News & Stories · 23 September 2026 · 4 min read
Award-Winning Dining at La Luna
La Luna has been cooking in Talbot Green since 1999, and its past awards include an AA Rosette and a Michelin Bib Gourmand.
Over more than 25 years the kitchen at La Luna has been recognised by both the AA and the Michelin Guide. This post covers the story behind those awards, the chef who earned them, and the food you can expect on a visit today.
Where it started
Craig Brookes and his brother opened their own restaurant on Talbot Road, Talbot Green, in 1999. It traded as Brookes Restaurant and laid the foundations for what La Luna has become.
The AA Rosette and the Michelin Bib Gourmand
In the early 2000s the restaurant's cooking was recognised with an AA Rosette, and its past awards also include a Michelin Bib Gourmand. AA Rosettes are awarded by AA inspectors for the quality of a restaurant's cooking. The Bib Gourmand is given by Michelin Guide inspectors to restaurants that serve good food at a fair price.
The chef behind the food
Craig grew up in Australia and worked in kitchens in Bermuda, Monaco and beyond before settling in South Wales. His career has been recognised in the Michelin Guide and with AA Rosettes, and he has appeared on television, including a guest spot as a MasterChef judge. Along the way he has cooked for sporting icons, Hollywood stars and Monaco's royal family.
From fine dining to La Luna
As the restaurant's reputation grew, Craig rebranded and relaunched it as La Luna. The new concept moved away from traditional fine dining and put the focus on excellent food in a relaxed, welcoming setting, with flavours inspired by cooking from around the world.
In Craig's words: "Great food isn't about white tablecloths and small portions. It never has been. Source the best ingredients you can find, cook them with care, and charge a fair price. That's been the plan since day one — and it still is."
How the kitchen cooks today
Desserts, ice creams and sauces are made fresh in the kitchen every day, and ingredients come from trusted local suppliers. The restaurant also holds a five-star Food Hygiene Rating.
The same kitchen cooks every menu in the building. That includes the lunch set menu, the early dinner menu, the à la carte, the Dates & Steaks evening menu, Sunday lunch, the dedicated vegan menus, the Little Luna's kids' menu and the tapas served in the cocktail lounge.
Dishes regulars come back for
A few of the dishes regulars order again and again are the Chateaubriand sharing board for two, the crispy oriental beef with chilli jam, and the Hot Rock Experience. With the Hot Rock Experience, an 8oz centre cut fillet is brought to your table on a lava stone so you can cook it exactly how you like it.
Book a table
La Luna is open Tuesday to Saturday from 12pm to 9:30pm, and on Sundays from 12pm to 4pm. You can book online or call 01443 239600. The restaurant is at 79–81 Talbot Road, Talbot Green, CF72 8AE.