Top ten Somerset restaurants to enjoy a romantic Valentine's Day meal

If you want to ensure love is on the menu this Valentine’s Day then book a table at one of Somerset’s raft of excellent restaurants.

Whether you are looking for fine dining or pub grub, many of the county’s eateries are serving up a seductive feast on February 14.

If Michelin-starred cooking sets your pulse racing there is the Pony and Trap at Knowle Hill while those looking for an intimate atmosphere should visit Taunton’s Willow Tree which was named as one of the UK’s top 10 romantic restaurants by the Good Food Guide.

Haselbury Mill near Crewkerne is offering a choice of two very different Valentine’s events this year. On February 14 you enjoy a fantastic four course candlelit meal while two days later the venue is holding a masked ball complete with songs from hit musicals and a live rock band.

Situated in the heart of Exmoor’s wild and beautiful landscape, The Culbone offers a cosy yet refined retreat from the elements. On February 14 and 15 it is offering a stunning three course meal designed to bring people together.

Among the enticing locally sourced-dishes are a number of plates to share with your partner, including the starter of a dozen rock oysters and the main of rack of Exmoor lamb for two.

General manager Nina Bartlett said: “For Valentine’s Day we are serving our big sharing plates which really have the wow factor. Visually they are very impressive and they taste fantastic so it is a double win really. We can also select wines for each course which can make it even more special.

“All the ingredients we use are sourced from Exmoor so you get a real taste of the local area. It might make it a pound or two more expensive than your average pub but we think it is worth it for the extra quality you get by having fresh local produce.”

And it isn’t just the fabulous food that makes The Culbone an ideal place for a Valentine’s visit. The breathtaking views of the valley and moors outside and the intimate setting within are perfect for a romantic occasion.

Nina said: “The restaurant has a lovely intimate atmosphere but at the same time it can also really come alive. For Valentine’s Day it will be set out with tables for two and there is a large fire which will be lit. It is a really nice contrast with the wild beauty of Exmoor which is the backdrop outside. If it is still enough we will light candles and the fire pit outside which is just gorgeous.”

For more details on The Culbone and our pick of the other top Valentine’s destinations check out our list below.

1) THE WILLOW TREE, TAUNTON

Rated as one of the Good Food Guide’s top 10 romantic restaurants, the Willow Tree is the ideal Valentine’s dining destination.

Set over two floors of an attractive Grade II listed building, the intimate dining area and stunning food are sure to set hearts aflutter.

On February 14 couples can choose between a six course tasting menu or the restaurant’s usual modern French dishes.

Highlights of the tasting menu include pan roasted sea bass with a feta and polenta cake and the deliciously indulgent warm chocolate cake with malted honeycomb ice cream and honey jelly.

The Willow Tree, 3 Tower Lane (off Castle Street), Taunton, TA1 4AR, 01823 352835.

 Style:  Modern French.

 Valentine’s Day:  Six course tasting menu or normal restaurant menu.

 Price:  Tasting menu £34.95 per person, usual three course menu £29.95 per person.

 Try:  Roast neck of lamb with ratatouille, basil puree, dauphinoise potatoes and a black olive jus.

2) MULBERRYS, YEOVIL

Crowned as the county’s best restaurant for two years in a row at the Somerset Life Food and Drink Awards, a visit to Mulberrys Restaurant and Grill is a sure fire Valentine’s Day winner.

Renowned for its succulent chargrilled steaks – cooked to six different specifications - it is a match made in heaven for meat lovers.

Other dishes on the menu include homemade burgers and a number of South African specialties. The restaurant also offers a wide-ranging and affordable wine selection.

Mulberrys Restaurant and Grill, 9 Union Street, Yeovil, BA20 1PQ, 01935 434188.

Style: Steak house/South African.

Valentine’s Day: Usual a la carte menu.

Price: Mains from £10 to £24.

Try: One of Mulberrys’ famous chargrilled steaks cooked to your specification.

3) FOX AND GOOSE INN, HIGHBRIDGE

The traditional country pub is pulling out all the stops on Valentine’s Day with an enticing three course menu.

Dishes range the tomato and butternut squash soup starter through to innovative main meals that include salmon with mango and papaya poached in white wine and cream.

But the course really set to get the pulse racing is dessert, which features a sharing plate with three different mousses or a bowl of profiteroles all to yourself.

The Fox and Goose Inn, Bristol Road, Highbridge, Brent Knoll, TA9 4HH, 01278 760008.

Style: Modern British.

Valentine’s Day: Three course menu.

Price: £24.95 per person.

Try: Chicken breast roulade filled with goats’ cheese and spinach with a tomato and basil coulis and vegetables.

4) HASELBURY MILL, CREWKERNE

Whether you are looking to dance the night away or enjoy an intimate meal for two, Haselbury Mill can cater for your every desire.

On February 14 its Lakeside Restaurant is serving up a stunning four course candlelit dinner complete with canapés and a glass of bucks fizz.

And two days later the Great Tithe Barn is the venue for a masked ball. The evening includes a four course meal and two different live performances. First a cast of leading actors will perform the most romantic tunes from a host of hit West End musicals. And after dinner you can strut your stuff to the sounds of a top local rock band.

Haselbury Mill, Haselbury Plucknett, Crewkerne, TA18 7NY, 01460 77095.

Style: Modern British.

Valentine’s Day: Four course candlelit meal (February 14) or masked ball (February 16).

Price: £28.95 per person.

Try: Grilled sea bass fillet with Somerset brown shrimps, beet puree and a warm salad of new potatoes and spinach with a lobster and chive velouté.

5) WINTER GARDENS, WESTON-SUPER-MARE

For a fun yet frugal Valentine’s evening out, head to Weston-super-Mare’s Winter Gardens.

The Vineyard Bistro is offering up a superb three course supper and a glass of fizz for just £29 per couple.

Dishes include sirloin steak, pesto crumbed cod and an array of decadent desserts including a ‘chocholics triple fantasy gateau’.

The Winter Gardens, Royal Parade, Weston-Super-Mare, BS23 1AJ, 01934 417 117.

Style: Classic British.

Valentine’s Day: Three course menu and glass of bubbly.

Price: £29 per couple.

Try: Slow roasted belly of pork with a cider and apple jus served on a bed of parsnip puree with roast potatoes and fresh vegetables.

6) THE CULBONE, PORLOCK

After exploring the wild beauty of Exmoor there can be no more romantic way to finish your Valentine’s date than with a meal at The Culbone.

Situated in the heart of one of the UK’s most breathtaking landscapes it offers a cosy yet refined refuge from the elements.

On February 14 and 15 it is serving up a sumptuous three course menu designed to ensure love is in the air. Using seasonal, locally-sourced produce the award-winning restaurant has created a number of dishes to share with your partner.

From starters that include rock oyster with lemon thyme, chilli and roast garlic to mains like lobster spaghetti or whole roasted Guinea fowl, you cannot fail to be swept up in the occasion.

Individual meals and dinner, bed and breakfast packages are also available.

The Culbone, Porlock, Minehead, TA24 8JW, 01643 862 259.

Style: Modern British.

Valentine’s Day: Three course menu and glass of bubbly (February 14 and 15).

Price: Mains from £12 to £25.

Try: Rack of Exmoor lamb for two with harissa, cous cous and babaganouche (£20 per person).

7) THE PONY AND TRAP, CHEW MAGNA

If the way to your partner’s heart is through their stomach then a trip to the Michelin-starred Pony and Trap is guaranteed to get them hot under the collar.

The country pub has built up a reputation for combining classic dishes and cutting edge culinary skills. This is in evidence on its six course tasting menu which can be ordered with or without a matching wine flight.

Treading the perfect line between traditional charm and contemporary sophistication a Valentine’s visit promises to be an informal yet unforgettable experience.

The Pony and Trap, Knowle Hill, Newtown, Chew Magna, BS40 8TQ, 01275 332627.

Style: Modern British.

Valentine’s Day: Six course tasting menu and optional wine flight.

Price: £50 per person.

Try: Lamb rack, breast and pie.

8) HOLBROOK HOUSE, WINCANTON

An evening at the beautiful Holbrook House is sure to make your partner feel like a lord or lady of the manor.

The Georgian Country House is serving up an opulent seven course menu taking you on a journey of taste, texture and temperature.

The dishes have been created with romance in mind from the mezze sharing platter starter through to the assiette of desserts to share.

Holbrook House, Wincanton, BA9 8BS, 01963 824466.

Style: Classic British.

Valentine’s Day: Seven course menu.

Price: £95 per couple.

Try: Fillet of beef Wellington with port and thyme dauphinoise potatoes, carrot fondants and port reduction.

9) THE MONKTON INN, WEST MONKTON

Named ‘Country Pub of the Year’ at the Somerset Life Food and Drink Awards, the Monkton Inn combines homely charms with exotic ingredients.

Owners Peter and Val Mustoe lived and worked in South Africa for many years and this is reflected in menus made up of local and more unusual dishes. As a result fish and chips sits beside fillet of springbok and the specials can include ostrich casserole and zebra sausages.

The sunshine-tinged dishes are matched by a warm and cosy atmosphere – perfect for an intimate Valentine’s evening.

The Monkton Inn, Blundells Lane, West Monkton, TA2 8NP, 01823 412414.

Style: Modern British/South African.

Valentine’s Day: Usual menu.

Price: Mains from £9.95 to £17.95.

Try: Grilled fillet of springbok served with a redcurrant sauce.

10) THE WALNUT TREE HOTEL, BRIDGWATER

Offering fabulous food in a stylish setting, the Walnut Tree Hotel has all the ingredients for a great Valentine’s Day evening.

Kicking off with a glass of bubbly, diners will be treated to a flair-filled four course menu featuring traditional dishes with a contemporary edge. From starters like beetroot and bramley apple soup to mains that include John Dory fillets in a mussel cream there is something for all tastes.

And the desserts are guaranteed to warm the heart with a choice of four dishes including a ‘fruit platter of pleasure’ to share. The delectable pud combines chocolate dipped strawberries, mixed berry pannacotta, passion fruit crème brulee, lemon lime roulade and a raspberry and chocolate brownie.

The Walnut Tree Hotel, North Petherton, Bridgwater, TA6 6QA, 01278 662255.

Style: Modern British.

Valentine’s Day: Four course menu.

Price: £59 per couple.

Try: Pan fried venison with bubble and squeak cake with spinach and wild mushroom jus.