The best restaurants serving Other european-cuisines food in Aston Clinton Aylesbury Vale South East

Wow! I thought serious food at lunch like this had pretty much died out! Stepped through the door for a pint of Greene King IPA with a friend and decided to stay for lunch. Interior is clean and simple with an extensive well-lit dining room but I preferred to take a table in the bar. On Thursday lunchtime, it's unlikely to be packed but even so a couple of tables of appreciative regulars were in place. The service is impeccable, helpful and knowledgeable. Rarely use the term 'gastro pub' but if that's a place that turns out great food and can keep beer well, then, this is it. I did linger over the wine list but was driving so couldn't be tempted to even a decent fino sherry to start or a glass of the excellent Hungarian dry tokai or a bottle from the impressive list on clarets. The evident quality of the produce and the fact that local suppliers for beef, game and poultry inter alia, get star billing is a major tick of approval in my book. Enough of me blathering. After an amuse-bouche of pumpkin soup topped with a spiced oil which really hit the spot, my starter of confit pork belly - caramelised underneath with a layer of crispy crackling on top - with herbs, microgreens, apple and vibrant dashi stock was one of the best starters I've had in a very long time. My guest's spiced chicken was similarly impressive and kept this curry fanatic very happy with it's nod to the enduringly popular chicken tikka masala. Sadly, it was a quick lunch or we would have tried the prawn cocktail in savoury cornet and the venison dish from the snacks list as well. I have to admit lasagna rarely sets my pulse rating on a menu. I'm pleased that the unusual combination of pine nuts, aubergine and sage 'reeled me' in but was still not prepared for the rich, highly flavoured stack with which I was presented. A momentary doubt that it might be a bit dry was immediately corrected by the addition, at table, of a fabulous cheese sauce closely followed by another which resembled more a pesto than a sauce. These together with deep fried sage leaves completed what amounted to a substantial dish. The control of ingredients and exact techniques of this kitchen were also on show with lamb main course chosen by my guest. Can't say much more because my concentration was taken up with my lasagna! Would have loved to have tried either the cheeses or one of the magnificent puddings on offer but time did not allow. I ear-wigged from a conversation with the manager on another table that the kitchen here has five chefs at lunch on a week day; seven in the evening! That's an investment in quality and technique that one is rarely confronted by nowadays when you call in a for a casual lunch. Great food, great pub setting, wonderful service. The two or three course lunch menu also represents great value in these uncertain times. I shall be back!