I ALWAYS feel a great amount of pressure when choosing a restaurant for a meal with friends.

While I appreciate this may have something to do with my unashamed desire for food, finding somewhere to satisfy the differing tastes of a hungry group has the potential to be problematic.

Such was the situation at the weekend when I not only had the palates of four people to contend with, but a PCSO who had just learnt he was set to lose his job following the Spending Review.

The last thing he’d want was to part with his uncertain salary for something else hard to swallow.

I was confident that Cartmel restaurant Rogan and Company would tick all the boxes – not least because it’s sister of the village’s Michelin-starred beacon L’enclume.

First impressions of the menu were good as we relaxed with drinks in the smart bar area before being led upstairs to the equally ambient dining room.

Forgoing starters, we began with the ‘nibbles’: cheesy balls with tomato relish, delightfully spiced cured mackerel and sweet potato skewers and flavoursome homemade black pudding fritters with a triumphant brown sauce.

Praise continued for the generous Cumbrian beef burger with bacon, Lincolnshire Poacher and tripple cooked chips (£13.50), and a beautifully cooked pink breast of Goosnargh duck alongside a seasonal serving of creamed cabbage, chestnuts and caramelised pear (£16.95).

My special of Loch Tay Atlantic char with baby fennel and crunchy slithers of beetroot (£12.95) was a stunning dish; the unsung fish had exceptional, sweet flavour that sat harmoniously with the fennel’s aniseed hint.

Selected sides of baby potatoes and cardamom glazed pumpkin were also enjoyed.

Sadly, the serving of fish and triple cooked chips with mushy peas (£12.95) let things down with a soggy batter and a shy portion.

Things picked up again with desserts (£5.95) of a warming treacle tart with velvety buttermilk ice cream, a zingy Cox’s apple mousse and a delicately-flavoured Cumbrian wild flower honey parfait with crunchy toasted oats.

Service was overall efficient, although we did raise an eyebrow when one waitress planted our bottles of wine on the table without even so much as unscrewing the caps!

After a few more drinks in the bar, we left content with our culinary escapade.

I chose well.