Julie Richards-Williams heads to the Bod Erw in St Asaph for the latest Taste Test

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Great British food in lovely surroundings is a winning combination that packs in the customers at Bod Erw, as my hubby Hugh and I found when we visited one of the most enduringly popular choices for eating out in the historic cathedral city of St Asaph .

Smart, comfortable, with prices that won’t break the bank, there’s certainly a lot to like about this family owned and run restaurant and bar that has been a familiar sight on The Roe since opening in 1985.

The attractive cream painted late Georgian mansion has a large oak lined bar, small dining room, conservatory room ideal for private parties and a restaurant on the ground floor, all tastefully decorated and catering for a total of about 90 covers.

Upstairs is a spacious function room that can accommodate 80 – 100 guests and there’s outside seating at rustic wooden tables and chairs.

Bod Erw’s greatest claim to fame is that in 1909 it was home to Violet Charlesworth, a notorious and beautiful fraudster, who tried to fake her own death in a motor accident that supposedly flung her over cliffs into the sea near Penmaenmawr.

Over the next few decades the mansion passed through various different hands, eventually becoming a motel during the 1960s and 70s.

After being closed for about three years, in 1984 it was bought by present owners Sue and Tony Davies, who gutted and completely refurbished the property - a monumental task which took them 18 months to complete.

Since then, thanks to the hard work and enthusiasm of Sue, Tony and their family, Bod Erw has become firmly established in the local community - a modern multi purpose venue, much in demand for meals and also for special celebrations, company functions, small weddings and even funeral breakfasts and wakes.

It is renowned for serving consistently good food, especially the steaks, so our mission on a very pleasant Friday evening was to have a relaxing dinner and see if it lived up to its glowing reputation.

Folk like to start their weekends early in North Wales and the large car park was almost full when we arrived. I had taken the precaution of pre-booking and we were quickly shown to the only vacant table in the cosy room off the bar, which housed a couple of small groups and a party of twelve cheerfully celebrating a big birthday. Wine was flowing freely and the atmosphere was laid back and welcoming.

As you might expect the choice of drink at Bod Erw is extensive and prices are pretty reasonable.

The carefully selected international wine list includes some 25 different wines, with prices starting at just £2.95 for a 125ml glass and bottles from £15 rising to £27.95, plus sparkling wine from £6.50 a bottle and champagne from £39.50.

There are cask ales from Purple Moose micro brewery, many well known brands of bottled beers, lagers, ciders and spirits including more than 20 varieties of gin and soft drinks.

Hugh went for a pint of Moretti lager shandy and I had a glass of Jean Belmont chardonnay from France - both excellent and served at just the right temperature.

North Wales has great local produce and the best meat, fish, seafood and vegetables are sourced to produce the seasonally changing menus for dinner, lunch, Sunday roast lunch and children’s menu.

The a la carte evening menu offers a tried and tested mix of popular British classics with one or two daily changing starters and mains ,plus daily changing specials - chargrilled chicken breast topped with cheese and BBQ sauce was available the night we visited.

I must say that the menu caters extensively for meat and fish lovers - vegetarian and vegan options are limited, with just a single vegetarian dish of the day as a main.

The seven starters included pate, plaice goujons, smoked salmon mousse, salt and pepper squid, grilled goats cheese salad, garlic and rosemary bread and homemade vegetable soup.

We really were spoilt for choice with the mains, no less than 14 different dishes including ham and eggs, bangers and mash; pie of the day, scampi, grilled cod or salmon, chicken breast, chicken curry and lasagne. These cost from £11.95 for roast ham in tarragon sauce to sirloin steak at £18.95

Resisting the lure of soup- well, it was a warm evening - my other half went for chicken liver pate served with tangy red onion chutney and brown and white toast.

“Very smooth and creamy and a generous portion, but rather too salty for my taste. Nice all the same,” Hugh muttered.

However, he certainly had no complaints about his main course – the house favourite in the form of a substantial 10oz sirloin steak served with fried onions, mushrooms and tomato plus a dish of broccoli and carrots.

“It’s first class, perfectly cooked medium, just how a good steak should be,” he murmured happily and given a piece to taste, I agreed that the flavour really was excellent.

Chicken breast with a white wine, mushroom, cream and garlic sauce was my main selection and very good it was too, with veg and handcut chips which Hugh shared.

The chicken had been seared and was tender and succulent, given just that extra flavour by the delicate creamy sauce. Full marks from both of us!

Our desserts - mine a personal favourite in the form of zingy lemon tart with fresh cream and hubby’s - traditional sticky toffee pudding with butterscotch sauce and vanilla ice cream- were decadent, delicious and could not be faulted. A great finish to our dinners.

Customers from near and far return time and again to Bod Erw for the friendly welcome and great British food, freshly cooked to order by the enthusiastic and talented kitchen team headed by owner Tony Davies, manager Ali and daughter Jemma.

Bod Erw has long been the people's choice – long may it continue.

Service : Friendly but can be slow when busy

Menu : Good choice on all menus. Dietary needs catered for

Seating : Room for 90 people downstairs but booking advisable

Disabled : Disabled access and toilet.

Parking : Large private car park

Open 7 days a week for family and business functions Wed 12-2.30pm; Thursday 9-5pm; Fri/Sat 6.30am-8.30pm; Sun 12 -3.30pm.

Overal l: Consistently good food served in pleasant surroundings. Value for money.

Bod Erw Restaurant and Bar, The Roe, St Asaph LL17 OLA. Telephone 01745 584638