Bingham

In one word, awesome ;-)

Two of us went for a birthday celebration on a Thursday evening. It's in a lovely location and the dining room is pitched just right - not too grand, not too cosy. It's a shame it was winter as you can see the view of the gardens and river would be beautiful.

But this is all peripheral...what about the main event - the food!

We had the very reasonably priced tasting menu (£60). Without sounding like a bore, I've had quite a few tasting menus over the years and visited quite a few Michelin starred restaurants. This was one of the most inventive and refreshingly novel ones that I've sampled. Contrary to other reviews, I would say portion size was spot on. I was pretty much at bursting point by coffee. Highlights? Frankly, it is difficult to pick anything that wasn't a highlight...

On top of that, service was fantastic - attentive and friendly, but not over powering.

I can't recommend it highly enough and intend to return next summer so we can take advantage of the view as well.

P.S. I heard from a waiter that they've lost their Michelin star. I really would ignore that - it must have been a very bad night!
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Ed Gossage
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, November 04, 2011

In one word: it was minuscule!

it was delicious but ridiculously small.The presentation was very artistic, the place is elegantly decorated, the service perfect, but the size of the food was laughable so that you come out feeling having been had.

Example: roasted quails was 2 thumbnail size bit of quail in a delicious potage; the main dish was belly of pork so beautifully presented it was looking like a "Ascot hat" but not weighing more that a 100 gr.

4 people, 1 bottle of wine. 3 "2 courses lunch" + 1 desert, 2 coffee ( if you'll find it at the bottom of the cup...and we are used to italian espresso) the all thing was £145!!
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muriel - View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 5
Wednesday, June 22, 2011

4 of us went to the Bingham for dinner - it's a lovely place overlooking the river at Richmond. Service was impeccable, apart from a clumsy attempt to upsell wine when my original selection was unavailable. Another minor gripe, we had G&Ts in the bar beforehand and the T was flat. Food was delicious. Technically very competent, ambitious cooking. My dessert - rhubarb trifle - was nothing short of sensational. But, apart from dessert, the portions were ludicrously small so I can only give this a 3 for value for money - I'd give it more if the £45 per head included the cost of my kebab afterwards.
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7 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 3
Tuesday, March 01, 2011

I'm going to be quite contraversial and say that the Petersham Hotel Restaurant is better than the Bingham *hears a succession of gasps*. I have my reasons - as follows:

Today was our first year anniversary. Exactly last year to the day, me and my now husband got married at Pembroke Lodge in Richmond and stayed at the Petersham Hotel where we had a superb stay and meal - a truly memorable experience. We were going to go back to the Petersham Hotel to celebrate our anniversary but was suckered into the Bingham receiving it's Michelin star and decided, well, it was still Richmond.

We booked far in advance for 7:30pm . Upon arriving into Richmond, we would have reached our destination on the dot had it not been for the receptionist who had, just yesterday, told me that I can park either in the two parking spaces outside the hotel or in the Poppy factory across the road (incidentally, this was the same receptionist who told me that it was formal wear for the restaurant, where men had to wear blazers but could wear jeans and trainers - confused?) We discovered that the parking spaces outside the Bingham was full so decided to check out the Poppy Factory. The main gates were closed but we managed to get into the car park through a side road, only to get in, call the Bingham to confirm which space we should park in, only to be told if the gates are closed, I had to park at One Paragon(!) And where was "One Paragon"??? We drove around for another 10 minutes, trying to find this "One Paragon" but I had to end up jumping out the car, running into the hotel and was told it was next to the Bingham on the right!! Phew, finally parked 20 minutes later and was told my the Maitre'd that we now had to wait at the bar. OK, fair enough, we just wanted to eat.

We waited for another 15 minutes or so and was shown to the table. The service for the staff was impeccable - not at all poncy or uptight, full of smiles and humour - wonderful! We went for the 6 course tasting menu at £65pp. Menu as follows (in detail only because the Maitre'd offered me a copy of the menu :)):

1. Cauliflower Risotto - lobster jelly, tarragon, cauliflower and lobster dressing

Wonderful! Full of flavour, wonderful textures including crunchy cauliflower, well seasoned and the cauliflower crisps on top were very yummy (9/10)

2.Organic Salmon - braised octopus, jerusalem artichoke puree and shredded squid

Again, delicious! Salmon was slow cooked, the octopus was not at all chewy (9/10)

3. Cured Foie Gras - confit pineapple, coffee crumble, honey and lime vinaigrette

This was NOT very nice! Really really disappointing because I eat a lot of things but the combination of this was either too weird for my palatte or it really was not that nice! I never tried foie gras before and can appreciate that it is a delicacy and needs an acquired palette. This was good foie gras but it reminds me too much of butter/animal fat melting in my mouth. On it's own it is very rich and I can taste the goose but combined with sweet pineapple, bitter coffee and tangy sweet sauce, yuck! (3/10)

4. Salt Marsh Lamb - artichoke barigoule, crisp lam sweetbreads and potato puree

Very mediocre. Not enough seasoning, bordering on bland compared to dishes (1) and (2). Sauce was OK, lamb was chewy but cooked very well (i'm thinking it was the cut of meat that made it chewy??) and halve a bulb of garlic which was bordering on raw which incidentally I wasn't sure whether I should eating as opposed to just enjoying the aroma(??) My husband enthusiastically ate everything on his dish, garnish and garlic! (6/10)

5. Cheeses and crackers (including goats, chedder and french blue) with quince chutney

WOW!! The Bingham sure knows how to choose their cheeses! A delight!! The crackers were fantastic and the quince chutney was the best chutney I've ever tasted! Totally memorable - a good thing too because by this point me and my husband thought the meal was going downhill!! (10/10)

6. Passion Fruit Curd - citrus salad, blood orange sorbet and meringue

Again, delicious! Hats off to the blood orange sorbet, star of the dish but I would say, just too little compared to the amount of curd that I had to swallow with nothing but well, curd near the end of the dish! (8/10)

7. Amedei Chocolate Tart - orange chantilly, rhubarb sorbet (with bits of boiled rhubarb)

Definitely a grown up desert - deep, dark chocolate, full of cocoa, bitter against the chantilly, Rhubarb sorbet was not very sweet but lovely. Only downer, the bits of rhubarb - crunchy and didn't add anything to the dish except to annoy me! (7/10)

Finished off with petit flours and coffee.

Overall the meal (plus water, coffee and two soft drinks) came to £165 for two. The staff there is what makes the experience, everyone knows their food and answered all my questions, no matter how inquisitive I became! The maitre'd was wonderful, joking with us because as a young couple we must have looked like we obviously don't dine in fine dining establishments except for special occassions, but keeping a strict professional (almost not smiley) demeanor to the "older" guests. We really appreciated his hospitality and would say him and his staff made for a wonderful night at the Bingham (despite the ups and downs of their tasting menu AND parking).

BTW - We're going to go back to the Petersham for next year's anniversary, ample parking outside the hotel, large grounds, plenty of toilets (Bingham only has the single mens, ladies and disabled) and consistently better food.
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Jess Lim
9 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Saturday, April 10, 2010

The Bingham has been very good for some time, moved up a notch or two with the appointment of Shay Cooper a couple of years ago and has recently won a star. Although this distinction is perhaps less than it used to be, this is a genuinely superb restaurant.

The dining room is very comfortable and well presented, and a reasonably advanced booking will enable you to obtain a Thameside view table. I have tried almost all the dishes on the menu (so perhaps time for some fresh thinking!) but they have all been delicious. The calves cheek is a particular favourite. The service is nicely relaxed for a venue of this standard, but thoroughly professional and helpful.

It is a pleasure to have a genuinely wonderful restaurant in Richmond.
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In good taste - View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Monday, April 05, 2010

What a place, first of all congratulations on gaining the unique award of one Michelin star. Called in last night at 9.30pm, excellent and smart service, from interesting and experienced front of house staff. The wine although slightly over priced was fantastic. Did not try the taster menu, but it looked very good. We had the three-course menu, very good, very well produced, and it was great to speak to the chef. I understand they have a few rooms as well, if they are as good as the rest of the building they will be very good.

Once again well done, an excellent well organised and place to be at.
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andy mccallum
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Thursday, February 04, 2010

What a gem the Bingham is!

We went there for our anniversary and everything was just perfect. We decided to take the tasting menu and it was so delicious and creative (and for £55 per person still affordable). The wine was divine!

The waiters are highly professional: friendly, attentive, caring but not intrusive. The atmosphere in the bar is brilliant.

Go there and try it!
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Claudia
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, November 23, 2009