I usually write reviews within 24 hours but I have to be honest, I've struggled with this one so I'm here nearly 2 weeks on.

Do you ever have a good experience but come away feeling disappointed but can't quite work out why? That's where I am with this one and it's left me confused.

I booked well in advance after researching places to eat, we were heading up from Yorkshire and this visit was for a special occasion so I wanted it to be right. Early communication with the restaurant put me at ease and I was sure I'd made a great choice. Great menu, good reputation, location right for us and more, what could go wrong?

Nothing really did to be fair, on the night of our booking we arrived at the allocated time and were greeted by lovely staff who promptly took our temperatures and guided us to our socially distant table. A table that had been picked out for us as being a nice one as I'd mentioned it was for a birthday meal in advance. A great start.

QR codes were scanned and menus poured over, all the while attentive staff brought us drinks and patiently awaited our order. I opted for the burger based on what I'd read here, my daughter ordered the kids version (but devoid of all "extras" because she's weird) and my wife the fish pie I'd highlighted to her as it's one of her favourite dishes and if I'm honest the main thing that had swayed me to book here.

Food arrived in a timely manner and I have to say it was great, while not a life-changing burger experience for me personally it was an incredibly good burger, the chips also deserve a special mention. A premium price almost justified. My daughter proclaimed her as the best she'd ever eaten. My wife, the reason for my booking, was a little disappointed. The fish pie was good, that's not in dispute, but that's all it was, a fish pie. No vegetables, no side, just a mash topped fish pie that while "good" wasn't anything exceptional to the point of it being a lesser version than many she's had at 1/3 of the price.

For the price paid I expected a level of "luxury", scallops, king prawn, a decadent saucing, Joël Robuchon level mash atop the pie... some veg on the side. I wish she'd ordered the burger.

On to pudding.

I'd ordered a cake in advance. At £7 per person it seemed like a fairly reasonable addition to the event and, in association with the Happy Birthday message on the table, an extra touch to show I'd tried to work with them to make it a special night. Unfortunately my daughter managed to scupper my plans and ordered a sticky toffee pudding before I could confirm when the cake could be brought out, no problem, it was a good example.

The cake came, minus the singing ceremony due to COVID, but was beautifully presented with a birthday message on. We opted to take it back with us to enjoy later (it was so sweet that we ended up putting it in the bin - white chocolate and lime for reference, I thought it might be more balanced, the frosting was insanely sweet).

The bill arrived and, with service added, came to a little under £100 - that's for a kids burger, an adult burger, a fish pie with no veg, a beer, a glass of wine, a sticky toffee pudding and a £21 cake.

Did we have a £100 memorable meal out that's comparable with others we've had in the past at that level? I don't think so. Was it a nice meal and experience, most certainly.

The thing that's niggling me most is something my wife said a few days later I think... "it was lovely but don't you think it was a lot like the Côte experience we enjoy sometimes?" - it's niggling me because she's kind of right, even more so that we ate at an "early bird" time slot.

It was lovely, it truly was and cost wasn't an issue, it was a special occasion, I would have happily spent double. The issue is value vs experience I think and that's where it fell a little short for me.

I wouldn't go back but at the same time don't fully regret the visit and I wouldn't try to dissuade others from going there. I'd maybe just avoid the fish pie and the special order birthday cake :)