Harden's says
Two ex-Pea Porridge chefs have opened this intimate restaurant serving seasonal dishes; The Observer's Jay Rayner rated it "special" as well as "ambitious, clever, relaxed, and hugely enjoyable".
Harden's survey result
Summary
“Small-but-perfectly-formed restaurant serving small but perfectly formed dishes that are completely sensational” – James & Sophia Carn serve an “always changing seasonal menu” at their two-year-old venue in the town centre, which “improves every time you visit”. Their “small but passionate team” combines “interesting and exquisite food” with “great service” and a real sense of “fun – it would be hard to get more ambience in such a tiny place”. Concerns? – The “smallish” menu can seem limiting and the prices of all those little plates can tot up.
Summary
“A tiny restaurant with big flavours” – James & Sophia Carn’s ambitious yearling is “very different” by the standards of the area, but numerous fans suggest “it’s the place to be in Bury” and (“being very small – around 25 covers – booking is essential”). The menu provided a good number of diners’ best meal of the year: “a wide and diverse range of small plates” which can also be enjoyed as a tasting selection for £80 per person. “The whole underlying theme is one of care”: this is “tasty, pretty, creative food that is not fussy or pretentious in any way”, “served with professional smiles in a buzzy little space”. Top Menu Tip – “Bone marrow and oxtail pie is stunning”.
Summary
This “new, fresh and creative” venue – a former bus shelter with room for 23 diners – from “a young chef with a great pedigree”, James Carn (ex-Pea Porridge) and his wife Sophia, is already making waves with “really personal cooking and personal service”. Two reporters had their best meal of the year here this year, while The Observer’s Jay Rayner in his July 2023 review was also bowled over on an early visit, describing it as “ambitious, clever, relaxed and hugely enjoyable; in one word, it’s special”. It’s named after the river which flows through the town.
For 34 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Lark?
6a Angel Hill, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1UZ
Lark Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Excellent Tapas style modern European dishes. Small but very select wine list from the local store Vin Gusto."
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £26.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £3.50 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Service | 10.00% |
6a Angel Hill, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1UZ
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | CLOSED |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑1:45 pm, 6:30 pm‑8:45 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑1:45 pm, 6:30 pm‑8:45 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑9:30 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑9:30 pm |
| Sunday | CLOSED |
Best British, Modern restaurants nearby
British, Modern restaurant in Bury St Edmunds
British, Modern restaurant in Bury St Edmunds
Mediterranean restaurant in Bury St Edmunds
Best similarly priced restaurants nearby
British, Modern restaurant in Bartlow
French restaurant in Cambridge
Italian restaurant in Framlingham
