Eating Out in Woodbridge
Woodbridge is a great town for cafes and restaurants so whether you
are looking for a quick coffee and cake or a romantic candle lit dinner
you can be assured of some delicious local produce, excellent service
and a relaxing atmosphere.
 For
that breakfast croissant and coffee I would be tempted into The Patisserie in The Thoroughfare. Smells of freshly baked bread and
croissants combined with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafts through
from
the bakery, guaranteeing that any pretensions of holiday dieting
will have to be forgotten. You might even find yourself tempted into
The
Patisserie shop to purchase their lovely pastries or even some of
their more exotic cakes for tea.
Need to check your emails, catch up on the papers or have a look
at the Booker short list then Browsers Bookshop is a great venue.
As well
as lovely coffee and cakes, you can browse the bookshop for the
latest titles and the shop’s personal recommendations for bedtime reading.
Have a look through the splendid selection of local books and maps.
However bad the weather you can enjoy a walk along the river front
footpath which takes you down as far as the National Trust woodland
at Kyson Point; the views are fantastic with broad vistas over
to Sutton Hoo, and along the river in both directions. Every change
of tide and
weather presents a new perspective. At low tide, especially in
the winter, you can watch the wildfowl and wading birds feeding on
the
foreshore. As the tide rises the house boats and barges tied
up in Woodbridge quay begin to float on their moorings.
 Wandering
back along the riverside you will see the Tide Mill ahead of you. Stop
for lunch in the Waterfront Café. Opened in 2004,
the Waterfront Café takes much of its local produce and cheeses
from its shop off the Thoroughfare, Woodbridge Fine Foods. On the ground
floor of an old riverside warehouse The Waterfront has the relaxed
feel of a wine bar and a small but excellent wine list to match. Local
produce abounds, the menu changing according to season and the day’s
fish catch. Children are welcome and there is good wheelchair access.
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Jars of Clay - The Thoroughfare Woodbridge
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With children in mind you might prefer a pizza, in which Prezzo has
an excellent selection of pizzas and pasta on its menu. If
the children would like some activity and you would like a quiet sit
down then Jars
of Clay is a must. Here you can paint pottery while enjoying
a nice cup of tea, some cakes or a cold drink.
The selection of venues for evening meals is staggering.
From good pub food (there are well over half a dozen pubs in the
centre of Woodbridge)
through to Indian, Chinese or Thai food and some excellent
restaurants offering menus including some of Suffolk’s finest cuisine there
is definitely something for everyone.
Spice, half way down The Thoroughfare, can be a little
tricky to find, hidden as it is between a children’s clothes
shop and a sandwich bar. Having said that it is always busy in the
evenings so do please book.
Newly refurbished Spice offers a lovely range of
lightly spiced recipes from Malaysia and south east Asia. Their puddings,
on the other hand,
are traditionally English - including a delicious
sticky Toffee pudding.
 The
Riverside - Don’t be put off by its exterior, this is one of the most popular
restaurants in the area. While tapas is their lunchtime speciality,
the evening menu includes a very good smattering of Suffolk’s
finest fresh foods. Whether you choose the Revett’s sausages
with mash or one of their lovely fish dishes you won’t be disappointed.
For cinema goers there is an all in one price special, and if the film
is starting and you still haven’t finished your meal you can
always go back to the restaurant for one of their lovely puddings and
a coffee after the show.
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