Ramshackled and shabby lookin, the corner plot adorned by a huge fragrant Rosemary bush, belies the rustic charm of the rudimentarily functional but very comfortable and strangely familiar interior. Slightly toned lighting, bright but soft complimented by the shimmering flame from the wine bottles, granted a second life as oil burners, set the ambiance off to a tee!

For those of you who haven't been before you really should get yourselves along to The Greenhouse sometime, preferably when you are hungry, really hungry! Lets just say portions were more than generous! But that is far from the point of the Greenhouse, each dish is an genuine exploration of taste and texture. A far cry from the overtly sophisticated presentation and style of somewhere like Abode but equally astute in its approach at the same time employs a wonderful down-to-earth aspect that seats the fayre well and truly in the home-style category. Fearlessly tackling anything from Mediterranean to Asian cuisine The Greenhouse manages to successfully tip it's casual cooking hat in almost every direction while maintaining it's own, very English, identity.

Everything was obviously fresh, well sourced, well prepared. Hot crispy breaded cheese with cranberry sauce, mezze - pitta, hummus and aubergine, spicy chick peas with chili and corn were some of the starters, all served with fresh salad and a rather potent dressing! The salads are worth further mention, brimming with the freshest cucumber, tomatoes, lettuce, olives and green and red peppers topped with orange slices, they really were testament to how such simple food can be so aesthetically appealing and terrifically tasty! The mains included a delicately fragranced curry pastie with rice, a Mediterranean Wellington (a light crispy pastry parcel filled with scrumptious roast veggies prepared with tomato, basil and pepper), veggie Haggis or Cumberland sausage with tatties and boiled veg! All substantial beyond most appetites there was literally no room for desert! (A return trip may well be on the cards just to sample these!) A final note to the excellent selection of beverages on offer is also essential; continental beers, non alcoholic Merlot (incredibly refreshing sparkling fruitiness in a glass) and potent ginger so kindly recommended by Robin, our host.

And what a lovely personable chap Robin is, chatty and genuine, the Greenhouse is obviously very much Robins domain and it suits him down to the ground. From initial booking through the entire meal right up to paying the bill and saying farewell Robin was helpful, convivial and patient, going way beyond the call of duty to make sure we all found what we were looking for.

In a word - Awesome! I'll be going back.

Web page with menu information available here: http://www.dineveggie.com/