Apart from the fact, I got lost on the way, my own stupidity, then my sat nav died, I did arrive at the Crown Hartest, its a lovely venue, its on your left by the village green if coming from Bury st Edmunds. Lovely and welcoming interior and staffl, although one guest did trip on a short step, we all laughed and said one for Tripadvisor. Starters and service were great, we were fortunate to have Kevin as our waiter, his smile and willingness to please made for a great service and a lovely event. My salmon was a tad over done, I like it pink inside, other diners might want it cooked a little longer. The others had roast beef and or pork, with lovely Yorkshire puddings, nice veg and some fine wines. One guest was vegetarian, and had olives as starter and a rather boring plate for mains, it must be so difficult for any establishment to cater not knowing how many vegetarians are coming. All in all, with the sun shining, horse's and riders stopping by for a beer, old cars, children playing in the extensive grounds, a great chocolate cake, a lovely day, well done to all, I had a great time and so did all of our party, and I didn't get lost coming back to Bury St Edmunds

We booked the Crown and we were a little worried as we hadn't dined there for a few years but heard it was now very good. We were taking some friends to Sunday lunch today so we crossed our fingers hope for the best. the best is what we had. Food and service was lovely, so much so our friends want to go there again when they visit. Love the decor, very tasteful.

The pub is lovely and probably great for a pub lunch in the garden; however, we went for dinner there and had the chicken and choritzo dish which was swimming with oil. I understand that the choritzo is very oily when cooked, but it seems as if they've tipped all the oil all over the vegetables and there was a large amount of oil at the bottom, so much so I couldn't eat it. My friend had the steak and it was cooked as it should be but was as tough as anything. The food was very expensive for what it was and it seems too much time was spent on making it look fancy but not tasting up to scratch. Drinks were expensive too. There are many other lovely pubs around this area, I was disappointed and won't return.

We went for lunch with a group of friends, it was not to busy lots of staff on.
The Crown really looks great the decor is clean, modern & very comfortable.Unfortunately service not good, staff very pleasant just slow and unaware , the food was a long time in arriving, and when it did the chicken dish was awful. I would have brought it to staff attention but really felt they would have not known how to deal with it.
The menu was bit limited and the food, was nowhere near the standard of either the One Bull or The Cadogan.Hopefully this was because they are settling.

We were eight people booked in for 7.30pm.On arrival good parking with plenty of room for a Saturday evening.Gastro pub atmosphere.Speedy service, menu varied one special !the duck
Not available.Food OK but lacking in appetizing sauces.On the whole a satisfying evening.Would return again.Prices not extortionate.

We went to the Crown a week after it had re-opened and it certainly didn't disappoint. The food was excellent and the different courses were perfectly timed. The staff were very attentive. The refurbishment has given a tired environment a much needed face lift resulting in a bright, clean welcoming atmosphere. If I had to give a negative it would be that the drinks service to the table was not very quick. We ordered wine with our main course but we had eaten half the food before the wine came, but do not let that put you off giving the Crown a try, you won't be disappointed!

Well, this place has been open for a week today, and as we're Londoners who have a weekend cottage in Suffolk, we're always on the look out for a decent country pub. As it was featured in the Bury Free Press last week we thought we'd suss it out.
The good news is that the new owners have spruced the place up, so the photos of it on TA are all out of date. The loo's have also been spruced up; I know a strange thing to put in a review but when you go to the loo in a pub and almost die of suffocation and/or infection it's something to note.Anyway, arrived at about 1.20pm today. Although Hartest isn't actually the largest village you'll ever go to, finding the pub isn't that easy! Basically, from Bury, when you reach the village, turn left! The inside of the pub decorated very nicely, and it was quite busy. This place has only been open for a week?
Bar pretty good, and shown to a table. Then we noticed we recognised some of the staff who used to be at the Fox in Bury. I had the fish and chips and my partner the burger, and a bottle of NZ Sav Blanc. Wine was £20 which isn't bad considering it was a decent wine, and the burger/f&c about £12 each.Food excellent. I mean it really was for a place open a week. Wine good, surroundings nice, decent car park, and of course, the loos. Service a little rusty, but they'll sort that out I'm sure.
Will we go back?Oh absolutely.
Should have taken a photo though to update the photos on here!

New owners started here and now fully open. Excellent for families plenty of room for kids outside to play&climbing frames.Good choice of food well presented.
Can see this pub doing great and booking in advance recommended .

The Crown at Hartest has been taken over by our friends at the One Bull, Bury St Edmunds, tonight was the opening night and what a fabulous turn out. On a glorious summer evening, children loved the massive grounds and play area, the village of Hartest now has a great pub, with two dining rooms and all my favourite wines. The car park was heaving and people were all over the inside and outside, I cannot wait to take mum and friends out for a luncheon.A great selection of wines and this could be a must go to venue for christmas lunch or dinner.

We visited on a bank holiday Monday which is why we probably only got a short lunchtime menu to choose from. The food was very nice and the real ale was well kept. The baguette I had was well presented and came with extras of salad and tortilla chips. Serving staff and bar staff all very friendly. We stopped here after a walk which started alongside the pub which takes you up Hartest Hill for a great view of a quintessential village.

We have been here a couple of times and it is always popular. A decent sized carpark which is good, the food is always very nice and the staff very pleasant. The steak I had was to die for - absolutely deliciious, and I am a steak snob!!! There is a huge menu and the food always tastes freshly prepared. It can get very warm in there so ensure you can remove layers! Highly recommended.

Just spent another four days at Crown Cottage Hartest. Went for a meal at The Crown on Thursday 7th March 2013. Great presentation but both had the same thought that we would probably need two bowls of chips. How could we have been such Philistines. The meal was the best we may have ever had and was so good that you find yourself savouring every mouthful and feeling very full and contented by the end.We very seldom bother with a sweet but after such an excellent main course we just had to be tempted and are we glad we did.Presentation and taste equalled what had gone before. If we ever open a restaurant, we will hunt down Matt and team.
Only sour note is that we understand, because of the greedy brewery the pub may struggle to carry on. To Matt and all the team at The Crown Inn, keep up the good work. Best regards Frank and Steph.

Been to this pub many times, always feel very welcome. Food is outstanding, matt the chef and the rest of his team are dedicated to making it a great experience. And the real log fire is always alight.

This is our local pub, and every time we go we never fail to be impressed. Matt the chef is very creative, you can tell this by his amazing dishes. Whenever we have spoken to him he comes across extremely enthusiastic which is great to see he enjoys his job. We just can't get enough of his food!

I was completely blown away by my crown experience. I am a vegan and called a week ahead of time to 'warn' the chef. The chef rose to the challenge and prepared one of the tastiest and most creative vegan meals I have experienced - and I make a point of visiting specifically vegan restaurants world-wide. Usually at a country pub I'd expect a plain baked potato (!) and beans if I am lucky but he had clearly put a lot of thought, energy and passion into a three-course gourmet meal. He obviously loves what he does and has a real talent - as well as a willingness to go well beyond 'accommodating' whatever dietary requirements. The (more meaty) meal my dad had also looked both creative and delicious. I was honestly so impressed by the whole experience and felt like the chef had given 150% percent to every mouthful.
The Crown more generally is a welcoming place for locals and visitors alike. Once we'd finished chatting at the bar, we retreated to the restaurant where the service and atmosphere was excellent. Located in the quaintest of country villages with some lovely short strolls nearby. A little bit of everything for everyone! Thoroughly recommend!!!

I have visited The Crown several times over the last few years for dinner, a lunch/ snack or for a few drinks to cool me down in the middle of a bike ride. Every time has been fantastic- the food from the dinner menu is excellent, the sandwiches at lunch (I had a sausage sandwich last time) are beaut and the staff are efficient and polite but also unobtrusive. There is a little garden at the back which is lovely in summer and has a decent play area for families with young children. The only bad thing I can remember about this pub is that once I was cold there, but none of the rest of my family were and I was probably wearing something inappropriate for the weather so it's not really a fault of the pub. If you can't find it at first, take a few passes around the village green until you do, it's definitely worth the 20 minute drive from Bury (or bike ride if you're so inclined).

The pub is tucked away just off the village green and is not obvious at first being tucked away a little.
Inside it is a real olde worlde pub and on the day we visited there was a fire burning away.
I had the roast beef which was superb and in fact was some of the best roast beef that I have tasted. The waitress said that it came from the butchers just across the green. Those that had the fish although satisfied thought that the chef was perhaps trying to be a little to clever and perhaps there was one too many ingredient on the plate. The mussels in San Miguel that we had for starters were also good.
The meal was good value for the money.
Service throughout was very good. Would definately go back if in the area again

The Crown is the local 'pub in my village. Pub food is usually, well, pub food. Not so at The Crown. I have eaten there many times this year and it's always good. However last week I had one of the most memorable meals of my life; cod gravadlax followed my pork belly with truffled polenta. Stupendous. Wonderful. Astonishing value. The chef, Matt and his team produce inventive seasonal produce.

Visited the Hartest with my partners family as a table of 4. It took a little finding as is hidden away but it was well worth it. I shared baked camembert to start which came with some gorgeous homemade bread sticks. The rest of the table had a stunning looking beetroot dish that tasted fantastic as well. My main was incredible. Beautifully thin pappardelle pasta with mushrooms, artichokes, caramelised onion....it was amazing. One of the best plates of food i've ever tasted. Our companions had fish and chips that they said was brilliant.
When it came to desert we had to order them all. And each of them was brilliant. The stand out had to be the orange tart with green tea ice cream. The flavour was ridiculous! So good. Overall, your experience in the Crown will be totally unexpected, you'll think you're going to get pretty good pub food but in fact you get given meals that can rival anything you've had in your life. Will be back very soon.

Get yourself down to The Crown,Hartest if you want amazing food! The wife and I travelled up from Herts today and my Uncle and Aunt recommended this pub for lunch....but pub lunch does not describe the eating experience we had today. I had the squid,lemongrass,apple etc starter and the flavours were amazing! Steak and ale pie for main,buttery pie crust was heaven and the filling had steak that really did melt in the mouth with an unctious, full of flavour gravy that made you want the recipe( and two of these cost ONLY £15)!!
Orange tart,jelly and Green tea ice cream(with a lovely litte surprise included) was a lovely finish to an AMAZING lunch....Fabulous flavours just kept on coming with every course.Service was always with a smile and although it was a late late lunch (2.30) there was still a table of diners nearby to contribute to the atmosphere. Definitely the best pub lunch I have ever experienced......A M A Z I N G !!!!!!

Experiences of The Crown prior to this autumn are likely to have been bad or, if good, lucky. I know, I was unlucky!
All change in the kitchen and it’s gone from the ridiculous to the sublime. I chose braised belly of pork, truffle polenta, leek, celeriac, broccoli and pork crackling. Watching another table being served, I reckoned the vegetables with the pork would mostly be about setting off the pork with other tastes, so I ordered a side dish of vegetables to satisfy a big appetite. I had only popped out to have a drink and eat but I decided to drink and dine ... I recalled the menu and swayed between cauliflower soup and bread or skate wing, cauliflower pakora, with homemade crisps for starters. I like both cauliflower and homemade bread but fancied something fishy ... I chose Brancaster mussels steamed in lager with garlic, paprika and chilli with bread. Try hard and you can ruin good mussels; equally, you have to try very hard to make mussels exceptional; hats’ off to this chef. A good bowl of good mussels with plenty of liquor for lumps of bread; garlic in the nose, a little chilli on the tongue and paprika round the gills and the taste and texture of mussels ... heaven! Still wondering if I should just have ordered a super large plate of mussels with chips from the bar menu ... the main course arrived. The pork was beautiful and whilst not a fan of maize (except b-b-q sweet corn) or truffle, I enjoyed the polenta and realised that following the starter, the vegetables on the plate might well have been sufficient. Nevertheless I enjoyed demolishing the extra vegetables, including the braised swede, which I’d normally push to the side. I wasn’t expecting the piece of smoked eel which wonderfully complemented the sweetness in the pork and gave me visions of past debauchery in the Manorial Courtroom where I was eating!
Stuffed, I passed on the pudding even though there was real enthusiasm from the nearby table for their desserts. Getting attention could be a problem but otherwise staff were cheerful and helpful and, when the kitchen wound down, the chef appeared in the dining room ... genuine, and a nice touch. All in all, £23 which will be a lot more once folk start to find this chef. Friendly, great food.

Food was fab, staff were friendly and helpful, If you want a nice meal well worth paying that little extra to get good quality freshly cooked food. defiantly will visit again :-)

We recently ate dinner at The Crown and had a delicious and surprisingly excellent meal. I ordered the Monk fish and lentil main course which was frankly one of the best dishes I have ever eaten. The fish was cooked perfectly, the lentils had an amazing flavour and where not too firm. There was a pink lobster flavoured foam which was heavenly. My partner ordered a less sophisticated but still excellent steak pie and fried potatoes. She said it was delicious, very meaty and flavoursome. The presentation was very high end restaurant, something which did not quite marry with its surroundings.
The pub itself could be as good as the food given some attention. The dying plants in plastic pots as you arrive are not very inspiring and almost made us drive on. As 'gastro pubs' go the food was impressive but the venue looks unkempt and in need of some style and TLC.Service was friendly.

Popped in to The Crown for a quick lunch and ended up staying hours! the Staff were all really welcoming and the food was not only reasonably priced but outstanding quality. I had the pork starter and burger for my main. both exceeded expectation, hand cut chips onion rings all perfectly cooked. will be bringing the Mrs back for dinner soon. would reccomend to anyone. perfection

Visited this pub with food for an informal birthday meal and was pleasantly surprised at what was on offer. The service was a little slow but otherwise fine and very friendly, and there was plenty of choice on the menu. I enjoyed my 3 courses - indeed every plate - there were 5 of us - went back empty. The fish dishes we had were very good. This is not the place for a romantic meal, but for an informal gathering of friends it is to recommended.