are ensuite and have recently been refurbished to a very high standard. We fell in love with the Signature Suites; Combe Thatch Cottage and secluded Walled Garden, The Linen Suite and Tommy Wax. Walking through the grounds, we met Head Gardener, Charlie O’Reilly who was clearly passionate about his responsibilities and gladly related how the carefully nurtured grounds, gardens and croquet lawn had evolved during the past decades under his tenure in office. It was comforting to learn that the restaurant’s vegetable requirements are met on a seasonal basis directly from the kitchen garden.Combe House in Gittisham, Devon is furnished with understated elegance and exudes an airy and magical atmosphere of times gone by. It is a wonderfully, friendly place where the professionalism of staff at all levels and attention to detail are exemplars which makes it feel more like a home than a hotel. We hope to return very soon to sample some more of the excellent hospitality. Our heartiest congratulations and best wishes to the owners Ken and Ruth for looking after us so well and for making our visit so memorable.Angela & Brian Swinyard

Dinner for three on 21st April 2010Each course delighted the tastebuds. The information on local suppliers helps you appreciate the ingredients and the hard work that has gone into creating each dish. The Ark chicken reminded me of what chicken used to taste like. My pink desert was a marvellous creation that complemented the whole menu. You even get the coffee right and those chocolates are to die for!! The attentive and friendly service Breakfasts on 22nd & 23rd April 2010 Devon breakfasts at their best even down to the toast and croissants. Eggs couldn't be fresher and wish I could find sausages like that in Nottinghamshire!! Chef even produced French Toast for my daughter

A splendid restaurant within this magnificent hotel, set in extensive grounds. Highly recommended. Check out the combe House website for full details, as this place is so much more than the average restaurant.