The Hand & Flowers

My most recent dinner here does not match up with previous reviews of this restaurant. I find the service more like something from 'Are you being served' and the food is not one star grub, well if it is, it is a throw-back to the seventies. I thought that the restaurant lacked any soul or character. It felt more like cooking by numbers. Sorry but not good enough.
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Jamie
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Thursday, September 04, 2008

I took my Girlfriend there for a special anniversary meal. We ordered the sea bream and the Lamb for main. We sent the fish back as it was raw and cold in the middle; this is not as was suggested to me the way to cook fish. When the fish was brought back there was no apology. I have been before and enjoyed my meal but this experience would definitely make me think twice before going.
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J.Kowalski
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, July 29, 2008

My fish portion was quite small but the wine list was very good and the service was ok. The restaurant is no way near as busy as it used to be and this may be reflected in the slip in the quality of the food. Will not rush back.
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Antonina
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Friday, June 13, 2008

Dinner at the hand and flowers was a real let down. The food was ok (mine could have been hotter) but overpriced for what it was. There was also some confusion over our order which became very frustrating. If you have to go just stick to fish and chips at lunch time.
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Macfarlane
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Having read a few reviews I recently visited the Hand and Flowers with my husband. Why oh why didn’t I check the date of the reviews! While in its time the place may have been very good that is defiantly not the case any more.

We both left with a very negative feeling. The service was painfully slow, waiting 20 mins just to get the tomato juice I ordered. The food was not much better; it was bland, stodgy and very pricy for what it was. My husband was given dirty cutlery, and then had to wait a long time for fresh meanwhile his food was getting cold. We will defiantly not be going back!
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Paula Beresford
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 1
Thursday, January 24, 2008

We had a delicious Sunday lunch at the Hand and Flowers. The staff were fun and friendly and the service attentive.

A starter of cauliflower soup with a duck egg and a cheesy brioche crouton was fabulous - velvety and full of flavour, the duck egg cutting through the creamy cauliflower. My oysters were less impressive, being large and creamy rather than the small, sweet variety I prefer - nonetheless an excellent shallot vinagrette compensated.

My main of roast belly pork was served with the crispiest strip of crackling I've eaten, and the meat itself was sweet and juicy, though in places the fat could have been more rendered. Excellent white beans and spinach were served with this, as well as a slightly gelatinous and not particularly flavoursome separate wedge of herb stuffing (why couldn't the stuffing have been cooked in the pork - it would have taken on more flavour?)

My companion's sea bass with braised lentils was simple and subtle, though pricey at £19.50.

A shared Rum Savarin held its shape whilst being packed with liquor, and was served with an amazing coconut ice cream... I could have eaten a plate of that on its own.

Beer chocolates and coffee to finish, water and a bottle of very nice prosecco between us came to a very reasonable eighty-odd quid. Recommended.
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Harry
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Thursday, November 08, 2007

Came here for a Birthday meal with family (four generations) a few months back and we still can't understand why people go back there! Service was appalling we even had to ask for more cutlery. After a very long wait the beef finally arrived but had no taste and a burnt yorkshire puddings, my son-in-law (a Rubgy player) who normally doesn't bother tasting food actully made a comment on the lack of taste of his beetroot/spaghetti dish. The best meals by far was had by our 13 and 15 year old who both ordered 'fish and chips'. There are certainly better places to eat around Marlow/Henley/Bourne End area, cheaper too.
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Annie - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 1
Monday, October 01, 2007

Wow. thanks to the hand and flowers it has restored my faith in gastronomy. All too often these days one has to dress up to eat great food, there you could go in your evening dress or your jeans and you would feel welcome. The food is so hard to choose from and all of us were pleased at the rich and inviting flavours, the atmosphere is delightful as everyone is buzzing around and chatty, i cant wait to go back.
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Liz
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Friday, September 21, 2007

The decoration was a bit “pubish” and if you want to make an effort and dress up for dinner then you might feel a bit under whelmed by the surroundings and atmosphere.

The food was ok no real complaints but it was nothing to get very excited about! And dare I say a bit of a disappointment after some of the reviews we had read. But perhaps it was our fault as many of the reviews were a few years old and don’t appear to reflect the current standard. The staff didn’t seem that informed and appeared a bit stressed and disorganised.

Overall I didn’t come away feeling I had good value for money, and the standard of the food and service did not live up to expectations.
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Holly Ackerman
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 2
Thursday, September 06, 2007

My wife and I have experienced the delight of eating here more than once. You just have to come back after the first time. Its not just food it's an experience

I am glad to say that it was just as good the second time.

We hope they consider providing accommodation as if they did that as well as the pub it would be a lively combination that we would undoubtably frequent
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James
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Thursday, December 21, 2006