GREAT DINING IN A RELAXING ATMOSPHERE

FIGS BRASSERIE

Where: Willerby Manor Hotel , Well Lane, Willerby

Call: 01482 652616

Open: Daily 10am to 10pm

Accessibility: There are steps up from the car park to the hotel, but there is also ramp access

Vegetarian: Plenty of vegetarian options

Family friendly? Yes. The children's menu is impressive, so much so that all kids meals can be ordered as adult (ie "big kids") portions

Parking: Ample free parking at the hotel

Starter: Local Blue Cheese Beignets: £5.20 With Waldorf salad

Asparagus & Egg Mayonnaise Salad: £5.50 With bacon and lemon dressing

Main: Breaded Whitby Scampi And Chips: £10 In yesterday's paper with lemon mayonnaise

Homemade Sage Gnocchi: £10 With local asparagus, boiled duck egg and a white onion sauce

I first visited Fig's Brasserie after its grand opening in 2008 and immediately fell in love with the food, the wine and the beautiful al fresco dining area.

The small attention to detail – mini muffins with the cappuccinos, wooden pencils and squares of paper on which customers write their orders, food served on anything other than a plate – was also impressive.

But how would the venue fare a few years into its life cycle?

Keen for a reason for a return visit, I decided to put Figs Brasserie to the test and booked myself and my partner in for a Saturday evening meal.

When we arrived there were just a handful of people in the bar, although most of the tables were reserved and the brasserie soon filled up, making me glad I'd pre-booked.

If you're one of those diners who spends an age studying the menu, it's probably wise to arrive well in advance. There is a lot of choice.

The menu features starters, salads, sandwiches, Figs favourites (mains), sides, "more mains", puddings and cheese.

Then there's a comprehensive specials board as well a "kids" menu, offering dishes in "kid" sizes (for children under 10) and "big kid" portions (adults who think Bangers and Mash and Beefburger with French Fries should not be confined to children under 10).

I had a glass of wine while I pored over the menu and my partner had a guest bitter.

Although tempted by the Thai grilled beef with papaya, cucumber, mint salad and peanut sauce, my partner eventually chose the marinated salmon with creme fraiche, broccoli, capers and lemon (£5.50) to start.

I chose from the specials board, opting for the platter of parma ham with sunblushed tomatoes and mixed olives.

The salmon was presented in such a way that, at first, my partner wasn't sure whether to eat it or frame it and pin it on the wall – the broccoli was laid across the plate in a grid, with bite-sized pieces of salmon inside it.

My platter comprised tasty parma ham and plump olives, each complemented by the sweetness of the tomatoes that thankfully tasted as nature intended, and not like watery mush.

For the main, I treated myself to the Yorkshire 6oz fillet steak, complete with chunky chips, homemade onion rings, roast tomato, watercress and peppercorn sauce (£19). My partner went for the confit of Yorkshire pork belly, with crackling, squash puree, beans and peas, and lemon thyme jus. (£10.75). Having eaten Figs Brasserie's chunky chips before, there was no way I was sharing mine, so I ordered him a portion of those too (£2.50).

It was such a warm, sunny evening that we took our drinks outside while waiting for the main course to arrive. There we took advantage of the al fresco drinking and dining area, which is great for those who want to enjoy as much of the sporadic sunshine as possible.

My steak was served on a sturdy, wooden butcher's board, with a grilled tomato on one side and chips on the other.

The steak was cooked to medium-rare perfection, while the fat, crispy chips, which were stacked in a cute wire-filled basket, were heavenly.

The pork, I'm told, was equally tender, and the accompaniments all received a big-thumbs up. Those with a hearty appetite might be wise to order a side with this dish, so the chips were a welcome addition.

When the desserts arrived, I immediately wished I'd ordered the "little kids" portion – the tall glass in front of me was crammed with layers of fudge cake, ice cream, whipped cream and a rich fudge sauce. It was so delicious, I almost fell in, but sadly had to leave some as I was just too full. I'd say it was big enough for two to share.

I sensed a bit of dessert envy coming from the banana split-eating diner opposite me. Perhaps his desire for a bit of 1970s pudding nostalgia was blown out of the water when he clocked my monster sundae. However, even he was too full to polish off the desserts.

Type: Fine dining, with locally-sourced food giving a twist to modern British cuisine.

Quality of food: Excellent.

Atmosphere: Very relaxed and friendly.

Service: The waiting staff were very attentive but didn't hover, giving us enough time to relax during our meal while making sure we had everything we needed.

Value for money: Good.

Best for: Special occasions or whenever you feel like a treat.

Would you go again? Definitely.