Ramble with Alex Polizzi

Book a roomBook a table

Food & drink

Open to all for lunch, drinks and dinner

The restaurant opens onto a pretty courtyard created for warm weather dining. 

The Inn

Lunch
The Inn opens everyday at 12 noon for coffee and drinks. Lunch is served from 12.30-2.30pm (3.30pm on Saturday & Sunday). Walk-ins are very welcome.

Afternoon tea
Served 3pm-5pm everyday. £35 per adult or £49 with a glass of Champagne (24 hours notice is required).

Dinner
Our dinner menu is available from 6.30pm until 9pm.

Picnic & Hampers
The Star can provide picnics or full hampers whether you are walking on The Downs or going to Glyndebourne. More

Children & dogs
Please let us know if your children (>11) or dog will accompany you when making a reservation. We will be happy to accommodate you in The Inn or Courtyard with the same menu as the Dining Room.

Large party reservations
Please call 01323 870495 to check availability.

Parking
Parking for lunch and dinner guests is available close by at The Dene public car park.

The Dining room

Picnics & Hampers

4 Apr

Fragrance Workshop with Jo Fairley

The dining room is decorated with a striking black and white Elizabethan design on the floor, painted by Alfriston artist Amanda Lawrence.

Our chefs serve simple, unfussy dishes with a focus on clarity of flavour. The ever-changing highly seasonal menus utilise the abundance of exceptional Sussex produce.

FROM THE TABLE

SCRUMSHUS™

granola vg gf

NORTHIAM DAIRY

natural yoghurt

DEANS BARN

honey

HOUSE-MADE SEVILLE ORANGE MARMALADE

POACHED & FRESH SEASONAL FRUITS

WHOLE NUTS & SEEDS

PASTRIES

CEREALS

Bran flakes | Weetabix | Puffed Rice

JUICE

squeezed in-house

ACV INFUSION

turmeric & ginger

MILK ALTERNATIVES

Oat | Soya | Almond

FROM THE KITCHEN

LOCAL CURED MEATS & SUSSEX CHEESE

grilled sourdough

FREE RANGE PORK SAUSAGE

smoked streaky bacon & local free range eggs

CALCOT FARM BLACK PUDDING

bacon, savoy cabbage & onion hash, fried duck egg & house made spiced ketchup

SLOW COOKED TOMATOES

on grilled sourdough, Court Lodge Farm labneh & dried oregano v

SPRINGS SMOKERY SALMON

scrambled local free range eggs

OAT MILK PORRIDGE

poached prunes & walnuts vg

RIPE AVOCADO

on grilled sourdough with local eggs or feta cheese & chilli

LUNCH

Monday-Saturday 12.30-3pm
Sample menu

STARTERS

all served with sourdough bread

SPICED CARROT AND LENTIL SOUP

crème fraîche, toasted almonds, olive oil v gf

£12

TOASTED GOAT’S CHEESE & BEETROOT CARPACCIO

candied walnuts, oak leaf lettuce, maple balsamic dressing gf v

£14

HOT SMOKED SALMON

avocado, pickled cucumber, watercress & creamed horseradish gf

£14

CHICKEN LIVER PARFAIT

sticky figgy chutney, rocket, toasted brioche

£14

HOT SMOKED SALMON SALAD

crushed avocado, pickled cucumber, horseradish cream, shaved fennel & chicory gf

£16

MAIN COURSES

MEZZI PACCHERI ALLA NORMA

aubergine, tomato & basil, capers, ricotta salata v

£14/£22

THE STAR BRAISED BEEF, CROPWELL BISHOP STILTON & ALE PIE

mashed potato, broccoli, carrots & onion gravy

£26

CHICKEN PAILLARD

oat leaf, chicory, parmesan cheese, fries & garlic aioli gf

£24

PAN-ROASTED HAKE FILLET

sauté new potatoes, cavolo nero, caper & lemon sauce gf

£24

Daily specials

DESSERTS

PEAR, CINNAMON & ALMOND FRANGIPANE

crème fraîche v

£11

THE STAR CHOCOLATE FONDANT

vanilla ice cream v

£11.50

SELECTION OF DOWNSVIEW FARMHOUSE ICE CREAMS & SORBETS v

per socop

£3.50

AFFOGATO

vanilla ice cream & Groovy Goat espresso v

£9

SUSSEX CHEESE

Ouse Valley chutney & crackers v

£14/3 £19/5

SUNDAY LUNCH

Sunday 12.30-3pm
Sample menu

CREAMY ROASTED ONIONS SQUASH SOUP

caramelized onions, nutmeg & crème fraiche v gf

£12

BUFFALO BURRATA CHEESE SALAD

marinated beetroot, chicory, watercress & balsamic dressing v

£12

ANTIPASTO ITALIANO

parma-ham, salame Milano, bresaola, rocket & toasted sourdough df

£14

GRILLED LOCAL MACKEREL

fennel salad, rocket & salsa verde gf df

£14

RISOTTO WILD MUSHROOMS

taleggio cheese & aged parmesan v

£24

SPAGHETTI ALLA CHITARRA

South Coast clams, mussel, tomato & basil

£14/22

ROASTED WILD FILLET OF SALMON

marinated tomato, caper, black olive & braised spinach gf df

£32

SUSSEX RED BEEF SIRLOIN

roasted potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, savoy cabbage & horseradish

£30

SIDES

MIXED LEAF SALAD aged balsamic
SEASONAL GREENS lemon & olive oil
ROASTED POTATOES

all £6

PLUM FRANGIPAN TART

rum & raisin ice cream v

£9

BAKED DARK CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

crème fraiche v gf

£9

HOLY COW! MILK ICE CREAM ‘AFFOGATO’

Groovy Goat espresso v gf

£8

SELECTION OF LOCAL BRITISH & ITALIAN CHEESES

Ouse Valley chutney & sourdough crackers

£12

SANDWICHES

Served on a selection of brown and white bread

Roasted red pepper, hummus on white v vg

Tomato, buffalo mozzarella & basil on white ve

Smoked Salmon, pickled cucumber, cream cheese on brown

Honey roast ham, Mayfield cheese, mustard on brown

SWEETS

Chocolate & hazelnut brownie

Lemon sponge cake

Macaroons

Homemade meringue filled with Chantilly cream

Plain scones & fruit scones Served with clotted cream and jam (raspberry, strawberry or blackberry)

£35
Served 3-5pm

STARTERS

Sample menu

TUSCAN CANNELLINI BEANS & KALE AUTUMN SOUP

Fontodi olive oil, aged parmesan gf

£12

BUFFALO MILK BURRATA

Belgian endive, plum agrodolce, rocket, toasted hazelnuts & aged balsamic dressing v gf

£12

PAN-SEARED SOUTH COAST SCALLOPS

roasted onion squash, fresh chilli, marjoram, Cabernet vinegar gf df p df

£16

CURED BEEF BRESAOLA

pickled vegetables, Golden Cross goat’s cheese, watercress, Farchioni olive oil gf

£12

SEAFOOD RISOTTO ARANCINI

fresh cuttlefish, clams, mussels & prawns, gremolata, tomato tapenade df £

£16/£26

MAIN COURSES

HAND-MADE RAVIOLI, UMBRIAN FRESH AUTUMN BLACK TRUFFLE

butter, sage & aged parmesan

£28

PAN-ROASTED WILD BRILL

roasted new potatoes, fennel, Piccolo tomato & olives, salsa rossa gf df

£38

OVEN-ROASTED HERBED PORK TENDERLOIN

mashed potato, cabbage, apple, sultana, rosemary, maple garlic jus gf

£36

PAN-SEARED SUSSEX CALF’S LIVER

truffle & parmesan polenta, Marsala & sage jus, smoked speck gf

£36

PAN-ROASTED MONKFISH

new potatoes, braised spinach & cavolo nero, porcini mushrooms, Verjus beurre blanc gf

£38

SUSSEX WILD VENISON LOIN

horseradish mashed potato, apple beignet, amarena cherry, cassis & port jus

£40

SIDES

all £6

SEASONAL VEGETABLES v

HOUSE FRIES

MIXED LEAF SALAD

& Olga’s mustard dressing vg gf

NEW POTATOES v

DESSERTS

PEAR & CINNAMON TARTE TATIN

vanilla ice cream v

£11

GÂTEAU OPÉRA

almond sponge, coffee cream, ganache, chocolate glaze, butterscotch v

£11

PANETTONE TIRAMISÚ

Amaretto, hazelnut praline, bitter cocoa v

£9

AFFOGATO

Downsview Farmhouse Madagascan vanilla ice cream, Groovy Goat espresso v gf

£8

DOWNSVIEW FARMHOUSE

selection of Sussex ice creams & sorbets v

£3.50 (per scoop)

SUSSEX CHEESE’S

Ouse Valley chutney & sourdough crackers

£14 for three, £18 for five

VIN SANTO DEL CHIANTI D.O.C. ’GEOGRAFICO’

served with Tuscan cantuccini biscuits

£11

Please note that vegan desserts can be made available upon request, please ask for details

There is a discretionary 12.5% service charge added to your bill

The china used in the restaurant has been designed and decorated in England by Gabriella Shaw, and features leaves from native English trees.

The 15th century front of the hotel, known as The Inn, opens onto the High Street, and provides relaxed dining from 12.30pm until 3pm Monday to Friday, with local beers, open fires and oak beams. The library is a sanctuary for guests to enjoy a drink or a cup of tea, or play one of the board games. Its bookshelves are packed with poetry, short stories and novels by British authors, and there is a section dedicated to local history, flora and fauna. The library has a secret door that opens onto the restaurant.

The Walled Garden