Harden's survey result
Summary
“Bury St Edmunds is quite a gastronomical wonder town” and near the top of the pile is this “small beauty” – an “unpretentious” sort of place set up by chef Justin Sharp and FOH wife Jurga in 2009, and which has retained the tyre men’s acclaim since 2021. The “fabulous” and “scrummy” food is a mash-up of the Mediterranean and the Middle East that “never fails to delight”, while there’s “always something exciting, interesting or unexpected” on the wine list (particularly if you like organic and natural wines). Top Tip – the “off-pitch location” (a residential square) “means parking nearby at lunchtime is impossible”, but on the plus side it’s only a ten-minute walk from the train station.
Summary
“Mediterranean (meets Middle Eastern) fine-dining without the Michelin faffing or prices” awaits at this “quirky” restaurant (est. 2009) from Justin Sharp and FOH wife Jurga. It’s “in a most unlikely location” (a residential square), but there’s no quibbling with Justin’s “unusual” food, and “in a world of commoditised wine lists”, Jurga’s “perfectly curated list is a joy”, with “plenty of interesting wines from small producers, including organic options, natural wines, etc.”.
Summary
“Allow your eyes to feast on the gorgeous colours and your nose to savour the rich perfume of the dishes” at this “small restaurant run by a husband (chef) and wife (front of house) team”, which is “tucked a bit away from the town centre”. One of the more commented-on restaurants outside London in our annual diners’ poll, it has won its more-than-local following with Justin’s “richly styled” Moorish/Iberian food, “cooked with real flair and passion”: “big flavours, with interesting combinations from top-quality ingredients”. There’s a “very interesting wine list” too – “a real eye-opener” – and “Jurga is always very happy to suggest which wines will go well with the food you've ordered”. “You never leave hungry!". It’s Suffolk’s only Michelin-starred restaurant, but not especially ‘haute’ in its approach: it’s closer to “a proper neighbourhood place, serving top-notch food”.
Summary
“Small and perfect... now with added Michelin star...” – Justin & Jurga Sharp’s “quirky spot in the centre of the town” (a tucked-away townhouse) has long been one of the most popular and highly rated destinations in the county. “The couple deliver a wonderful experience” in a “stripped-back” bistro setting which scores highly for its “appealing exotic menu” – “big and fresh and simple and complex, all at the same time”. One or two long-term advocates for the place, though, feel their recent accolade was mis-judged. One feels “the chef is now trying too hard”. Another long-term-fan says: “Not sure what the Michelin inspectors had been smoking when they visited Bury St Edmunds. This is a great, small restaurant, run by the delightful Jurga and Justin, but is definitely Bib Gourmand, rather than star material. Tasty and interesting food, great service, but not quite ‘WOW’!”. These are quibbles though. The overall verdict – “undoubtedly excellent”.
For 33 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 Pea Porridge?
28-29 Cannon St, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1JR
Restaurant details
Pea Porridge Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Interesting menu and wine list. Lovely service but nothing spectacular."
"Fabulous seasonal food. Great wine list. Attentive and fun wait staff and a lovely small space make this a fabulous place for a special meal. "
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch | £50.00 |  |
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Traditional European menu
| Starter | Main | Pudding |
|---|---|---|
| £18.00 | £26.00 | £12.00 |
| Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £26.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £3.00 |
| Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £0.00 |
| Service | 10.00% |
28-29 Cannon St, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1JR
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | CLOSED |
| Wednesday | 6:30 pm‑8 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑1:15 pm, 6:30 pm‑8 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑1:15pm, 6:30 pm‑9 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑1:15pm, 6:30 pm‑9 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑1:15pm, 6:30 pm‑9 pm |
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