Truffles Restaurant, near Stone

Truffles Restaurant is housed in the beautiful 18th Century Boar Inn, in the heart of the picturesque village of Moddershall.

Complete with its own duck pond, the pub paints an idyllic picture of rural hospitality.

As well as the restaurant, it has a welcoming

lounge area, bar and the newly opened Quackers Tea Room.

But, billed as "one of Staffordshire's premier steak restaurants", I was surprised at how quiet the main dining area was when I visited on a Saturday evening.

I was told October was a fairly quiet month but a number of families filled up the tables as the night progressed.

If you are in the mood for a big steak or a big fish, Truffles Restaurant is definitely for you.

The menu has a truly impressive range of steak specialities, plus an excellent selection of fish dishes.

As my friend and I sampled the good beer on offer, I was spoilt for choice as I surveyed the extensive menu.

I ended up choosing the lemon and garlic mushrooms - with garlic bread on the side - as a starter for a price of £4.25.

The dish was delightfully tangy and had a strong flavour, making it ideal for a garlic fan like me.

It was the perfect way to whet the appetite for what was to come.

My friend opted for the mushroom and white wine soup, £3.50, which was tasty but, according to him, was a little bland - although a sprinkling of pepper ensured it was polished off fairly rapidly.

For the main dish I plumped for the delicious rabbit hotch potch priced at £7.95.

The tender portions of meat were smothered in a rich cream and nutmeg sauce, mixed in with a medley of vegetables.

My companion chose Mexican steak at £11.95.

It was a large cut and was covered in chilli.

The meal looked fantastic and, on inquiry, elicited the almost unheard of response of "lovely" - praise indeed from a fussy eater who is less than generous in his ratings of food.

He was only defeated by the sheer size of the steak and seemed genuinely regretful at having to leave some of it uneaten.

Undeterred by two good-sized courses, I could not be shaken from my resolve to sample one of the fabulous-sounding desserts.

I melted into the heavenly nuts about ice cream, £3.95, made from clotted cream with swirls of golden syrup and what tasted like (believe it or not) peanut butter - a surprising combination which worked well.

Another pleasant surprise at the end of the night was a reduction in the bill, due to the special evening offer where two courses are available for £12.95.

With some pre-dinner beer and a bottle of red wine to accompany the meal, the whole bill came to a very reasonable £44.10 for two.

The Boar Inn is a beautiful place, in an idyllic setting, with a great range of food.

I definitely hope to return to sample more of its hospitality but it probably lends itself better to a day-time visit, in order to properly savour its rural setting and picturesque charm.

It is run by chef and landlady Jeannette Halls and bar manager Debbie Williams, who moved there nine years ago.

One of their first jobs was to restore the pond, which had dwindled to little more than a puddle.

However, the duo did a wonderful job and it is now home to an abundance of wildlife, including a 33-strong collection of various breeds of duck, plus 2,000 fish.

Their efforts were recognised when the Boar Inn won Stone in Bloom's conservation award in 2006. Another novel idea the pair have introduced is in Quackers Tea Room, where customers are allowed to take home the Wedgwood plate their food is served on - a particular hit with people who have travelled from outside the county to visit the area.

Wyn Matthews

The Boar Inn, Moddershall Oaks,

Moddershall, Near Stone

Tel: 01782 372493