Eat at...

ROSEMARY restaurant Stanton House Hotel, The Avenue, Stanton Fitzwarren, Swindon SN6 7SD Telephone 0870 084 1388 Website: www.stantonhouse.co.uk Opening times: Lunch noon to 2pm; dinner 6pm to 9.45pm.AFTER a busy week at work, when a friend suggested coming over for lunch with his two children - I suggested we ate out!

It’s not that I’m a reluctant host but I know that all three of them - even six-year-old Issy - are fans of Japanese food in general and sushi in particular. Indeed, it’s rumoured that Ed, 16, can eat his own bodyweight in raw fish.

So instead of a traditional Sunday lunch, we headed for the Rosemary Restaurant at Stanton Fitzwarren.

For those not familiar with it, the restaurant is at Stanton House - the quintessential picture of an English country dwelling, built of Cotswold stone and overlooking Stanton park and lake.

But when it comes to the menu, it is resolutely Japanese.

Although you can get European fare at the restaurant, it would be a shame to do so when you have authentic Japanese cuisine on offer.

Stanton House belongs to Honda and its proximity to the car plant means it’s virtually a staff canteen - albeit a very upmarket one - for its workers from the Far East.

There’s always a predominance of Hondas in the car park and, in the evenings, the dining room favours the Japanese style of stark lighting and early hours.

We were there for the Sunday lunch buffet which includes both hot and cold dishes.

There was traditional miso soup - which accompanies most Japanese meals, including breakfast - edamame (young, green soy beans), cold meats and plenty of noodles both hot and cold.

Among the hot dishes I particularly liked were some lovely succulent fish pieces and tori karaage, a deep fried spicy chicken dish.

But there was lots to chose from: Tender squid in a rich sauce, tempura, stir fried rice, pork, beef and noodle dishes and more.

There’s a misconception that every dish on a Japanese menu is so exotic and alien to the Western palate that only the truly adventurous need apply. That’s not the case.

There are Japanese dishes to suit all preferences. But the buffet is a great way to try things out.

You can also buy tuna, salmon, octopus, prawn and scallop sushi to try on the side.

That was a bit too much for me but Ed and Issy happily tucked in . . . dispelling another myth, that youngsters don’t have adventurous palates.

n If you get inspired to try some Japanese cooking at home, you can buy most of the ingredients at the hotel’s Jasmine food shop which is open on Sundays from noon till 7.30pm. It sells all sorts of ingredients including snacks in seriously cool packaging, sauces, pickled vegetables, meat, seaweed, sake and rice.

n The Sunday buffet costs £11.50 per adult and £6 per child. All you can eat dinner is available on Thursdays from 7pm at £19.50 a head adult and £10 child.

n Stanton House also boasts Mount Fuji where diners can get an even more authentic Japenese experience with shoe-free dining at low-level seating.