The Bell Inn, Horndon on the Hill

We'd read lots of great reviews for The Bell, Horndon on the Hill, so today Four Go to Lunch in Essex set off for lunch in high expectation. There's no doubt that The Bell has much olde worlde charm but first impressions of the restaurant area was that it was a bit dark. However we were seated quickly by a cheerful young waitress (we hadn't made a reservation) & service was very prompt. We all chose from the bar menu rather than a la carte as we all felt that for a mid week lunch it was rather pricey. You could say we chose typical pub grub like gammon steaks, leek & apple sausages & chicken salad - but oh my - how untypical was the presentation!! Beautiful food - beautifully presented and not at all typical. The desserts were equally tasty & looked gorgeous on the plate. We definitely enjoyed our visit, even with the presence of a couple of determined wasps!! We award this venue 4 stars.