We went to The Bistro in Devizes on the recommendation of a nearby B & B owner and we certainly weren't disappointed. On entering the building it seems absolutely tiny. There's a warm welcome from the chef, Peter Vaughan, who then takes you downstairs to a small but well designed area of tables that is simply but nicely decorated and it all feels very cosy. It looks a bit like a cafe, but the food is leaps and bounds ahead of many restaurants I've been to in recent memory. There's real attention to detail here, and a massive effort to make you feel welcome and informed about the food. But it's not intrusive, and nobody comes to check whether the food is alright immediately after you've got it, which we took as a sign of confidence that they knew they were sending out decent grub. So, amazing parsnip and cinnamon soup, brilliant fish of the day (caught that morning in Penzance and cooked in white wine), and an array of fabulous vegetables. To be honest, it's exactly what a restaurant should be like - good food, good service, minimal fuss. But as far as I can tell, so rarely achievable for so many places (the previous evening we were disappointed on so many levels by a place in Manchester that cost twice as much).
I believe they also do a cookery school and speciality nights.
On the way out we asked if they might be interested in moving to Manchester. Sadly it was a no. Boooooo. read more
