Stones — Restaurant in Derbyshire Dales

By far the best dining experience we have had! The restaurant has incredible views of the river and the attention to detail within the restaurant was beautiful. It was lovely having fresh flowers and a small number of tables - very personal. The service was exceptional and it was a pleasure having such attentive, friendly and professional waitresses. Now on to the food.. WOW! We decided to go for the 8 course tasting menu and it exceeded our expectations. Whilst we were waiting, we received complimentary cánapes, amuse bouche and breads with a selection of flavoured butters which was a lovely surprise. The tasting menu was unbelievable and was beautifully presented! There was amazing flavour combinations and everything complimented each other - simply amazing! The tasting menu consisted of: • Crispy Dauphinoise Potato - aged parmesan, bread sauce, saffron aioli, fermented hispi cabbage • Pan-seared Scallops - black garlic, heritage carrot, carrot broth, coriander, squid ink quaver • Seaweed Cured Salmon - soy, rice wine, iced quince, whipped buttermilk, calamansi, keta • Slow-cooked Collar of Pork - crispy ham hock, potato velouté, smoked eel, lovage, onion • Roast Loin of Venison - kale, preserved lemon and date, sweet potato, beetroot, hazelnut, maple glazed parsnip • Beauvale Blue Cheese - lemon thyme loaf, apricot jam • Frangelico Choc Ice - salted caramel, hazelnut • Malted Chocolate Brownie - white chocolate aero, beetroot sherbet, malt feuilletine

We cannot wait to visit again and thoroughly enjoyed our evening!...

Both service and food here is generally of a high srandard but on this last occasion I felt rather disappointed. The fish (halibut) was "unavailable" and they had substituted a cheaper alternative fish (cod) for the same price. In addition to being cheap, the portion was nanoscopic, with two tiny pieces of fish, each the size of an eyeball. It felt overpriced for the offering and the dish would have benefited from a sauce. The halibut had included a basil emulsion but the replacement cod was a symphony in grey and needed a bit of punch, both colourwise and in flavour.

Because of the tiny main course I needed to order a dessert (or a pizza on the way home) but the dessert menu was very uninteresting. Since I wanted to help the restaurant, which has been closed throughout lockdown, by ordering a dessert, I asked if they couldn't serve me an affogato as a dessert. They were unfamiliar with the concept, so I explained that it was a scoop of vanilla ice cream with a shot of espresso poured over. They managed to serve it, but instead of counting it as a dessert, they charged me for a dessert (£4) for the scoop of ice-cream and additionally charged me £2 for a coffee. Again, poor customer service, poor value for money and essentially a punishment for trying to be inventive to support them in the light of tiny cut priced main and unexciting dessert menu.

I hope that after a few months of fleecing customers they will return to the traditional good food and good service formula that worked well for them...

Lunch It is one of our favourite restaurants. Dining at this modern british place is very special and in a beautiful location. This is one of our favourite restaurants that we have visited on numerous occasions.

The food they serve is always excellent. We chose their Summer 5 course tasting menu, which at £50 is amazing value.

You also get snacks, amuse Bouche & and bread with flavoured butter. (Some restaurants count these as part of the tasting menu)

Canapés BBG Pulled Pork Croquette asian slaw - sriracha mayo. 'Cheese + Onion cheese sable, caramelised onion compote chive emulsion.

Amuse Bouche Pea Velouté crème fraiche, mint oil.

Bread Spelt and Rye Sourdough Homemade Cultured Butter Parsley + Lemon

Confit Tomato Tartar whipped feta - tomato water - basil oil - onion seeds

Seared Scallops caramelised onion - pickled mushroom - lemon - chive - bacon

Confit Lamb Breast carrot purée - goat's curd - candied walnuts - herb emulsion *best lamb dish we have had for ages.

Pancetta-wrapped pork fillet + Slow-cooked belly sweet potato - caramelised apple purée - wholegrain mustard + honey jus

White Chocolate + Raspberry (blondie, mousse, parfait) raspberry compote - lemon crème fraiche ice cream

You don't have to have the tasting menu. They offer a choice of - Two Courses £34.50 Three Courses £38.50 Served at Lunch & Dinner

Staff are very friendly and helpful. Service was brisk,efficient, and professional. If you've never had a tasting menu before, this is a must try at a very...