Review
Ilsington House Hotel, Ilsington

This exceeded my high expectations for a decent lunch. Tucked into the lower slopes of Haytor, this is a wonderful find. The hotel looked good but we headed to the Blue Tiger for lunch – the part of the hotel to go to for more informal meals and lunches.  

The interior was furnished in light oak, and we sat by a window with a fantastic view of Dartmoor. The food was of a high standard – I had the home-smoked beef (they have their own smoker) with roast potatoes and vegetables, and my husband had the slow-cooked pork. The presentation was elegant, and the taste astonishingly flavoursome. The beef was subtly smoked and the sauce was a perfect match. The pork came with a piece of pressed ham hock, along with delicious vegetables including a ‘potato cake’ that I enjoyed.  

Tempted by: Home-smoked salmon, goat’s cheese spring roll, passion fruit and banana bavarois.

Verdict: This is a great hotel/restaurant with an informal atmosphere, serving top-notch food.