Fino

‘Cromer is so very, very lucky to have this restaurant in its midst,’ enthused one reporter – delighted that Fino has lifted the town’s seaside spirit and added a touch of effortless cosmopolitan cool. The front bar serves as an informal drop-in, but co-host Ruth Butler’s colourful paintings and the sheer warmth and hospitality of the place will lure you into the smart, blue-hued dining room. There’s a simple elegance to the seasonally changing menu, which is peppered with prime produce from Norfolk and beyond. Cromer crabs are one of the stars (perhaps served with asparagus, spicy tomato syrup and hollandaise foam), while larger plates could plunder the local catch for skate wing or line-caught halibut (with wild rocket vichyssoise), as well as championing Norfolk game (red deer with molasses labneh and sorrel verde, say). There’s plenty of enthusiasm for desserts such as caramelised white chocolate tart, too. Also check out the ‘exceptional-value’ daily lunch specials (£17). Wines by the glass or Lyonnaise pot encourage exploration, while a line-up of unfiltered sherries is a nod to the restaurant’s namesake.