The Red Lion Great Sampford
Quick info
About The Red Lion Great Sampford
On Finchingfield Rd, The Red Lion Great Sampford is an Italian restaurant set inside a countryside public house, with a bar area, a dining room and a beer garden for seating. The kitchen makes its pasta and desserts to order, and the menu includes home made ravioli filled with truffle and mushrooms alongside cacciucco alla Livornese. Pasta dishes come in half-size portions alongside the standard servings, and starters run to a wide choice, with gluten free options available too. Drinks span real ales, lagers, a wine list and a gin and tonic menu, including Estrella and Peroni. After dinner, the kitchen sends out home made limoncello along with fresh bread earlier in the meal. Pistachio cheesecake recurs on the dessert side. Seating is walk-in, and children are welcome throughout. The beer garden is small and includes toys for kids, and dogs are welcome in the restaurant.
Good to know
“Italian Restaurant set up in a lovely countryside public house. We serve Real Ales, selection of lagers, extensive wine list and a Gin and Tonic Menu. Everything is freshly prepared to order and home made, starting with our pasta and desserts and including our little treat for our customers after dinner: our home made limoncello. Also wide choice of starters and gluten free options available. Bar area, dining room and beer garden sitting available, children, absolutely always welcome!”
- ReservationsWalk-in only
- AccessibilityWheelchair: entrance, parking lot, restroom, seating
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention limoncello, pistachio cheesecake, sirloin steak and prawn risotto.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention limoncello, pistachio cheesecake, sirloin steak and prawn risotto.
Customer Review Summary
Diners repeatedly single out generous portions and dishes like the prawn risotto, sirloin steak, and homemade ravioli filled with truffle and mushrooms, alongside complimentary fresh bread and homemade limoncello that regularly caps off the meal. The pistachio cheesecake gets particular praise, and several mention staff going out of their way, including one account of a free drink and dessert offered as a kind gesture. Service is consistently called excellent, and multiple reviewers describe returning regularly or over many years. One reviewer found the carbonara "a bit sickly" and lacking chicken and mushrooms, and the same review noted a broken hot water tap and decor needing refurbishment. Another reviewer, while praising the food, felt more caution was needed when booking, describing children running and shouting in the small dining space without much supervision. Reviewers also note a dog friendly beer garden with toys for kids.
Customer Review Summary
Diners repeatedly single out generous portions and dishes like the prawn risotto, sirloin steak, and homemade ravioli filled with truffle and mushrooms, alongside complimentary fresh bread and homemade limoncello that regularly caps off the meal. The pistachio cheesecake gets particular praise, and several mention staff going out of their way, including one account of a free drink and dessert offered as a kind gesture. Service is consistently called excellent, and multiple reviewers describe returning regularly or over many years. One reviewer found the carbonara "a bit sickly" and lacking chicken and mushrooms, and the same review noted a broken hot water tap and decor needing refurbishment. Another reviewer, while praising the food, felt more caution was needed when booking, describing children running and shouting in the small dining space without much supervision. Reviewers also note a dog friendly beer garden with toys for kids.
Featured reviews
- Google user
“We have been coming here (and to their previous venue) for over a decade and we still love the food, drink and hospitality. The food is excellent and is very well priced especially given the quality and quantity of it. Dog friendly too.”
- Google user
“Food and service is always excellent here. However, for us, we would be more circumspect about when we book as the restaurant is ‘family friendly’ and not very big. It seems to be the norm for kids to be running about, crying and shouting with little parental supervision which is not what you really want when you go out for a meal.”
- Google user
“We had a delicious Saturday lunch here towards the end of completing the Turpin's Trail. Would recommend the Home Made Ravioli Filled With Truffle And Mushrooms, and the Cacciucco Alla Livornese - great combo to share. Hope to be back some day!”
- Google user
“We go here regularly. The owners/staff are always super friendly and accommodating. The food is fabulous...portions are fairly large but they will do half size on most of the pasta dishes. Complimentary home made fresh bread and limoncello aswell. Favourite pudding is pistachio cheesecake . Really tasty. 10 out of 10 from us !!”
- Google user
“Food was fantastic! Great portions, great service and excellent choice! Everyone really enjoyed their meal! Just a few bits of feedback - The Carbonara was a bit sickly and lacked mushrooms and chicken to balance the dish. And hot water tap in the men’s bathroom was broken and decor is a bit old and run down and needs a bit of a refurb!”
Amenities
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
Show more amenities
- Accessibility· 3
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Wheelchair accessible seating
Location
Italian Restaurants near The Red Lion Great Sampford
- 6.5 mi away
mozzarella sticks, chicken & mushroom pasta, morello cherry cooler
| Place | Rating | Distance | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Red Lion Great Sampford | 4.7239 | — | limoncello, pistachio cheesecake, sirloin steak |
| Prezzo Italian Restaurant Haverhill | 4.31,159 | 6.5 mi away | mozzarella sticks, chicken & mushroom pasta, morello cherry cooler |
The 1 nearest italian restaurants by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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