A really memorable lunch at Briar on a Bank Holiday Monday — seasonal cooking that’s confident, thoughtful, and totally unpretentious. The Westcombe Cheddar gougères were crisp, rich, and packed with flavour — perfect with the sweet-savoury burnt onion ketchup. Beef tartare with ember mayo and crispy potato had great texture and depth, and the raw sea bass with orange and chilli was clean, bright and beautifully balanced. The lamb belly skewer was a standout — smoky, tender, with just the right amount of yoghurt and chilli to cut through. Asparagus with walnut mayo (made, I think, with pickled walnuts) had a sharp, umami depth that worked so well. Mackerel with horseradish and spring greens was bold and precise. The confit duck with lentils, bacon and wild garlic was comforting, generous, and deeply satisfying. Dessert — Somerset cider brandy with butterscotch and crème fraîche — was silky, boozy, and well balanced. A perfect end. Excellent value for money, especially given the quality of produce and level of cooking. Service was warm and low-key, and the whole experience felt grounded but quietly special. Would absolutely return.

Well, where to start! We could have ordered every item on the menu and nearly did. Perfection on all plates, a great choice for our wedding anniversary. Fresh, local ingredients, thoughtfully prepared and beautifully executed. Staff were delightful and knowledgeable- always a plus! Can’t recommend enough. If the menu appeals, the food will not disappoint. The cheese gougeres and lamb skewers a must. And, the bottle of Domaine de l’Idylle Cruet a perfect accompaniment.

During our stay in Bruton, our Airbnb hosts recommended a hidden gem called Briar, and I’m so glad they did! The restaurant, which is part of a hotel but feels distinct and separate, absolutely exceeded expectations. What’s even more impressive is that within just four months of opening, it earned a Michelin recommendation — a testament to the quality of the food. The menu changes regularly based on the fresh, local produce available, which I really appreciate. The decor is rustic and simple, creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere that complements the meal. The dining experience centers around tapas-style dishes, with 4-5 tasting plates per couple. We tried a variety of dishes, and each one was absolutely incredible. The lamb belly skewers were a standout, cooked to perfection and full of flavor. But what truly blew my mind were the desserts. We had a rhubarb and puff pastry with buttermilk ice cream dessert and a chocolate with crème fraîche creation. Honestly, these were some of the best desserts I’ve ever had in my life. The combinations of ingredients were sensational — each bite was an explosion of flavors. Considering how amazing the food was, the bill was very reasonable — under £100 for two people. We had five dishes, two desserts, and one round of drinks, which felt like an absolute steal for such high-quality food. Briar is a true culinary treasure, and I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Bruton. A perfect balance of creativity, fresh ingredients, and extraordinary taste.

We stayed at 1 Bruton and didn’t book dinner on either of the nights we were due to stay but with one thing and another, suddenly had nowhere to eat on the second evening. We were squeezed in for last serving and, boy, what luck! The food was fantastic. Don’t be fooled by the small plates palaver; there is nothing diminutive about the portions when shared between two. Even the snacky entrées were a good size (cucumber salad was heavenly and the raw fish thing with tomatoes also scintillating). We shared four mains and were struggling by the time we got to the fourth, having wolfed down the first three like our lives depended on it (lamb skewer, melt in the mouth spectacular, smoked onion and chickpea, five star, and figs, not usually my thing but these were delish). Which was almost a shame because the hake was the best of all (we managed). Service excellent. Atmosphere, very Somerset, as in relaxing. Great place. You should go.

the menu is designed to share - we were recommended 5 plates...we couldn't have eaten more! Each plate was deicious and different...the smoked duck was so tender, perfectly cooked with just the right smokiness. Very relaxed atmosphere. Highly recommended.

The venue is small and intimate, but you don't feel crowded. The service was excellent and all our questions related to the menu were answered accurately. The food itself was sublime with a great variety of starters and mains. Unfortunately we had no room to sample the puddings. There was also a good selection of reasonably priced wines. We would definitely go back!

A truly sublime and memorable meal at Briar. We were a table of 5 so ordered the full menu to share between us. Every single dish was brilliantly executed, presented and clearly thought out. Particular highlights were the lamb skewer, seabass & chocolate marquise. Adrianna & the front of house team went above and beyond with their impeccable service and attention to detail, particularly wine choices and non alcoholic options. I could not recommend Briar enough! Thank you to Sam & the whole team

A wonderful eveing with my wife the service and food were both exceptional - one of the best meals we have had for a long time. thoughly reccommend