Wheatsheaf

Civilised, upmarket restaurant with imaginative, elaborate food - not cheap, but rewarding; good range of drinks inc well chosen wines, comfortable bedrooms

If it's just a drink your're after it's probably best to ring this restaurant-with-rooms before turning up as they may stop drinks service if it's too busy. That said, they keep a decent range, from Stewart Pentland IPA on handpump to around 40 malt whiskies, and a fine choice of 150 wines (with a dozen by the glass). The carefully thought-out main lounge area has an attractive long oak settle and comfortable armchairs, with sporting prints and plates on the bottle-green wall covering; a small lower-ceilinged part by the counter has pubbier furnishings, and small agricultural prints on the walls, especially sheep. A further lounge area has a fishing-theme décor (with a detailed fishing map of the River Tweed). The front conservatory has a vaulted pine ceiling and walls of local stone; piped music. Breakfasts are good, with freshly squeezed orange juice.

Skilfully prepared with fresh local ingredients, bar food might include starters such as toasted goats cheese on marinated peppers, smoked haddock risotto with tempura spring onions, pigeon breast and black pudding with celeriac, orange and red currant sauce, main courses such as mushroom, parmesan and basil omelette, battered haddock, pork and leek meatballs with cider gravy, roast duck on roast sweet potato with plum and port sauce, sirloin steak with peppercorn and brandy sauce, and puddings such as white chocolate cheesecake with strawberry sorbet and ginger and pear pudding with warm fudge sauce and vanilla ice-cream.