The new courtyard garden lured us to JRool Bistro, luckily also on the first hot sunny day we'd had for ages.
We weren't the first, however, to discover the delight of the freshly-laid paved area and outside space through and behind the privately-run restaurant in Union Street, Stroud.
Quite a few tables of what looked like businesspeople had beaten us to the outdoor haven, which has doubled the size of JRool's normal 30 or so inside covers.
We'd also been attracted by JRool's new quick lunchtime set menu, which offers two courses per person for £12 and three courses for £16.
So I ordered from that set selection a starter of Spanish blue cheese and chorizo croquettes with sweet chilli mayonnaise. Which was amazing.
Three generous croquettes arrived, hugely tasty, and the mayo was to drool for.
To follow I enjoyed devilled lambs liver with rosti potato and fine beans.
Again a hit dish, with a smashing rosti cake. Although I have to say I might have preferred the liver, which came in a really yummy, slightly spicy sauce, sliced thinly rather then in larger pieces.
But then I wasn't the chef and maybe the sauce would have overcooked the liver if it had been served that way?
My daughter selected from the main blackboard whitebait and salad (£12). She also ordered a dish of chips as an extra on the side which proved not really necessary as the generous pile of freshly cooked little battered fishes was more than ample.
Other selections at JRool included several set and main menu fish choices which I liked. That's because I felt they were lighter and especially suitable for lunchtimes, and good for hot weather too.
The lovely sounding whole baked plaice with new potatoes, mixed leaves and caper butter was just one enticing offering I might well return to JRool bistro to sample.