The Fat Duck

The hype was true.

We had a tasting menu and it was all magic.

From the simplest bread and butter to the most elabotate appetisers - it was a truly fantastic experience.

The only downsides were that the wines were not as good as hoped & it was quite difficult to understand the waitress.
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contessa - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Friday, August 24, 2007

We ate at the Fat Duck on Saturday. I was a bit apprehensive as I'm usually a traditionalist with my food (I'm French) - but the food was gorgeous. Good service, although it's a shame some waiters are in your way when you go up to the toilet (they have a "workstation" right at the bottom of the stairs).

However, I do think that the prices are far too high - I know what you're thinking: as long as people, including myself, are prepared to pay for it... But this restaurant really is RIDICULOUSLY expensive - £370 for 2 à la carte... I've had just as nice meals for half that price in London.
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Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 2
Tuesday, August 14, 2007

We went to the Fat Duck last week. It was a very special treat, I bought a gift voucher for my husband for Christmas. On the way home he told me that it was the best Christmas present he ever had so that should set the tone for this review! The whole experience was utterly magical. The staff were warm, friendly and seemed to enjoy the experience as much as we did. I have to disagree with the comment that the routines were over rehearsed. We discussed how spontaneous each "performance" was and how difficult that must be day in day out. The knowledge, helpfulness and lack of stuffiness of the staff was something that we hadn't expected and it was a huge part of our enjoyment. The food was exciting and incredibly good fun. We felt like guests of Willy Wonka had he expanded into gastronomy. It was a playful and beautifully presented experience. We loved the weirdly folding leather bound menus, the sumptuous table linen, dinky cutlery and exquisite crockery beautifully designed to complement each amazing course. It was by far the most expensive meal we have ever had and it was worth every single penny. We will definitely go back and 100% recommend this fabulous culinery experience.
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Baby Lemonade - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, August 14, 2007

We went to the Fat Duck on Saturday (28/07/07) thinking this would be a once in a lifetime experience, or perhaps maybe an experience to be repeated every few years. However, we now plan on visiting at least every year. It was absolutely stunning. The meal was in no way pretensious, but rather imaginative and playful. The really brilliant element about the food is that the concept never congeals into ridiculousness. It is fantastically weighted, the ideas (sound of the sea, oak moss, etc) holding up easily by the sheer quality of the ingrediants and the kitchens ability to squeeze every ounce of flavour available to them.

The service was great, although it is a slight shock to queue for the toilet at a 3 star establishment. The wine waiter was fantastic. We made it clear that we knew nothing about wine, except how to drink it, told him our budget for two bottles (£140) and he came up with two great wines. Later, after mentioning how I'd like to try a good Barolo, he brough a good slug of one for me to try!

Now we're back home, I read the menu far too often for my wife's comfort. It's placed next to pictures of my kids.

Just go.
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Monday, July 30, 2007

this was the greatest meal i have ever eaten or hope to eat again! having never eaten at a place like this i was unsure of what to expect but it was a truly fantastic experience. the food was faultless and the staff were friendly and efficient. i loved the room as well,in fact i can't think of any fault!! the bill came to £350 for 2 including coffee two taster menus and four glassesof wine. very expensive but i felt it was value for money considering the quality of food and it was well worth saving my pennies for.
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, July 18, 2007

FOOD

Some really interesting flavour cominations here. Some would call them "fussy" or "pretentious", but at least the food makes you think and question. Whether one would call this a good or bad aspect of dining remains a matter of perspective, attitude and mood.

The caulifower carpaccio with chocolate jelly was certainly one of the pairings which I found interesting. I've always found chocolate to complement savoury meat dishes excellently, but with the cauliflower and also on this occassion an, I found it did not work all together that well. The jelly was somewhat bland. Jelly is perhaps not the best medium for chocolate. The roasted turbot main with stunning violet artichokes was beautifully done. My wife really enjoyed her chocolate sorbet - the cumin caramel gave it a subtle and delicious kick. And I just had to go for the "macerated strawberries" for dessert, with "black olive and leather puree and pistachio scrambled egg". Again, one of those dishes which left me thinking. At the end of it, I was not sure that I particularly liked that particular combination of savoury and sweet (it was reminiscent of that fish flavoured ice-cream invented by the Japanese - both intriguing and sickening at the same time), but all in all it was a highly interesting and intense experience.

SERVICE

Wait staff were fast, efficient and polite as you'd expect. Despite staying four hours, we were treated till the very end with the same courtesy and graciousness that we'd received upon arrival.

VALUE

I think at £300 a pop (including wine and two glasses of champagne), The Fat Duck will definitely be a one-off for me! However, I don't regret the sum one bit. It was a wonderful flavour voyage and will satisfy your taste buds if they're after something different.
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Cuthbert Greenwood
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 7
Monday, July 02, 2007

after eating at the fat duck we were very dissapointed and £550 worse off! the service was ok, but most of the waiters were young and foriegn(which i have nothing against) but we couldn't always understand their accents and the room was noisy and echoey which made it 10 times worse. i tried all the dishes and the one i thought i would hate (snail porridge) i quite enjoyed, but other dishes could only be described as disgusting! not worth going very over rated.
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Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 0
Sunday, June 24, 2007

I was very excited to eat in the Fat Duck, having read countless glowing review over the past few years. I went with a party of six and we decided to try the (in)famous tasting menu.

Initially I was charmed by the experience but over the course of the meal rapidly began to change my mind.

I found the theatre surrounding the presentation of the food to be tacky, over-rehearsed and lacking in spontaneity. I found the flavours far to complex. A beautiful oyster had been ruined by some lemon curd. Mustard ice-cream and red cabbage gazpacho tasted like cold French Mustard doused in beetroot pickle. A chocolate tasted like a stressed-out aero bar. Listening to seagulls screeching while eating what could best be described as a dirty wave was absurd, but fun.

The service was mediocre for a Michelin-starred restaurant. The staff were young and charming, but seemed more suited to be working in a good gastro pub.

The cost of the meal was simply outlandish, and to add insult to injury there was a little card offering a chance to purchase Blumenthal’s latest book for £14.99 placed on the table.

I think this restaurant has become a status destination for gastro-snobs and Heston Blumenthal is laughing all the way to the bank. He has obviously got good business acumen. I am surprised that he has not moved this operation to larger premises in order to increase profits.

There are hundreds of better restaurants in London and thousands of better ways to spend your money.
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Gastronaut - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, June 19, 2007

I was very excited to eat in the Fat Duck, having read countless glowing review over the past few years. I went with a party of six and we decided to try the (in)famous tasting menu.

Initially I was charmed by the experience but over the course of the meal rapidly began to change my mind.

I found the theatre surrounding the presentation of the food to be tacky, over-rehearsed and lacking in spontaneity. I found the flavours far to complex. A beautiful oyster had been ruined by some lemon curd. Mustard ice-cream and red cabbage gazpacho tasted like cold French Mustard doused in beetroot pickle. A chocolate tasted like a stressed-out aero bar. Listening to seagulls screeching while eating what could best be described as a dirty wave was absurd, but fun.

The service was mediocre for a Michelin-starred restaurant. The staff were young and charming, but seemed more suited to be working in a good gastro pub.

The cost of the meal was simply outlandish, and to add insult to injury there was a little card offering a chance to purchase Blumenthal’s latest book for £14.99 placed on the table.

I think this restaurant has become a status destination for gastro-snobs and Heston Blumenthal is laughing all the way to the bank. He has obviously got good business acumen. I am surprised that he has not moved this operation to larger premises in order to increase profits.

There are hundreds of better restaurants in London and thousands of better ways to spend your money.
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Gastronaut - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 0
Monday, June 18, 2007

Working in Maidenhead the fat duck is close enough for me to go to entertain clients often.

It really is hit and miss.

I've had some Asian and some European clients politely decline their plate full and others that were wanting to know the recipe.

Everything about this place just seems to be Hit 'n miss, could be the staff on duty at that time, it may be the creativity not being reigned in.. but it also extends to the service ...

Have stopped going to be honest, would rather go somewhere without the peaks and troughs.
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step - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 6
Saturday, June 16, 2007