Osip

Bruton, UK

After learning his trade in the fine dining kitchens of London and continental Europe, chef Merlin Labron-Johnson transported his craft to rural Somerset to create a tiny restaurant that delivers big. Seating just 30 guests in a converted ironmongers’, lunch, dinner and even breakfast (if you’re staying the night in the rooms above the dining area), are intimate experiences. Labron-Johnson’s ever-changing menu is highly seasonal and inspired by the wealth of ingredients grown, reared and produced within the West Country. Courses of delicate gougères, served with a hay-baked apple compote, place Somerset on a pedestal, utilising Westcombe Dairy cheddar made just 10 minutes from the restaurant’s front door. A fish course simply referred to as ‘Jeff’s trout’ after the local fisherman presents raw cubes of its implausibly translucent belly alongside its jellified bones and roe, topped with wafer-thin radishes. Its wine flight, which ranges from hearty small-batch French vintages to Somerset ice cider with deep caramel notes, is faultlessly curated to pair with each course. Embark on a pilgrimage through the winding roads of rural Somerset, arrive at Merlin Labron-Johnson's restaurant and relish in a truly magical dining experience.

Key Information

• Tasting menu from $150
• Lunch: Thu – Sun, Dinner: Tue – Sun
• 01749813322
• Visit Osip's Website

Location

1 High St, Bruton, BA10 0AB