Aculinary whiff of nostalgia is currently wafting around Colchester, and that’s because the Warehouse is back.

For a long time, this out-of-the-way restaurant was a popular place for diners, but in recent years it had been in decline.

Now, under new management, there is a buzz about the place once more, and after eating there, I can see why.

My wife and I, along with some friends, popped in on a busy Friday night, and were immediately impressed with the attentive service and enticing menu.

Our starters included home-made game terrine, goats cheese and cranberry tart and roasted squash and parma ham.

My game terrine was packed full of flavours, and while I couldn’t fault the sloe gin and shallot relish that came with it, I would still say the tart was the pick of the bunch, with the flakiest of pastry.

For main, it was another difficult decision, but I went for the pork belly with possibly the best crackling I have ever tasted.

My wife and one of our friends had the fillet of beef, cooked to perfection on both counts, and accompanied by an inspired bistro favourite, bourguignon sauce.

Last, but by no means least, was the delightfully-presented duck with parsnip and potato mash, and purple sprouting broccoli.

The Warehouse is classic British cooking at its most sylish, and its the fact they include such under-used ingredients as purple sprouting broccoli that endears it so much. More classic dishes could be found on the dessert menu, with summer pudding and a blackberry and apple crumble.

We opted for a dark chocolate tart – exceptional – and the heather honey, saffron and white chocolate terrine which, if I really had to nominate a bad dish, was perhaps the one that didn’t work so well.

Overall, it’s an overwhelming thumbs up to an old friend back where it belongs.