"I have never been to Indonesia, but have eaten in Indonesian restaurants in London, Amsterdam and Berlin. So far as I can judge, this is authentic Indonesian food, prepared with care and attention to detail by the Indonesian wife of the landlord. Indonesian cuisine is VERY different from Thai, Indian or Chinese, with which we have become familiar in Western Europe. It is full of flavour, but different flavours from those of the other Asian foods to which we are used. The three of us deliberately made different choices so that we could sample a wide range of dishes. Of the eight that we chose, we gave a unanimous and enthusiastic thumbs up to seven of them. Our starters were Satay Lilit (minced pork with coconut and herbs grilled on a skewer); Udang goreng tepung (prawns in a light tempura batter with coriander and chilli dip); and Gado Gado (blanched vegetables and bean sprouts with peanut sauce and tofu). The first two were both delicious, but we wouldn 't order the last of the three again. Our main courses were Babi Tinoranuk (sliced pork with chilli, lime and lemongrass); and Chicken Satay (with peanut sauce, pickled cucumber, soya sauce and hot chilli). Both voted as excellent. They all came with basmati rice. Our desserts were Es Sedoteng (palm fruit, jack fruit and cassava); Pisang Goreng (banana fritter in light batter with icing sugar and cinnamon); and Caramelised Banana (with ice cream). We all enjoyed all three. Between us, we sampled less than one-third of the 27 dishes on the menu, but enough to know that we 'd be delighted to come again and try some others. The seating area is 'intimate ', with just half a dozen tables adjacent to (but on a lower level than) the bar, so is a bit noisy with happy diners, but it has a friendly atmosphere, ideal for a pleasant evening out with friends. Currently, we understand that the Indonesian menu is available only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, and booking is definitely recommended. The Crown and Cushion is an atmospheric pub, out of the way along narrow country lanes, and provides a delightful new dining experience for northeast Bedfordshire/western Cambridgeshire/Huntingdon. Give it a try!"
