Buttermans Restaurant, Woolverstone Marina, Suffolk

...to pay a visit to Buttermans Restaurant which is located at Woolverstone Marina near Ipswich. I had heard that this was a good place to eat but there is no substitute for trying out personally so I was happy to have the opportunity to do so.

Sadly it was a dull and wet evening as I drove down to the Marina which was a shame because as I arrived at the waterfront there was a lovely view of the water with all the boats tied up. It is ...
...sunny Summer's evening and despite the rain it still looked delightful.

From the outside the restaurant looks nothing special, little more than a huge shed to be honest, and, as you park at the rear, it isn't until you make your way around to the entrance that you get to see the view from the dining room. It is lovely and very tranquil, just the place to enjoy a meal.

Inside the dining area is bright and airy with lots ... more

I enjoy dining out and I enjoy trying out new places to eat so I was delighted when the Dining Club I am a member of decided to pay a visit to Buttermans Restaurant which is located at Woolverstone Marina near Ipswich. I had heard that this was a good place to eat but there is no substitute for trying out personally so I was happy to have the opportunity to do so.

Sadly it was a dull and wet evening as I drove down to the Marina which was a shame because as I arrived at the waterfront there was a lovely view of the water with all the boats tied up. It is a lovely setting which would look even better on a sunny Summer's evening and despite the rain it still looked delightful.

From the outside the restaurant looks nothing special, little more than a huge shed to be honest, and, as you park at the rear, it isn't until you make your way around to the entrance that you get to see the view from the dining room. It is lovely and very tranquil, just the place to enjoy a meal.

Inside the dining area is bright and airy with lots of natural wood and modern furniture. There is a bar along one side of the dining room and a few low chairs and tables where you can enjoy a pre-dinner drink if you wish. Our party of ten was shown to a long table in the centre and orders were taken for drinks whilst we pondered the menu.

The menu was traditional British fare and varied. Main courses tended to be under £10 with desserts in the £4 range which I felt was very reasonable and a bottle of house wine was just over £10, again not excessive in my view.

I spotted one of my great favourites on the menu, traditional fish and chips with mushy peas which seemed like an ideal choice for a waterfront location. I wasn't alone in selecting this option although the rest who chose it didn't fancy the mushy peas (I guess my Northern heritage was showing?) so opted for fresh vegetables instead. My meal was lovely, cooked to perfection with the fish coated in a light and crispy batter, tasty chips and mushy peas just like I remember from my childhood. There were many and varied choices made by some others in the party and all of us had meals we enjoyed which made for a great evening out.

Despite my recent wave of dieting I did feel that I was due a treat so I did have a look at the dessert menu. The chocolate mousse proved to be irresistable and it was available with any accompaniment of your choosing so I opted for a little jug of cream to go with it! It was delicious and well presented with a few kirsch soaked cherries arranged on the plate to tempt my palate.

We had teas and coffees to finish and overall I felt this was an excellent meal for well under £20.

This venue because of its location obviously attracts the sailing community some of whom appear to call in for a drink or a snack as well as those who opt for the full meal. There is a lovely verandah for those balmy Suffolk evenings, it was just a shame that on the night we went there it was rather cloudy and damp.

Would I recommend it?
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Most certainly, it is a lovely restaurant in a great setting. The Marina is set down a long drive from the main road but it is nevertheless relatively easy to find once you know it is there. We will certainly be dining there again I am sure and I can see it becoming a regular haunt for us. It is a good idea to book ahead as it can get very busy. If you are in the area I can recommend a trip to Buttermans, you won't be disappointed. 

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