Fancy restaurants

[RizzoTheRat]

Getting married in October, but honeymoon's not until Christmas, so thought I'd book us somewhere for a really nice meal a day or two after the wedding.

She's always fancied the Fat Duck but after 2 days of trying to book it seems they sell out within seconds of the reservations being released 2 months in advance

So where else is worth a look? I'm thinking a couple of nights of away in a reasonable hotel in an area with a few things to do during the day, and then a proper meal one evening. Somewhere around the Hampshire/Surrey area would be good, not too keen on going to London though.

[gjf764]

Don't give up on The Fat Duck after only 2 days! Keep ringing just before the phone lines open, a friend of mine rang every day for nearly a month

[RizzoTheRat]

Trouble is I've a 3 or 4 day window that I'd want to go on (few days off after the wedding), and I don't think I'll be near a PC at 10:00am the next couple of days when the release the reservations to the website (phone bookings don't open until 11:00 which is clearly way too late)

[ascayman]

Waterside Inn, round the corner from the Fat Duck and three stars as well.

you can stay there too!

[Bullett]

Hand and Flowers in Marlow also has rooms. 2*
L'Ortolan outside of Reading 1*
The Vineyard at Stockcross with rooms is excellent.

[RizzoTheRat]

The Waterside "Experience" deal of dinner and room could be worth a look. What's their 6 course tasting menu like? Cant see a menu on the website.

[Gren]

Spent a night at the Waterside. £250 was flipping expensive when breakfast comes on a tray.

Was very nice breakfast though and does save the price of a taxi as well as allowing you to enjoy the meal so much more.

[Gren]

Spent a night at the Waterside. £250 was flipping expensive when breakfast comes on a tray.

Was very nice breakfast though and does save the price of a taxi as well as allowing you to enjoy the meal so much more.

[Gwagon111]

Try the Yew tree at Lower Wield. The landlord's just won 'Landlord of the year 2014' and its a very nice place, and it's in Hampshire .


http://www.the-yewtree.org.uk/

[Bullett]

I know it's not Surrey but I'd also recommend Sat Bains in Nottingham. A similar vibe to the FB but not as extreme.
2* but I seem to recall he gets mixed reviews on here. Also has rooms on site.

[HappySilver]

The French Horn Sonning:

http://www.thefrenchhorn.co.uk/

[jjones]

Gwagon111 said:

'Landlord of the year 2014'

landlord and timelord, quite the CV

[Gargamel]

HappySilver said:

The French Horn Sonning:

http://www.thefrenchhorn.co.uk/

Good shout - love that place

Maybe have a look at an overnighter at Cliveden ? Good resturant there and superb accomodation

[RizzoTheRat]

Bullett said:

I know it's not Surrey but I'd also recommend Sat Bains in Nottingham. A similar vibe to the FB but not as extreme.
2* but I seem to recall he gets mixed reviews on here. Also has rooms on site.

That looks rather good. To be honest if we're going to go away for a couple of days I suppose there's not really any need for it to be particularly local.

[ibisti]

When you called the Fat Duck were you very specific on the day time etc? Last time I wemt I phones and asked if they had a table for 3 early in the week and around a rough date, the lady had a look and bingo a table on a tuesday one day before my prefered date. Maybe I was lucky but I think sometimes if you are flexable then it can work in your favour.
Top restaurants can be funny beasts, I once walked into Benares in Barclay square mid afternoon and asked if they had a table that night, to which the receptionist flatly said no. I then struck up a conversation with her saying I wasnt surprised but I had always fancied trying Atul Kochars cooking. She seemed surprised I knew of the chef and said, after looking again, that they could fit us in! I think they like the mystique of the "fully booked" scenario.

[RizzoTheRat]

Their booking system is all online now so you don't even speak to anyone. I've put my name on the reserve list for the days I'm interested in, but I guess it could be worth phoning for a chat and see if mentioning a honeymoon gets us bumped up the reserve list.

ETA: Nope, phone just gets you in an automated system that keeps telling you there are no available tables within the 2 month period and the only options seem to be to cancel a booking.

Edited by RizzoTheRat on Friday 30th August 11:49

[Gwagon111]

jjones said:

landlord and timelord, quite the CV

Strictly speaking it's 'Landlord of the year 2013/2014' for some reason it's just referred to as 'landlord of the year 2014'

[nick s]

I've eaten at most the restaurants mentioned above, and most of the starred restaurants in and around London, and by far the best restaurant I've ever had dinner at was The Ledbury in London. Simply breathtaking. The tasting menu was unbelievable!!

http://www.theledbury.com/

[Gwagon111]

nick s said:

I've eaten at most the restaurants mentioned above, and most of the starred restaurants in and around London, and by far the best restaurant I've ever had dinner at was The Ledbury in London. Simply breathtaking. The tasting menu was unbelievable!!

http://www.theledbury.com/

It's just a good job the OP specified 'fancy restaurant' then . It's a bloody fantastic place though .

[Fatbloke]

The Ledbury is excellent


could try Coworth Park, Surrey Berks border.