THE Oak Inn, another of the clutch of pub-restaurants along the Upton to Pershore road, demonstrates admirably that it is the whole experience and not just the quality of the food that makes dining out such a pleasure.

A successful combination involves pleasant, relaxing surroundings, friendly and efficient service, an imaginative menu, a comprehensive wine list and well-cooked and presented food.

The Oak fills that bill well. The restaurant is light and airy, featuring some attractive paintings and pot plants, and if the service is sometimes a tad slow then, as a note on the menu points out, a little patience is asked for - all the dishes are being freshly cooked.

The food when it arrived was generally of a high standard and the wine list featured the products of vineyards in Europe, Australasia, South Africa, the United States and South America, The dinner menu offered six starters, eight mains, six desserts and a platter of cheese and biscuits.

My tasty prawns, smoked halibut and smoked trout came in a shell with a pesto dressing and cost £4.25. One of my companions chose a twice-baked Roquefort soufflé garnished with watercress and sun-dried tomatoes (£4.20); the other a salad of baby spinach, pine nuts, apple, mango and Stilton dressed in a sweet chilli oil (£3.85). Both declared themselves well-satisfied.

My main was tender Gressingham duck breast roasted and carved on to a broad bean and bacon mash with Madeira sauce (£12,95). One of my companions opted for creamy sea bass fillets on a bed of wilted greens with a duo of dressings (£13.25); the other the vegetarian option of a sizeable tart of caramelised onions, courgettes, cherry tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella with a chive cream (£7.50).

All three dishes were served with fresh vegetables - sautéed leeks and sweet snap peas, a tasty mash and sautéed potatoes.

A bottle of Italian Pinot Grigio at £12.75 proved an ideal compromise to accompany our various main courses.

Two of us chose the chocolate panacotta with berries and an orange syrup, while the third member of our party took the creamy and aptly named strawberry Eton mess, served in a wine glass. Desserts cost £3.50 each.

A relaxing and satisfying meal was rounded off with two of us enjoying liqueurs, the other a hot chocolate.

THE OAK INN, UPTON ROAD, WOODMANCOTE, DEFFORD Tel: 01386 750327SERVICE: *** FOOD: **** VALUE: **** AMBIENCE: ****