Harden's says
Opened in November 2021, from the team behind London's Salon, Larry's and Levan. Nicholas Balfe is from Somerset and returns to his roots to open this restaurant and co-working space in the village's old bank
Harden's survey result
Summary
Nicholas Balfe – who honed his art working at hip London venues like St John, Rochelle Canteen and Moro – decamped to this rural village in 2021, and has transformed a bank into a “charming” modernist dining room where you can opt to sit at the chef’s counter for added drama. The “terrific value lunch” (£35 for three courses) remains a highlight of the “interesting and inventive menu”, with added charms including the “convivial atmosphere” and beautiful rooms available if you wish to stay overnight. Reflecting the restaurant’s focus on seasonality, Balfe leads occasional foraging experiences in the fields and woodlands around the venue.
Summary
“Excellent food in a nicely converted old bank” make this three-year-old a “very handy stopover in an attractive Somerset village off the A303”. Fans of chef-patron Nicholas Balfe’s previous projects, Salon and Levan in south London, are happy to report “it didn’t disappoint – the set lunch came at a good price and à la carte just added to the experience”: “the roast was excellent, the starters precise and pretty, and even the bread was perfect – soft, moist and warm, wrapped in a crunchy crust”.
Summary
“A great addition to the food scene in Somerset” – this two-year-old operation from chef-patron Nicholas Balfe (previously of the team behind Peckham’s Levan, now flying solo) occupies a converted bank, with a dining room in the original vault, open kitchen and diners’ counter. Foodwise, the focus is on reasonably priced modern bistro fare not a million miles from its original stablemate’s ‘bistronomy’. Other features include an outside terrace (for coffee or snacks) and rooms for a stay. Top Tip – “good value lunch menu”.
Summary
“Excellent food in a converted former bank” is the ‘elevator pitch’ for this November 2021 newcomer from Nicholas Balfe, Mark Gurney and Matt Bushnell of south London’s Levan and Larry’s. Initial reports are upbeat all-round on all aspects of the 30-cover dining room in the original vault, complete with open kitchen and bookable diners’ counter. Or you can now also eat on the newly added outside terrace (also available for drop-in coffee, drinks and snacks) and next year will see the opening of seven bedrooms.
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 Holm?
28 St James Street, South Petherton, TA13 5BT
Restaurant details
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £28.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £6.00 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Service | 12.50% |
28 St James Street, South Petherton, TA13 5BT
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | CLOSED |
| Wednesday | 8 am‑11 pm |
| Thursday | 8 am‑11 pm |
| Friday | 8 am‑11 pm |
| Saturday | 8 am‑11 pm |
| Sunday | 8 am‑5 pm |
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