The Vineyard at Stockcross

We went for lunch at The Vineyard yesterday. It was the 4th time we had been there but on this occasion we also took my sister. How disappointing it was! The service was average, the food below average - some of it cold. The amuse bouche was tasteless as was the roast beef. The pork was overcooked and was a very unappetising grey. The desert (we had the chocolate fondant) was quite tasteless and the ice-cream that accompanied it was full of ice crystals.

The petits fours which I have always looked forward to were not the usual ones and did not taste home made at all.

All in all a big disappointment and we won't be going back. A few weeks ago we went for lunch at The Ledbury (1 michelin star) and everything about it was first class. Take note Vineyard!
Comment on this reader review

Patricia Kendrick - View all reviews by this user
2 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 2
Monday, November 09, 2009

I recently visited The Vinyard to get out of London and recharge the batteries for a weekend.

The restaurant is set in a beautiful hotel and before you even get your table you are struck by the piano music playing in the background and the original art work - mainly impressionist paintings that hang in the restaurant.

We had the 3 course a la carte menu which was very good. In my opinion, the venison main course was not quite up to the same standard as Le Gavroche or Pied a Terre and the wait between courses was too long (and the waiters apologised for this) but that is me being extra critical as you should be for a 2 michelin star establishment.

The service is exceptional - professional but welcoming. Here other restaurants, such as Scotts, should take lessons.

There is also a wonderful spa area in the hotel - so if you go for the tasting menu and stay the night you can work that off the next day! Definately worth a visit.
Comment on this reader review

GP
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Monday, November 02, 2009

Our first visit today at lunch and our feeling as we left was that this restaurant is just not a two star establishment. We both had a set lunch and whilst the food was adequate it simply did not excite or excel. Mostly when we eat at rated restaurants we get the impression that whatever we choose we get the flavour of what the restaurant can do. Not here, I'm afraid , and when I think of meals we've enjoyed this year at other two star places such as Marcus Wareing, Arbutus, Tom Aikens, Hibiscus, The Square; the Vineyard is not at all a close competitor. Restaurants such as Bocca di Lupo, Roussillon, Daphne's, Sonny's that are supposedly inferior, all turn out food that we think is better.

To be specific the food lacks intensity and the hallmark of fine cooking. It is not bad food at all- its just food you can get anywhere. To offer three main course choices at lunch and for all of them to be bland is unnecessary ( roast chicken, sole, and herb risotto) . My cauliflower veloute was nicely creamy but didn't taste much of cauliflower. The dessert of rhubarb presented in several different ways was potentially interesting, and some parts very nice; though a bitter herb seemed to get in the way a little. It would be interesting to know whether the real chef took a day off today, for if so it might be worth another go, but otherwise its not a strong competitor the market it finds itself in.

Redeeming features include an interesting wine list, and well paced, polite service, though its all a little stiff and humourless. The premises did nothing for me- its a middling modern hotel and the restaurant looks like a modern hotels dining room. If all this is a bit critical bear in mind that this place has two Michelin stars, and so it should be amongst the best dozen or so restaurants in the country and its been assessed on that basis. If the Michelin inspector ate what we had today he may well have been asleep before his coffee.
Comment on this reader review

David Henderson - View all reviews by this user
6 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 6
Thursday, August 27, 2009

I recently visited this hotel with my partner on one of the package deals which included a deluxe suite, full body massage, 3 course meal and breakfast.

As soon as we arrived at the hotel we knew this was going to be a excellent hotel. I have stayed at a few 5 star hotels mainly in Italy and south of France and this hotel was as good as any other 5 star. Our room was big with both areas having double french doors opening to a view of the garden and golf course.

Dinner was superb. Excellent value for money considering this is a two star, the equivalent in the city would be double. Go for the scallops for starters and the turbot with pork belly for main, both dishes are stunning. The restaurant staff are excellent, we even had a laugh and joke with the head waiter. The 3 course meal was the best part of our stay. I would recommend the food to anyone.

Full body massage was very relaxing and Espa upgraded us from a 25 min massage to a 55 min.

To sum up excellent hotel, great staff, superb food, will definitely be visiting again in the future. I would recommend one of the hotels package offers otherwise it can be an expensive stay.
Comment on this reader review

10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, August 25, 2009

I must disagree with previous reviews. My friend treated me to a birthday lunch here recently and we enjoyed every minute of it.

Yes, it is a bit pricey and somewhat formal but we did not think it was stuffy and our waiter (I'm afraid I don't remember his name) was a star. Food was all very good - nothing mindblowing but all well cooked and tasty.

Would go again and would recommend it to others!
Comment on this reader review

Jane Lowe
7 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 6
Monday, June 01, 2009

I have to say that this not the type of place me or my partner would go to that often. We're not skint but tend to head for the slightly cheaper places to eat; so this was the first time for both of us at 2 star restaurant.

From the moment we arrived for the weekend I found the place unbearably stuffy, nobody and I mean nobody looked like they were having fun. No loud laughing (isn't it nice when you can see and hear happy staff?).

I'm sorry I can't use other 2 or 3 star places as a reference point but I enjoyed very little about the food I had there, which comprised of dinner (3 courses), 2 breakfasts and the taster menu. By far and away the best food I had was the scrambled egg and sausage on Saturday morning. That I can still taste and remember, the dinners I found largely bland and too small to satisfy anyway. My wife and I did appreciate the attempt at kind, sustainable deer farming though, my main course of venison on Friday was presumably four scrapes off the beast which after having an antiseptic plaster applied would have run off back into the woods to recover within hours. Clever.

It took me a while but I did get it; it's not the food, that's an aside and not that great. It is however all about the pomp and stuffiness. From the mind numbing wait between courses of a couple of mouthfuls to the looking at your wine just out of reach when you know the only thing that is going to get you through this is the fuzziness of an alcoholic haze. And then they charge you £240 for this pleasure!

No wonder they have to staff this place with French people, any self respecting Brit working there would quite rightly send the place up royally.

The only good thing about the entire weekend was knowing my company was stupid enough to pick up the £1000 bill. Priceless.
View/Add comments (1)

Andy Armstrong - View all reviews by this user
1 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, April 29, 2009