Tiger's Eye Hot Rock Grill and Cocktail Bar in Gloucester is something of a hidden gem.

Situated over two floors above Costa Coffee on Southgate Street in the 17th century Old Bell Inn, the restaurant specialises in hot stone cooking, and is famous for their Asian influenced menu and sublime cocktails.

With the option to eat either in the atmospheric surroundings of the pub, or in the sleek, modern dining area just across the hall, The Local Answer was lucky enough to be invited along to enjoy a delicious meal.

We were shown to our table by a friendly waitress, who was attentive and on hand throughout the evening to ensure we had a great night.

Looking at the menu, to say we were spoilt for choice would be an understatement.

To start we went for three dishes from the Izakaya Tapas menu – the Popcorn Shrimp, Cola Pork Belly Cubes and Beef and Coriander Gyoza Dumplings.

Our starters were brought along with three dishes of hoisin, soy and sweet chilli sauce for dipping.

The Popcorn Shrimp was crisp and fried to perfection – accompanied with a squeeze of lemon which complimented it with a citrus burst of freshness.

The Gyoza Dumplings, of which you had a choice of pork and prawn or beef and coriander, were amazing. They were clearly freshly made, and when dipped in the accompanying sauces brought a real taste of Asia to the table.

However, both my friend and I agreed that the star of starters was the Cola Pork Belly Cubes. Sweet and sticky, the cubes melt in your mouth and were unlike any pork dish I’ve ever tasted.

For our mains, I went for one of the chef’s specials – the Five-Spice Duck Breast. My friend ensured we had the full Tiger's Eye experience, and plumped for the Hot Rock Grill, going for two of the more exotic meats on offer in Zebra and Llama.

The Hot Rock Grill allows you to choose from a number of different cuts of meat, including Angus sirloin and rump, Duck breast and Lamb, as well as seafood, vegetables, Halloumi, and exotic meats like Kangaroo and Wagyu sirloin.

My friend was presented with a super-heated (+450°C) lava rock, a pair of tongs and his selection of freshly prepared cuts of Zebra and Llama.

With no oil needed, he was able to cook his food on the rock with just a dash of salt. We were a little worried as it’s safe to say neither of us are experts in the kitchen, but the process was so simple even we could do it.

The freshly cooked meat was absolutely delicious straight off the rock, with just a dash of rock salt the flavours were sealed in immediately.

My duck was presented alongside a serving of Kimchi and wasabi mash and was drenched in a delicious plum sauce.

The duck was amazingly juicy, with a crispy skin covered in Asian spices, cooked just how I liked it.

The wasabi mash, which I expected to be spicy, was surprisingly refreshing. The Kimchi – a favourite in Korean cuisine – a mix of vegetables with a fiery kick rounded the dish off nicely.

We were tempted by the desserts – there is no set dessert menu but instead a special menu decided by the chef on the day.

I went for the lemon posset, which, accompanied with a blackcurrant sauce was the perfect mix of sweet and sharpness. My friend had the white chocolate cheesecake, which he said was creamy and had a nice mix of flavours.

After enjoying our meal, we popped into the pub for a tipple or two – a great way to end a brilliant night.

Situated on the second floor is a bar for private hire, a pool room with big screen and table football, along with an outside smoking terrace.

With a huge selection of dishes, drinks and the unique Hot Rock Grill, Tiger’s Eye is truly a restaurant experience like no other.