All reader reviews by Gareth

Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons

Took my wife and infant daughter this weekend. Had the menu decoverte which was showed accomplished cooking but lacked a dish that gave it a wow factor; the closest this nine course menu came to red meat was pigeon. However the halibut was the freshest I've ever tasted and the sommelier did a good job with wine pairing by the glass although I was surprised there was no accompanying pairing to begin with.

Service was good to start with but began to fall apart during the second half of the meal (I think we had about 5 different staff serving the meal) and my request for a cheese course seemed to be forgotten about for 20 minutes which is not what you want when trying to keep your child occupied for over four hours. The cheese board itself was disappointingly lightweight and our subsequent coffee order was incorrect and took nearly 30 minutes to arrive.

Of the six or so 2* restaurants I have eaten in over the last few years this was probably the most disappointing. If you know you're going to be in the area it's worth booking a table, but it wasn't worth a 3 hour drive and the B&B option that we went for. There is also a gulf in quality of cooking and service between Le Manoir and GR's 3* Royal Hospital Road. If you're looking for a short break experience, the Vineyard is a much better option with its excellent spa facilities and infinitely superior cheese board.

Monday, August 25, 2008
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9

Pied a Terre

Took my wife here for her birthday last Thursday. We had the menu gourmand which in my case was accompanied by the accompanying wine selection. The staff were happy to replace the meat dishes with fish for my wife. Each course was on the money; the lamb was a particular highlight and along with a rack of lamb at The Capital, probably the best I've ever had. Service was very good and the courses nicely paced - they even asked us if we were OK with the pacing which is a first for me. The only negative was that we were sat in what I presume used to be the old reception area just inside and to the left of the entrance rather than the main restaurant that I would have preferred. A key comparison though is whether this is as good as Royal Hospital Road or The Capital - probably not in my opinion but had we been sat in the main restaurant it would have significantly improved the £260 value for money factor.

Monday, December 10, 2007
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 7

The Cinnamon Club

Took 7 guests and my infant daughter here for dinner on Saturday night. Expectations were high given previous reviews but despite a decent start with a pleasant table in the "private" dining room the meal went rapidly downhill from there. The quality of the cooking varied from very good (swordfish starter, lamb mains) to mediocre (king prawn mains and the chicken breast with fenugreek sauce) and shockingly poor in the case of the sides which were a disgrace. The game mince tasted like chilli con carne out of a tin, and the dall was barely distinguishable from the mince. The most frightening course was my dessert comprising a "selection" of English cheeses which included an rectangle of plastic Red Leicester straight out of the cellophane. The waiter couldn't tell me what the two other cheses were. It is clear that this restaurant has scant regard for its customers and any chef that would allow my "dessert" across the pass should look for alternative employment. I couldn't get out of there quick enough and I certainly won't be back.

Monday, December 10, 2007
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 1