Disguised as a typical house on the main street of Holme-On-Spalding Moor, you wouldn't know Joffco's was there unless you were looking for it.

But once you find it, I'm sure you'll agree it's a worthwhile discovery.

For me and two pals, a visit to Joffco's marked an annual get-together, which traditionally involves fine dining, wine and much frivolity. We like to choose somewhere "nice" and treat ourselves to a no-expense- spared evening of good food and company.

And we certainly picked a gem this time.

The restaurant occupies a 300-year-old former two-up two-down cottage in the centre of the village. It's small, intimate and cosy, with a tempting deli counter on the ground floor. We shared the upstairs dining room with just eight other people and there was only one table left empty.

The menu changes seasonally and consists of five choices for starters, main and dessert, with a middle course of sorbet or soup also available. The emphasis is very much on quality, with local produce used and highlighted throughout.

Between us, we managed to sample a good range of what Joffco's had to offer, with the soup of the day (£4.65), carpaccio of duck (£6.95) and crab cakes (£5.95) making up our starters.

Presentation is clearly key here and, with exquisite finishing touches, each dish looked like a work of art. My tomato and smoked cheese soup, for example, really had the wow factor, with the name Joffco's expertly piped on to the top in cream. Such a shame to disturb it.

This creamy, full-flavoured soup was delicious and the smoked cheese added that touch of je ne sais quoi to what could otherwise have been quite a plain course.

The crab cakes were another triumph, packed with flavour and topped with a perfectly poached, free range Newport egg.

The thin slices of duck were seared in a honey and balsamic dressing and served cold, with apple crisps to garnish. One of my guests had taken a punt on this dish and wasn't quite sure what she was getting, so was a little surprised when she discovered "carpaccio" consisted of very thin slices of raw meat and was therefore served cold.

The texture of the duck took some getting used to, but the dressing gave it a wonderful hint of sweetness and she was pleasantly surprised, managing to finish the whole serving.

Two of us cleansed our palate with a mango sorbet, which was sweet but not too tangy, while the remaining diner sampled a slightly smaller version of the soup as a middle course.

For mains I chose the pan-cooked fillet of local beef (£16.95), from Howden butcher Rob Featherstone. Served medium, the meat simply melted in the mouth. It was topped with caramelised onions and haggis – my first encounter with the traditional Scottish dish – and presented on creamed potatoes with a whisky sauce.

I could really taste the alcohol and the layers of flavours worked beautifully together – it was divine.

I also sampled some of my friend's venison (£14.95), which was served with crushed potatoes and a port and cranberry sauce that was thick and gravy-like in consistency. Again the meat was cooked perfectly and all the ingredients combined to create another wonderful dish.

Spiced and seared duck breast (£14.95) completed our mains and provided a slightly piquant alternative, with fondant potatoes and a mint and chilli dressing.

On to dessert then, which we decided we could, and definitely should, manage.

The caramelised lemon tart was requested with clotted cream ice cream rather than the raspberry sorbet and the waitress was more than happy to oblige. My chocolate and brandy torte was super indulgent – very rich and filling.

The treacle tart, however, was the outright winner of most delicious dessert. Served with clotted cream ice cream, Joffco's is renowned for this sweet and sticky pudding, which was so greatly appreciated that my friend even bought another slice to take home with her.

Our bill, with wine and soft drinks included, came to just over £120 for the three of us and we were all of the opinion that this was perfectly reasonable for the quality of food.

I, for one, would definitely go back – it's worth making a special trip to Holme-On- Spalding Moor for.

Type: Small and intimate restaurant with an emphasis on good quality and local ingredients.

Quality of food: Excellent.

Atmosphere: Very pleasant. The dining room is small, but you don't feel on top of each other. The decor is simple, with exposed brickwork and mood lighting. Very cosy feel to the place.

Service: Good, the young waiting staff were well presented, polite and efficient.

Value for money: At about £120 for the three of us, it was a treat, but here you pay for quality and attention to detail.

Best for: A special occasion and an intimate dining experience.

Would you go again? Most definitely.