Service is relaxed and attentive, and you can settle down with a drink in the comfortable lounge area before dining. Xavier recommended a few different meat and seafood dishes and, to complement each course, a different wine by the glass for each. To start, we sampled the guinea fowl and truffle boudin blanc and a light and creamy wild mushroom risotto. To follow, we tried Bouillabaisse and fillet of beef Rossini, before finishing with a delectable chocolat fondant and a selection of fine English and French cheeses with biscuits from the cheese trolley.

The quality of the ingredients, some of which are flown in direct from Rungis, was evident in every dish we were served, and presentation here is a form of art.

Forbury's offers a market menu with three courses for £21.50, an extensive à la carte menu and a gourmand menu with six courses for £55. Function menus are also available for large parties, and there is a private room available as well as a comfortable open terrace.

Since its opening, Forbury's has gained accolades from all the major guides including the Michelin Guide, AA Guide and for 2006, it was placed in the top ten restaurants by Harden's Restaurant Guide.