The Grain Store at The Maltings

Covering all bases for visitors to the north Norfolk coast, this newly renovated boutique hotel and stand-alone restaurant looks a lot like a French auberge as you drive into the big courtyard with its outside tables and pretty plantings (in summer). However, the Grain Store, located in an elegant, airily converted malt granary, makes quite a contemporary statement. Spread over two floors, the large open kitchen, exposed brick and flint walls, iron girders, glass features and a soaring raftered ceiling create a smart, casual space with an urban vibe that suits this ancient building.

Zealous sourcing, much of it local, is key to the kitchen’s efforts, delivered as small, large or sharing plates and offering a mix of homegrown and global flavours. The set-up is 'really appreciated by locals’, who come here for dishes that positively bloom with freshness – perhaps a simple assembly of creamy burrata with pea pesto, a flavourful Norfolk tomato gazpacho or a classic steak tartare with cured egg yolk and dripping toast.

Baked cod with a warm tartare sauce could follow, topped with crisp potato scraps, or you might opt for grilled mutton chops with a vibrant salsa verde and share a Basque cheesecake with burnt orange and vanilla crème fraîche to finish. Engaging staff keep things running smoothly, as does an astute wine list arranged by style and offering a good choice by the glass.