A chef who has made a name for himself for a rather odd-sounding starter – the crab doughnut – is having to take the signature dish off the menu.

Eastern Daily Press: The Last Brasserie, St George's Street, Norwich. Pic: ArchantThe Last Brasserie, St George's Street, Norwich. Pic: Archant

Iain McCarten, head chef at the Last Brasserie in Norwich, came up with his idea of a sourdough appetiser shaped like a homemade sweet doughnut - but packed with crab meat and with a lemon puree drizzled over the top.

The dish became a best-seller with a rave review from anonymous food critic The Fry-Up Inspector and even a mention in the national press.

But all good things come to an end - and Mr McCarten is going to be removing the crab doughnut from the menu in the next week or so.

Eastern Daily Press: The now famous crab doughnut. Pic: ArchantThe now famous crab doughnut. Pic: Archant

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He said: "It has to come off, it's a seasonal thing really as the crab season runs from around April to November.

"I'm getting my winter menu in but the doughnuts will return next year, which is something to look forward to."

Eastern Daily Press: The crab doughnut. Pic: ArchantThe crab doughnut. Pic: Archant

The starter is made from sourdough bread, so a much lighter texture than a real doughnut, with white crab meat mixed with creme fraiche, parsley, chives, lemon and finely diced cucumber placed inside and with a 'sugar' coating actually made from salt, cinnamon and cayenne pepper.

The lemon puree is made from lemon zest and buttermilk added with the brown crab meat combined with tabasco, cayenne pepper, samphire and mayonnaise.

It has been a talking point among diners.

One posted on Instagram: 'You can never take the crab doughnut off the menu! Delicious!' Another recently posted: 'A lovely lunch @lastwinebar..I was most excited to try the highly talked-about crab doughnut.'

Back in September the Fry-Up Inspector posted on Facebook about the crab doughnut: 'This tasted incredible...look them up on St George's Street in Norwich.'

The Last Brasserie opened at the end of August after a major revamp and unveiled a new-look in the restaurant next to the bar area.

A further unveiling of the new-look Cellar aimed at private functions followed. It was bought out by a consortium of four investors earlier this year after the restaurant's founder, James Sawrey-Cookson, announced his retirement from the business, aged 67.