Restaurants in Rutland: Cloisters
The presence of romance may be in doubt, but the availability of exceptional European dining is unquestionable. Now under new ownership with a new infusion of talent, this month we visit Cloisters on Stamford’s St Mary’s Street
The presence of romance may be in doubt, but the availability of exceptional European dining is unquestionable. Now under new ownership with a new infusion of talent, this month we visit Cloisters on Stamford’s St Mary’s Street
“Shall we bother?” Nah. Romance in our household is not alive and well. We don’t bother with Valentine’s Day cards or flowers, and if there’s a cursory verbal acknowledgement I’ll consider myself lucky. It’s not for the likes of us, anyway, it’s for the young and frisky.
However, as we get closer to the day, we may or may not find ourselves guiltily reconsidering our apathy and having to acknowledge that it’s not some bare-bottomed cherub with a quiver full of arrows who is responsible for taking a little time out for romance but, in fact, my wife and I.
In which case we’ll need somewhere to dine, somewhere with a bit of ambience, a restaurant with some lovely heartwarming dishes. Happily this month’s dining out recommendation is just such a place, although it’s by no means just for Valentine’s Day. We can recommend either lunch or evening dining all year round.
Cloisters in Stamford is located on St Mary’s Street, in a Grade II listed building dating back to the 1600s.
Opening as a bistro in 2021, and with a deli added a couple of years later, it enjoyed a good reputation in the town and in September 2025, it was taken over by Samantha Clarke.
Samantha has been inspired by her travels and has ventured far and wide, not least in Europe. Having lived in the area for a number of years, she moved to Stamford a year ago with an ambition to run her own business.
Among her favourite features of the town was the number of local independent businesses and places to enjoy a drink, coffee or dining out at lunchtime or in the evening.
When the opportunity came up to run her own restaurant in Stamford, the idea appealed greatly and when she met her future Head Chef Sonny Klawiter, all the stars aligned.
Cloisters soft-launched to family and friends in September and then opened to the public a few weeks later. There’s usually a bit of a flurry to try ‘that new place’ in Stamford, but the momentum of Cloisters’ reopening has endured ever since, and despite being new to the town, it was even voted Best International Dining Restaurant in our Good Food Awards, the winners of which were revealed last month.
Naturally then, we thought a visit was in order to introduce readers more comprehensively to what Cloisters has to offer diners from 2026 and beyond.
Kerb appeal remains. The place looks like a cute little Italian restaurant, the kind you’d see on TV when two people are enjoying a first date. Little is a bit of a misnomer though.
The place goes back surprisingly far and accommodates about 40 covers. There’s more relaxed seating and natural light at the front as long as you don’t mind shoppers walking past and making ‘oooh’ sounds as you eat.
Further back there are a couple of other areas to dine which gives the impression that the whole space is broken up, so as not to feel too busy or crowded. Just to the right of the kitchen is an area ideal for larger parties, celebrations and private dining.
The restaurant formerly known as Cloisters Bistro has dropped the last bit from its name and is now simply known as Cloisters.
That doesn’t signal a massive change, but a slight statement of intent to elevate dishes, especially in the evening.
Doubtless, the overriding culture from which Cloisters’ dining is inspired is Italy, although both Samantha and Sonny too, are keen not to be shoehorned as just an ‘Italian’ restaurant. Food ideas travel, after all, and so trying to stick rigidly to one culture is limiting.
Sonny is a classically-French trained chef, and keen that the technically skilful fundamentals of cheffing run through the menu. Thereafter, he’s happy to take evening dining inspiration from across Europe, and beyond, with East Asian yuzu featuring on a pork tenderloin entrée for example.
Daytime dining, though, is more geared up towards conventional European dishes with pasta, pizza and salads, ideal for those who are clock-watching, or want to meet friends for a long lunch and a couple of glasses of wine. Our visit to photograph Cloisters’ dishes took place (in theory) just after lunchtime service… although the place was still packed. A couple of diners expressed interest in the camera kit and when we told them what we were up to, they were keen to provide their own reviews of Cloisters’ lunchtime dining, the gist of which was ‘excellent, superb, lovely.’
Our focus was mostly on the restaurant’s evening menu, and you won’t find pizza on that. Instead there are three entrées, six main courses and five dessert options.
It’s a beautifully-judged menu, and we can all but guarantee that at least two or three main course options will appeal.
Four members of staff in the kitchen create dishes that are colourful, bright-looking, nicely presented, generous in size and most important of all, absolutely delicious.
Whilst some ingredients necessitate speciality providers, the team are keen to take on local suppliers where consistency and quality allows, with Amps and Small Beer providing drink, Hambleton Bakery and Askers providing fresh bread, Kale & Damson providing fresh produce and dairy. The menu is predicated on everything being cooked individually and freshly to order, and it shows.
If you’re seeking warm and satisfying winter dining then or if (shock, horror) your other half unexpectedly decides that a romantic dinner à deux is in order, Cloisters is definitely a name we can recommend this month… the food is great, the atmosphere is lovely and the welcome is every bit as warm as you’d expect from an independent business in Stamford.
On the Menu
Entrée: Fior de latte stuffed wild mushroom arancini, confit garlic and thyme cream, £10.
Tamarind & Yuzu pork tenderloin, vegetable & herb salad, £11.Baked gnocchi in tomato sauce, superstraccia cheese, herb crumb and rocket, £11.
Main courses: Chargrilled beef filet, beef bon bon, wild mushrooms, bordelaise sauce, confit potatoes and tenderstem, £30.
Pan roasted filet of seabass, tapenade hasslebacks, herb dried tomatoes, chicory and salsa verde, £23.50.
Beetroot & pomegranate molasses tarte tatin, carrot & endive, candied walnuts, whipped feta, £21.50.
Fresh pasta, chicken, wild mushroom, tarragon and parmesan cream sauce, £22.50.
Pork fillet wrapped in parma ham, butterbean and roast artichoke puree, gnocchi, tenderstem, sumac and herb oil, £24.
Desserts: Dark chocolate, almond and caramel tart, kirsch morello cherries with clotted cream ice cream, £11.
Stem ginger & honey mascarpone cheesecake, amaretti biscuit, candied lemon, £10.
White chocolate & raspberry parfait, white chocolate crumb, raspberry reduction, £10.
Affogato with clotted cream ice cream £7.50, (with Baileys or Tia Maria or Disaronno), £11.
Raspberry or passion fruit sorbet, £6.
NB: Sample menu and featured dishes, subject to availability and change.
Cloisters
The Pitch: “Cloisters in Stamford is gaining a reputation as being the must-visit European dining room in the town with its new owners transforming the former Italian bistro into a refined European dining room offering a freshly prepared dining experience driven by classic technique.”
Opening Hours: Wed: 6pm – 10pm, Thursday: Noon – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm, Friday: Noon – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm, Saturday: Noon – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm.
Cloisters 9 St Mary’s Street, Stamford PE9 2DE. Tel: 01780 755162 or see www.facebook.com/CloistersStamford, email [email protected].