What to Order at The Rising Sun: Our Roasts and Desserts, Reviewed

People ask me all the time what to order, so here's my honest take on the two menus that get talked about most — our Sunday roasts, and what to have after.

Sunday Roast: four done properly, rather than ten done half-heartedly

Sunday Roast runs every week, 12 till 3, and we've kept it simple on purpose — four roasts, each one done as well as we can manage, rather than a long list that spreads the kitchen too thin.

The Roast Topside of Beef, with fresh horseradish, is the one I'd order myself every single time — proper beef, done properly, horseradish with a genuine kick rather than a token dab on the side. At £23, it's the one people come back for specifically.

The Free-Range Roast Chicken with bread sauce is the one I'd suggest if you want the classic, comforting version of a roast — nothing showy, just done right, at £22.

The Slow-Cooked Pork Belly, with Bramley apple sauce, is the one that surprises people. It's soft, rich, and a little bit special — the sauce cuts through the richness exactly the way it should. Also £22, and worth ordering if you've never had pork belly done slow like this before.

And the Cauliflower Cheese Steak is not an afterthought bolted onto the menu for vegetarians — it's a proper roast in its own right, with a vegan option available, at £19. I'd happily put this in front of a committed meat-eater and expect them to enjoy it.

Every roast comes with roasted potatoes, a proper Yorkshire pudding, charred hispi cabbage, and plenty of gravy, plus cauliflower cheese and roasted root vegetables — carrots, parsnips and beetroot — for the table to share. That's all included, not an upsell.

If your table has a big appetite (no judgement, we've all been there), there are extra sharing bowls too: more roast potatoes for £5, roasted root vegetables for £5, or a stack of four extra Yorkshire puddings for £5. Order a couple between you and settle in.

Dessert: the bit I'd never skip

If you're the sort who says "just a coffee, thanks" after a big roast, I'd gently push back — our dessert menu is short, but every single thing on it earns its place.

The Limoncello Tiramisu is the one I'd order for myself without fail — mascarpone and sponge properly soaked in limoncello, with a bright, boozy lemon edge that keeps it from feeling too heavy after a roast. At £8.50, it's the one I'd call unmissable.

The Cornish Clotted Cream Panna Cotta is silky, properly set, with vanilla and roasted strawberries — a gentler option if you want something cooling rather than rich. Worth knowing it's not vegetarian, since it's set with gelatine, but for £9.50 it's a genuinely lovely way to finish.

The Churros with Dark Chocolate and Salted Caramel, at £8.50, are the ones I'd order for the table rather than just for myself — warm, and made for dipping and sharing, even if in practice people rarely actually share them.

And the Affogato — two scoops of vanilla ice cream with a double espresso poured straight over — is what I'd order if I wanted something that felt like dessert and coffee in one, without being too much after a full roast. £6.50, and it does exactly what it says.

My honest pick

If I had to choose one roast and one dessert, it's the beef topside followed by the Limoncello Tiramisu, every time. But every single thing on both these menus is something I'd genuinely order again myself — which is about the best endorsement I can give my own kitchen.

Book a table if you're coming for Sunday Roast — we're a small kitchen and Sundays fill up fast. Bring the family, bring the dog, and take your time.

Kelly x