I feel so conflicted about this place - service is so variable…read more
On occasion, I visit for Sunday lunch - which, in my opinion, is amazing value. It's something like £27 for a four course meal - starting with soup, a 'market table', a choice of main course and a dessert.
The market table is obviously the best bit - a lovely spread of seafood, fresh bread, charcuterie, cold cuts, salad etc. It's buffet-style so you can get as much or as little of it as you like - as many times as you like. It's all really good - but my personal favourites are the prawns (SO well cooked), smoked fish and crab pate.
The main courses are standard 'british' fare - ranging from roast beef, fish and chips, steak frites, ratatouille and a fish du jour and pie du jour. My personal favourites are the pies (fish pie is amazing, when it's on) and the 'roast du vin'. The frites are also amazing - as is the Bearnaise sauce that comes with the steak. Like literally amazing.
If you have room (you probably won't - the market table is pretty exciting ... but I always do) - the desserts are pretty good. I usually go for the profiteroles or tarte tatin - but most recently had he bred and butter pudding which is GREAT. Generally the dessert portions are quite small (which is good, because you'll be stuffed). They also do a cheese board as an alternative to dessert.
So in an essence, the food is great. I have absolute no complaints, other than that they might want to think about changing up the mains on the menu a little more frequently. Especially regarding the veggie options - which can be a little boring.
The service however leads much to be desired. It's rarely very busy, but service is so slow and they often forget drinks orders completely. There's really no excuse for it during Sunday lunch, as pretty much everything is pre-prepared (soup, market table, desserts are mostly chilled). So this is a shame - because it has the potential to be something special.
I don't visit HDV for a la Carte dining for two reasons. 1) I think it's pretty overpriced for a pretty uninspiring menu, and 2) the service as explained above. Friends and family have had similar issues to this during dinner service - again, a shame, because there's so much potential. The building and location is fantastic, I just feel it's badly managed.