Today, I had lunch with a friend at the relatively new Seafood Grill & Restaurant which is above the bustling Harbour Cafe Bar on the shores of Rutland Water.

The restaurant and the cafe are owned by husband and wife teams' David and Angie Clipsham and Tony and Jo Wellings. 

The success of the Harbour Bar and Cafe, which opened in April 2011, encouraged the owners to bring forward their plan to open the upstairs Seafood & Grill Restaurant, which has been trading for four months.

We spoke to David Clipsham, a classically trained chef who started his career at Claridges where he was thrown in at the deep end. David understands the pressure of serving 500 people simultaneously, how important fresh ingredients are and the value of providing a good service.

He also knows that being slightly off the beaten track means that the restaurant has got to develop into a destination that people are prepared to travel to. Plans for themed events and entertainment are currently being discussed.

Whilst fish is very much on the menu, the grill provides plenty of options for those who prefer red meat or poultry. Although David was hesitant to name his signature dish, it transpires that many customers come back time after time to sample his Bouillabaisse. Other menu options include Beer Battered Fish & Chips, Shellfish Linguine, Hot Seafood Platter, Ribeye Steak and Duck Breast with Cherry Sauce.

After receiving our drinks and tucking into some warm granary bread, we ordered one dish from the menu and one from the specials; Warm Chorizo, Sausage, Bacon and Potato Salad and Fresh Squid (calamari) in Breadcrumbs. Both were beautifully presented and absolutely delicious.

We cleared our plates and I even managed a pudding (no surprises there); a wonderful homemade treacle tart with custard.

It has to be said, that the view from our table was superb and David explained that he is considering replacing the wooden balcony fencing with a glass balustrade. This will certainly capitalise on the wonderful location and views across Rutland Water.

Both the Harbour Cafe Bar and Seafood Grill & Restaurant are fully licensed, cater for private parties and weddings and are open all year round.

As it says on the menu, great food and great views. Highly recommended.