Quality restaurant for lunch on Sunday
Quality restaurant for lunch on Sunday
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davek_964

Original Poster:

11,206 posts

204 months

Monday 3rd September 2012
quotequote all
It's the girlfriends birthday on Sunday (well, Monday actually but I'll be away then) and so I need to book somewhere for lunch on Sunday. I am not looking for a Sunday roast, I want somewhere with excellent food - within a reasonable radius of Camberley (around 15 mile max).

I wanted to try Drakes in Ripley - but it seems they are closed on Sundays.

I have tried - and liked - Bluebells, but would prefer somewhere we haven't been before. Also been to L'ortolan.

A good seafood menu is a plus.

Any suggestions?

Vixpy1

42,699 posts

293 months

Monday 3rd September 2012
quotequote all
Well that rules out anywhere actually in Camberley hehe

Penny Hill Park?

davek_964

Original Poster:

11,206 posts

204 months

Monday 3rd September 2012
quotequote all
Vixpy1 said:
Well that rules out anywhere actually in Camberley hehe

Penny Hill Park?
Sadly true!

I have eaten at the Brasserie there, and liked it - so that is an option, tbanks.

Vixpy1

42,699 posts

293 months

Monday 3rd September 2012
quotequote all
Or coweth park

edc

9,615 posts

280 months

Monday 3rd September 2012
quotequote all
If you want another hotel option the Berystede? Or perhaps one of the sister McDonald hotels? Aviator in Farnborough?

BlackCup

1,235 posts

212 months

Monday 3rd September 2012
quotequote all
Drakes is really nice shame it's closed Sundays, it has a Michelin star and AA rosettes. Maybe 'the London' in old Woking, run by a guy who was a finalist in masterchef and worked at mclaren too!

Our favourite restaurant by far is the waterside inn, bray. Although its 17 miles away! And will cost £3-400 if you're not watching the pennies!

Plenty of choice for top nosh round here!

HTH Matt

touching cloth

11,706 posts

268 months

Monday 3rd September 2012
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Royal Oak in Paley Street?

King Eric

300 posts

239 months

Tuesday 4th September 2012
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The Wellington Arms in Baughurst. Fantastic.

Little further than you'd like (just down the M3) but absolutely worth the journey. It's won some serious culinary awards lately!


http://www.thewellingtonarms.com/

davek_964

Original Poster:

11,206 posts

204 months

Tuesday 4th September 2012
quotequote all
Thanks - I'll look into the suggestions.

Waterside Inn would be fine, and budget isn't a problem - although I suspect I would need to book further in advance.

Frimley111R

19,141 posts

263 months

Tuesday 4th September 2012
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Cloche Hat in Chobham is very very nice.

davek_964

Original Poster:

11,206 posts

204 months

Tuesday 4th September 2012
quotequote all
OK, still struggling.

Waterside inn has tables........ mid-October. So no chance.
Cloche Hat is tempting, but a recent review on trip advisor suggested it was fixed menu now which I don't want?
Aviator we've been to a few times (although not for dinner) so think it would not be enough of a surprise.
Pennyhill park - Latymers doesn't do lunch on Sundays. Brasserie appears to be buffer Sunday lunch + jazz band.

I'd prefer a restaurant rather than a pub with good food if possible.

Most of the recommendations seem to be towards London. Changing the location slightly - anybody have recommendations in the opposite direction - i.e. Fleet area? The girlfriend will be having a very late night Sat night (i.e. 4-5am) so I'd like to minimise distance.

davek_964

Original Poster:

11,206 posts

204 months

Tuesday 4th September 2012
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Can't find anything in Bagshot - but I can find them in Yateley at the Casa hotel?

Will give them a call and see if they have a table.

davek_964

Original Poster:

11,206 posts

204 months

Tuesday 4th September 2012
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
We have a winner - very much like the look of their menu.

Thanks for all the suggestions - table booked at the French Horn for Sunday.

RedSpike66

2,343 posts

241 months

Tuesday 4th September 2012
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Let us know what you think of it ! Have fun biggrin

davek_964

Original Poster:

11,206 posts

204 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
quotequote all
Yep - I'll post my opinion of the place Sunday night.

In fact, cost doesn't look like it will be much of an issue. They have a Sunday lunch menu (which I checked before I booked, and is very good - probably 70-80% of the stuff on their a la carte menu). But price is considerably less - £55.65 per head for 3 courses. Bargain.

BlackCup

1,235 posts

212 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
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Looks really nice, might have to venture over that way one day, looks great vfm.

King Eric

300 posts

239 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
quotequote all
French Horn is fantastic. Been in there before now and Uri Geller and Michael Jackson have walked in for dinner. The spoon bending lunatic lives over the road from it. Have also seen loads of footballers in there too. Great quality food.

Vixpy1

42,699 posts

293 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
quotequote all
King Eric said:
Michael Jackson have walked in for dinner.
errrr

davek_964

Original Poster:

11,206 posts

204 months

Sunday 9th September 2012
quotequote all
OK, so today was lunch at the French Horn. And my view was..... a bit mixed and slightly disappointed if I'm entirely honest.

Setting is lovely, right on the Thames - and drinks out on the patio with a couple of hors d'oeuvres was very nice. Although I think my girlfriend got the better deal there, since she was sipping champagne while I stuck with lemonade and lime.....

The food was nice enough - but nothing particularly outstanding. I felt it was more about presentation (which was very good) rather than flavour, and I came away pretty disappointed. I was also a tad disappointed with the service - nothing major, but at a certain price level I do expect a little bit extra. For example, by the time we moved from the patio to our table my girlfriend had finished her glass of champagne - I expected to be asked if she wanted another drink, but in fact as soon as we sat down the staff disappeared and we had to attract attention to order a drink. I also ordered another drink later on when the main course plates were being cleared, but that was not entirely successful. A few minutes later, one of the waiters came out to ask me what I'd ordered - so I repeated - but instead of the lemonade and lime I ordered, I got lemonade with a slice of lime. As I say, it's very minor things but not what I'd expect once you reach a certain price point in restaurants, and I thought this one was at that point.

In all, there was nothing really wrong with lunch. It was nice enough food and nice enough staff. And for the lunch time fixed menu price, it was OK - although with the drinks and a coffee it was still £150 lunch.

But - before I had lunch there today, I fully intended to visit one evening when we could try the full a la carte menu. Now, I no longer plan to do that - at todays prices it was nothing special, but it was OK. At the full a la carte prices - unless it is significantly better - I would be extremely disappointed.

I am still extremely grateful for the recommendations, and we did have a very nice time - so it was a success. But sadly, it did not live up to my expectations.

davek_964

Original Poster:

11,206 posts

204 months

Sunday 9th September 2012
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Ha ha - not particularly new. About a year.

It must have helped though - I'm sure I'll get lucky soon. wink