Restaurant Review: River Cottage Canteen @Axminster, Devon.

From the famed television Chef Hugh Fernley Whittingstall and located just three miles from the River Cottage Farm and HQ  in Axminster, the Canteen offer diners a taste of his cooking flair and style. Walking into the restaurant in Axminster, I was surprised that the front area is more for regular walk-in customers with a large dinning room in a back area passing the partly open kitchens. Our waitress advised us that the building used to be a factory before they moved in and had (in a former life been a dance hall). It is a really interesting location as Axminster feels like a rather small village but make no mistake and book a table, as it’s a very popular eating venue.

The menu, which changes on a daily basis which lists out the key ingredients in each dish so GF options can be worked out.

The staff were well informed of food allergies and quickly able to identify which dishes were already GLUTEN FREE as well as suggest ones which could be adapted to manage my food allergies.

My Starter: Grilled Sprats, Baby Gem lettuce, Cucumber and Fennel Salad.

This was fresh and crisp with the lovely flavours of summer. (In the picture you can just see my Blueberry Gin & Tonic (homemade blueberry gin served with Fevertree tonic) which was beautiful.

Another Starter which I could have had but my fellow diner enjoyed was the Beetroot and Cucumber Gazpacho. (A recipe I will have to try with my excessive beetroots on my allotment!).

A side of GF Pitta Bread (presented without asking) and enjoyed with Olive Oil.

My Main Course: Pollock (without the rye crust of course!) with crushed new potatoes, pickled cucumber and dill tartar. The flavours were magnificent and tasty.

They did have a selection of desserts (of which I could have had the truffles, the pannacotta or the cheese [without the crackers] but was rather full!

On the way out, spotted GF Homity Pies in the fridged counter. It was a welcomed change although for £3.65 each, they seemed quite small! (Next to them are GF Cheese, tomatoe and basil tarts).

A delightful and GLUTEN FREE meal which was full of the fresh flavours of summer and so tasty. Thank you Hugh.