Our Auntie Betty lives near Hemel Hempstead, and every few weeks we take her out to lunch. We looked for a place nearby which was participating in the Financial Times £10 lunch and found the Boxmoor Lodge. It was a sunny day and we had the conservatory almost to ourselves. The starters were chicken and sweetcorn soup or vermicelli with a cream sauce and oyster mushrooms, both excellent. L's breast of chicken with a cider sauce, walnuts and vegetables was well cooked but perhaps rather boring. Auntie Betty and I had the blackened salmon on a bed of roasted vegetables, which we all agreed was the better choice. Fresh green beans, carrots, cauliflower and new potatoes were served by the waiter from a silver dish, a rather old fashioned touch. I don't like carrots, but feel a fool for saying so (too much like school) so I just left them on the side of my plate and fortunately it was not sent it back with an order to finish your carrots or no pudding.

In fact the portions were huge, and none of us were able to finish so there was no question of pudding. We noticed the Cona coffee, made in advance and waiting on the hotplate, so didn't order any, despite the prospect of After Eights to go with. Instead of the usual £10, the two course lunch was only £8. The service was friendly and efficient and the bill, which included melba toast, hot bread rolls, two glasses of wine and unlimited mineral water came to a measly £32 for three of us.

The Boxmoor Lodge probably isn't worth a special trip to Hemel Hempstead, but if you find yourself in the area, especially if they have a special offer like the FT lunch, you could do a lot worse. Daisy Middleton (Friday 21 January 2000)

boxmoorlodge@compuserve.com

www.boxmoorlodge.co.uk

London Road, Hemel Hempstead, Herts HP1 2RA

Tel: 01442 230770