The Waterside Inn

As one of the Waterside Inn's most devoted diners, i was more than delighted to read of such appreciation and accuracy in the previous reviewer's comments. I could not have put the Waterside Inn experience into better words myself.

It is this great experience which defines the Waterside from any other place i have ever come to visit. Yes the food is of a high standard and very capable of arousing the palate, but more importantly, it is the outstanding quality of service and the experience one gets that will entice customers to return time and time again. All of which is managed and overseen by the legendary Diego. A hero in my eyes, who has nurtured and guided his staff to such a level of excellence, that they have been able to maintain their three michelin stars for 25 years. A fine achievement that only the very greatest of restaurateurs can achieve. The Waterside Inn is Diego's success.
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9 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Well, where do i begin in singing my praises and expressing my enthusiasm for the outstanding and unforgettable place that is The Waterside Inn...

My favourite place to dine for the past 20 years for its ever delectable menu, but even more so, for its impeccable service and the almost magical air of enchantment that it creates in the dining room. Each time i return i feel as though i'm part of some artistic theatre, some performance; and so, it is the manager Diego and his exceptional team of staff that i have to thank for this and whom have lured me back to this little gem on the Thames time and time again.

Therefore, i was almost completely incensed when I read the rather ignorant and petty review left on Sunday 27th June. I acknowledge the fact that it had been specified that the wife did not wish to have the foie gras from the menu and was, unfortunately, served with the dish…accidentally, of course. The reviewer went on to describe that they were encouraged to eat the foie gras and that the “wife was forced to watch”. Forced to watch, really? Surely if the reviewer really cared for their wife’s food preferences then perhaps they would have chosen to miss out the foie gras and perhaps opt for something else…? But then again, maybe that’s just me being logical and adult about the situation.

I find it interesting that this was the only “major” whinge that the reviewer makes regarding service, and yet somehow something that is in fact so trivial is worthy of grading the restaurant with a 3 for service. In my 20 years of experience, this restaurant’s prize-winning characteristic has always been its attention to detail. Diego works the room like no other and has been doing so since my first ever visit. He truly is at the top of his game and as are all his staff. Each time I’d sip from my water glass it would remain full; the staff are so efficient I wouldn’t even recall them filling it up. These are the exceptional standards that a 3 Michelin star restaurant should deliver, and after having visited all those in the UK and many abroad, none have yet lived-up to the performance of the Waterside Inn.

I do regret that this particular couple did not have the best of experiences at the Waterside, as I always do and always have done. However, I take pity on the fact that they obviously do not understand or appreciate the art of great culinary service. Blinded by their own trivialities, I would suggest that they actually open their eyes every now and again to observe what is going on around them in the restaurant, as opposed to what sits right in front of them on their plate.
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HughT - View all reviews by this user
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, June 29, 2010

It was our anniversary and we decided to treat ourselves to 4 of England's finest restaurants - Marcus Wareing at the Berkeley, Fat Duck and Waterside Inn at Bray and finally Le Manoir Aux Quat Saison. All had their high points and were fundamentally different from one another. Yet the only one which disappointed was the Waterside Inn. From what I understand, Three Michelin stars is about consistently providing outstanding food and service. Neither of which was present at our visit when we chose 'LE MENU EXCEPTIONNEL'.

Despite being told twice over the phone and again once we had arrived, my pregnant wife was still served a large portion of foie gras as her first course which she could not eat. Now I understand that we can make mistakes, but how this was dealt with was appalling. They took her plate away and encouraged me to eat my foie gras and my wife was forced to watch me as I hurriedly ate my dish. My second course was wonderful and bad at the same time. A lovely crab salad with the most wonderfully seasoned prawn I have ever eaten. However my wife's prawn was horrendously overseasoned which ruined this course for both of us. The rose sorbet was overpowering and not a palate cleanser in my mind. However the meal progressed and was saved by the lamb being beautiful and the raspberry souffle being utterly divine - the most amazing I've ever had.

Alain also greeted each table and discovered that we were celebrating our wedding anniversary and it was very nice to receive a celebratory course. He clearly cares about his restaurant and it disappointed to have a less than perfect experience. With absolute objectivity considering the other restaurants which we visited, we can say this restaurant does not deserve 3 Michelin Stars. One would suffice. It is a beautiful location and the staff are lovely, although the number per diner is certainly less than the other restaurants which we visited. Overall the worst of the great restaurants which we visited.
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lucbz
6 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 5
Sunday, June 27, 2010

Well just been back from the must enjoyable evening of this years, at least, I auctioned couple of months ago for a charity called "lunch for life" the best spended money ever. Prize was lunch or diner for 12 of us in Private dining room at the Waterside Inn. We were all expected something great instead of that we just been remakably amazed by a "french waiter" with a so BRITISH sense of humour................................. Everythings went as well as it can!

From all of us Thanks a lot to Francois and Mr Roux who came to say hello in very relax maner, most appreciated

Sorry your Majesty if you did stay home last night, we where using your dining room.
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L Westalls
10 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Saturday, November 21, 2009

Last weekend I went to the Waterside Inn with my Husband, we had never been there before and were really looking forward to it.

When entering the restaurant there are loads of smartly dressed smiley waiters, mainly French and Italian, who look after you extremely well, we went for the 3 course Menu and enjoyed a bottle of red from their very extensive wine list.

The food was a joy, everything impressed!

My Husband decided to go for the cheese, a very young English boy pushed over the board in front of the table,it must of had no less than 30 cheeses on it, mainly French with a few British, the young English boy who we later found out to be the only English there, went into great detail on the cheeses giving us some interesting information on how they were made. The final selection did look extremely exciting. I had their trio of desserts which was wonderful, we then enjoyed coffee in the summer house which rounded up one of the most enjoyable restaurant experiences.
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Mrs Smith
9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Monday, November 02, 2009

My husband and I were on holiday in a hire cruiser for a week on the thames and I booked us in for dinner at the Waterside Inn on 2nd July 2009 as a special treat. The staff were superb and were more than happy for us to moor our not so pretty hire cruiser outside on their dock for the night. We arrived at 6pm and the restaraunt didnt open until 7pm. We sat on the waterside terrace where we were served drinks until the restaraunt opened. We had the menu exceptionale and it was wonderful but very filling. Prior to the start of the meunu we were served 6 canapes on the terrace. When we sat at our table we were served with an amuse bouche, which was delicious. All dishes in the menu were fantastic apart from the lobster which my husband said was just nice. I had only eaten at a 1 michelin star restaraunt previously and wondered if you would really be able to notice the additional two stars. I have to say that we could. Is it worth the money? I think it is even though our bill came to £400. It was an experience that I will never forget and that is what you are paying for. Not just the amazing food or the great wine and service but the whole experience. If you are a foody then it is worth the trip. If you want to do it for a lot less money but still get an idea of the quality then you could go for the free canapes and amuse bouche as your starter, buy a main course and then have coffee with the petit four instead of desert. With an entry level bottle of wine this would come to less than £200 for two and you could enjoy the bread which I had to miss out on as I was too full. In the morning they came down to our boat and served us complimentary warm croissants for breakfast and they were the best I have ever had. Unforgettable.
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Amanda Olsen
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, July 11, 2009