Damson & Wilde

Stopped here for lunch earlier this week and had the Coq au vin and my wife had sea trout. The coq au vin was delicious and we would highly recommend it. The sea trout was very good but just slightly over cooked - only slightly I must emphasise. The staff were excellent and very welcoming to us and our dog. Would definitely recommend to anyone visiting Bury St Edmunds.

We visited Bury for the weekend and couldn’t resist popping in to try the food here. Booking is definitely recommended as the place fills up quickly. Our table of four left very happy! We skipped starters after a big lunch, but the mains more than delivered. I chose a steak with peppercorn sauce—perfectly cooked, full of flavour, and so good I didn’t want it to end. My wife was lucky enough to be offered gnocchi (not on the day’s menu), and it was honestly one of the best we’ve tasted. She couldn’t finish it, so I happily obliged! The other two dishes looked just as tempting and were thoroughly enjoyed. The locally brewed beer from the Brewshed was a great complement to the meal. As for the staff, they couldn’t have been more welcoming—attentive, friendly, and a real pleasure throughout. We’ll definitely be back next time we’re in town.

I’ve visited this restaurant several times before and have always enjoyed the experience, so I decided to introduce a few friends to it for lunch. Things started off brilliantly, and the hosts were warm and attentive from the moment we arrived. The food and wine did not disappoint. Everything was full of flavour, beautifully presented, and served on hot plates—always a welcome touch. It’s clear the kitchen takes real pride in what they do. Service began just as strongly. Our waitress had a lovely Italian charm and was very attentive at the start. Unfortunately, things noticeably dropped off about halfway through the meal. Empty glasses started to pile up on the table, and we had to wave down staff several times to order more drinks or have plates cleared. Other tables nearby also had mounting stacks of dirty glasses while staff congregated at the till and chatted, which didn’t give the best impression. After finishing our mains, we were asked if we’d like to see the dessert menu. We said yes, but it never arrived. After waiting around 20 minutes, still with no follow-up, we eventually asked for the bill. Even then, we were questioned again about whether we wanted dessert—by that point, we had lost interest after such a long wait. Overall, we would still return because the food truly is excellent, but the service on this occasion left us feeling neglected. Unfortunately, it also meant the restaurant missed out on additional courses of food and drinks we would’ve happily ordered. With a bit more consistency in service, the experience could easily match the high quality of the food.

We had the lunch time set menu and it was phenomenal. £22.50 for three courses, perfect portion sizes - left feeling very satisfied. The dishes were beautifully presented, and full of flavour. We especially liked the pork cheek, the whitebait, and the rosemary crème brûlée! The cocktails were really tasty and looked fab. The staff were very friendly and attentive, and the whole place had a lovely atmosphere.

We had a lovely evening here. The place looks fantastic and is a real improvement on the place it used to be. So many tasty dishes we ended up ordering a selection and sharing. The food and cocktails were great and the staff were brilliant and helped make the evening a wonderful experience. We'll be back!