Framlingham, Italian Restaurant Guide

“Gastropub? More like a fine-dining experience” say fans of this “prize-winning” and “dog- friendly” Brit-alian venue (est. 2015), which secured top honours on Estrella Damm’s Top 50 UK Gastropubs list for the second time in 2024. For all the headlines, it continues to attract cynics who feel it’s “vastly overhyped”, “not as good as it was” or who note “ever-increasing prices”. Still, all who report rate the cooking as “good” or better. Top TIp – there’s no doubting that the ‘Be Unruly’ “tasting menu on Thursday is exceptional value” (£49 per person for five courses, as per the usual £75).

“A perfect local Italian in an historic town famous for its castle, college and Ed Sheeran” – Ruth Watson and her husband Dave and chef Rob Walpole co-own this “light and airy” “neighbourhood” venue. It’s an operation with all its buttons sewn on: service is “sprightly” and food is “expertly crafted from a cunningly designed menu” that delivers “authentic cooking at an affordable price”.