What's on the Menu in... Bruton
Small, rural Bruton punches well above it's weight with a generous offering of different eateries. There is a passion here for local and seasonal produce but what materialises on your plate will satisfy a broader geographical pallet.
Osip
@osiprestaurant
Bruton is a small, rural town and yet thanks to Merlin Labron-Johnson it can boast Michelin Star status. Osip offers a farm to table experience with the majority of their produce coming from their own garden. Square Meal and local food writer Hugh Thomas have it pegged as the best place to eat in the UK so certainly one not to miss!
The Old Pharmacy
@theoldpharmacybruton
Next door to Osip is The Old Pharmacy; a great place to grab coffee and patisseries - which I have done on a few occasions - or enjoy a glass of wine and small plates. Again there is a hyper-focus on fantastic seasonal ingredients that have been self-grown or locally sourced. There is also a small grocery shop so you can take a sample of their produce home to your own kitchen.
At The Chapel
@atthechapel
Just over the road (I did say that Bruton is small!) is At The Chapel. The ethos of high quality produce continues to be celebrated here, but the cosy, rustic wooden chopping board vibes of Osip and The Old Pharmacy are replaced with the high ceilings of an 18th century chapel, and stark white gallery walls. The menu takes a lot of inspiration from Italy and they do a decent stone baked pizza. They also have a bakery and accommodation.
Roth Bar and Grill
@rothbarandgrill
Along side Durslade Farm Shop (@dursladefarmshop) Roth Bar and Grill is part of the Hauser and Worth family, bringing art, food and the land closer together. Both farm shop and restaurant offerings are created from the produce they are growing in the garden - which you can walk through - just over the road.
Matt's Kitchen
@mattskitchenbruton
Matt had gone on holiday when I visited Bruton so I can't speak first hand about his kitchen, but I've heard good things. He offers a fixed menu dinner with BYOB, Thursday to Saturday, in the intimate setting of the ground floor of his house.
Akbar's Kitchen
website
Persian food is not something you come across too often in this rural part of the country so Akbar's kitchen made me curious enough for an investigative visit. You'll be forgiven for thinking you've come to the wrong place when you enter the Sun Inn, kitted out with traditional english pub bar and accompanying fruit machine. However nestled at the back is the kitchen (you order drinks and food separately) where a multi-generational team offer a multicultural menu. I can't speak for the pub grub which is also on offer as I opted for the Persian menu but I was very happy with the cod stew which was recommended by the locals.
Godminster Shop
@thegodminstershop
I'm a big fan of the Godminster Shop as they sell some lovely things and showcase a lot of local producers. This year (2023) they had a bit of a rebrand which I really love, and their cheeses now come clad in fresh and folky packaging, each cheese telling a different story. The lady behind the counter told me to check out Kimber's Farmshop - next time I'm over that way, I'll be sure to let you know what I find!
Also worth a visit...
A stone's throw north of Bruton is Batcombe which has recently been put on the map by Margot Henderson when she opened The Three Horseshoes. The new gastro pub has been added to the Michelin Guide but we'll have to wait and see what level of award it is given.
Westcombe is just around the corner and Westcombe Dairy is certainly worth a visit. It's home to more Brickells Ice Cream, Landrace Milling, a brewery and of course Westcombe Dairy and Charcuterie. A veritable feast! There is a shop, tap room and if you're lucky someone might offer you a tour of the cheese cave; it's pretty magnificent.
I try to update this regularly but if you do spot something that no longer exists or feel there is something missing from the list, then just let me know.