The Fat Duck

good one...splendid
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ANDY CHU
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Saturday, May 03, 2008

Stunning. We went last Tuesday lunchtime and it was everything I had hoped for and more. Attentive and fun staff. Although the diners at the next table were a humourless lot (Dutch), the rest of the punters were having fun. Not at all stuffy and people took photographs without being made to feel like lemons! The food was sensational to look at, extraordinary to eat, and we felt we were very welcome. A request to see the kitchen was granted with a huge smile. Altogether a wonderful experience. Sometimes when you have high expectations, the actuality can be a let down - not at the Fat Duck. Magic.
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tudorcourt - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, April 24, 2008

We took my brother to the Fat Duck on Friday night, as a much belated birthday present. We kicked off with a celebratory glass of champagne, and then had the tasting menu. I can't understand the bad reviews on this site, as we found it an absolutely amazing, once-in-lifetime experience not to be missed, part wizardry part nostalgia, part absolutely top notch cooking and flavours, topped off with a good dose of humour. Sometimes one of us would laugh out loud at the sheer unlikeliness of a presentation or the wonders of a flavour combination--at the end of the day, and behind the show and extravaganza, the food is simply very, very good. There was lots of humour in the presentation, the staff was incredibly friendly and happy to answer all our questions, and the dishes just kept coming, one more amazing than the other. A lovely and extraordinary evening. At £125 per head for the tasting menu, it's not cheap, but it's so worth the money. Go with an open mind and have the culinary experience of a lifetime!
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Julia - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, April 21, 2008

Having read some of the reviews here, the message is simple : if you don't have an open mind about trying new taste sensations, do not go to The Fat Duck. If you are a foodie, or someone looking for a unique experience, you have to go here. You have to persevere to get a reservation and it is expensive, but it is unrivalled as a food experience compared to any of the michelin and otherwise starred restaurants I have been to in England. It has been over a year since I went, but having not written a review then and seen some of the negative responses from fellow reviewers, I had to add my tuppence worth.

I wont spoil the surprise for those who go, and no doubt some of the menu has progressed, but I kept my copy and if I flick through it, the memories it evokes are some of the best of my dining life.

Go there and be amazed.
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, April 01, 2008

It might be a bit dull for a restaurant which never changes its menu. It might be a bit uncomfortable to enjoy a long meal in a tiny old wooden house. But who cares? This is the only place in the world where you can enjoy the “Sound of the Sea” with an iPod and the spectacular performance of transforming a “magic egg” into ice-cream!

You just need to be open-minded to enjoy the experience. We have already been there 3 years ago, but Heston’s new creations definitely kept us entertained again!

It was different from our El Bulli experience as the Fat Duck had more “real food” that we prefer. If you are in England, it is absolutely a once in a lifetime food experience even though the damage is £110+ per head.
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FineDiningExplorer - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 9
Thursday, March 27, 2008

Absolutely fantastic food, amazing service and one of the best experiences i've ever had.
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Craig J
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 7
Monday, March 24, 2008

Interesting menu - but because it is possible to , for example, use liquid nitrogen in creating a dish it doesn't mean that you should.

Very expensive (our table was about £340 / head.) and I suspect that this sort of thing will disappear in a few years..........pretentious nonsense basically
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Sam Banbury
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 1
Monday, February 04, 2008

Awful Service, the food was overpriced, the salmon was overcooked and dry, no wonder they avoid “actual cooking”. Sticking an i pod in my ears didn’t make the food taste any better!

The reviews of the fact duck and the title of “Best Restaurant In the world” may have reflected the standard in the past, but I should have checked the date of the reviews as my experience could not have been more different. Nice ideas but shame you cant eat the food, would not recommend the Fat Duck!
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Stuart
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Saturday, February 02, 2008

I can honestly say that I have never had an evening like last night.

By a magical twist of fate I managed to get a cancellation at short notice to celebrate my partner's 40th birthday. I figured that you are only 40 once and that it would be cheaper to visit The Fat Duck than throw a party for him. (This is how I managed to justify spending the cost of a months food shopping budget on one meal). I am so glad I did.

We chose the taster menu - although a couple of the courses filled me with trepidation. Snails were never on the top of my 'list of things to eat' - until now anyway - they tasted pretty damn good!

I felt that the entire evening was as much of a theatrical show as it was a damn good meal. Athought I never expected the eating to last a whole four hours - it was definately worth the three hour round trip to get to the restaurant.

All in all - the food was amazing. The service impecible.

I would recommend anyone with an adventurous palate to give it a go.

Definately worth the cost and effort to get a table.
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sarahh112 - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, January 31, 2008

The service was snooty! When you pay £150 per head you at least expect to feel welcome. On asking a question about one of the courses I got a very condescending look from the waiter, I didn’t ask another for fear of getting my knuckles rapped!

The food can only be described as interesting. But unfortunately it was more gimmick than substance. And when I left I felt rather sick like I had eaten too many sweets, it must have been the egg infused with lime oil, orange-beetroot jelly, mustard ice cream and red cabbage that did it!

I went with an open mind, but I am sad to say I left feeling conned. It is no wonder Heston has to spend all his time marketing this place rather than doing any cooking there!
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Frank Holmes
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, January 29, 2008