I really wanted to be blown away by this place, especially given the legendary status, but honestly? It felt more like a science experiment than a dinner. The service is undeniably top-tier--the staff are incredible and the presentation is some of the most beautiful I've ever seen. But the problem is that it's all theatre and very little substance. Most of the food just doesn't taste good. For the price you're paying, you expect to be wowed by the flavor, but it's mostly just gimmicks. The famous "Sound of the Sea" dish was the biggest disappointment. It looked cool, but it literally tasted like "sand" in my mouth. The seafood didn't even taste that fresh. Even the candy shop at the end, which was a fun little novelty to take home, ended up being a letdown--the stuff just didn't taste great once I got it back. You're basically paying for a five-hour show. If you want a cool story to tell, go for it. But if you actually want a delicious meal, I'd look elsewhere. Elite Tip: It's a marathon. If you do go, don't plan anything else for the day--it's a long time to sit through a "journey" that doesn't always land. read more

See all

I did a lay over in the UK at heathrow so we decided to taxi out to Bray for dinner at the Fat Duck. As on of the bucket lists places, I was excited for this opportunity. We booked well in advance on the day of opening reservations on tock which were gone in minutes. The restaurant is pretty small and cozy. The food was all on point. We experienced the sensorium meal. Everything tasted great but was slightly gimmicky (that was to be expected given the history of the fat duck). It worked. The fat duck is a fun experience. There weren't any extravagant ingredients but every dish worked well. Definitely worth the trip read more

See all

Wow. Been dying to try this place for about 20 years and boy it not only meet expectations buy way surpassed them. The Pellegrino list and sometimes Michelin are a joke. This place is as relevant as it has ever been. Every dish was impressive, the service pristine and not robotic. What a staff, what a meal. It will live in my brain until the day I die. Heston is a one in maybe ten million plus type of talent. Every single thing is intentional. Two restaurants have made me cry. Benu in SF and now this one. My new favorite restaurant. This place destroys EMP at it's prime when they won best restaurant in the world. Do yourself a favor and go dine here. If this was in London it'd be the most obvious choice, but I think most miss it because they are ignorant or unwilling to make the short trip. read more

See all

Still good -- but a lot of the magic is missing. Staff seems to have turned over, wasn't nearly as polished, cost cutting in the food/presentations/experience were apparent on my 3rd visit. Really surprisingly the Som we had was bordering on bad, confusing countries of origin, mis-speaking, and not super knowledgeable. I took a bunch of first timers, they enjoyed it, but nobody left with the wonderment of past experiences. Hope TFD finds its mojo again! read more

We traveled to the Fat Duck from London by train to Maidenhead and then taxi to Bray, a small town where most folks come in because of the restaurant. We got there early and headed to the Hinds Head next door (also owned by Heston and really great). But onto the Fat Duck.. we been to several Michelin restaurants and this was by far the most unique and immersive. We came in May 2022 and they were on anthology menu #4. We sat down and were given a booklet to read through which gave information and stories about each course, plus we were given a magnifying glass to use with the book because their slogan is "question everything." It's difficult to explain each course because they are so complex and put together with such skill and finesse; it really is like art. Their big thing is to focus on all 5 senses so the lighting above each table can be adjusted to the dish being served and we had some courses focused on sound and smell while we ate, which was really cool and so different. So many dishes brought up emotions from our childhood and it was neat to talk about how some courses tasted different to my husband vs. me. Overall we had 11 courses with 4 being smaller bites. Some I thought tasted better than others, but they really were creative presenting foods that don't normally go together, together in new and exciting ways. We were there for about 3 hours, 45 min (we got hot chocolate at the end, asked lots of questions, got a tour of the kitchen, etc). Also the servers and waitstaff were excellent - definitely provided great service like so many Michelin restaurants do, but even more than that they spoke about food and these courses with such passion. We've never had staff exude that much passion for food before, it was really neat to see and made us appreciate it all that much more. My only complaint was we sat by the hallway that leads to the kitchen, which means we watched everyone's plates come out. We wanted to be surprised for each course but it made it hard when the dishes were right in our line of sight. Also during the seashell course, we were given headphones to listen to beach waves while eating a seafood dish (which was so cool!) but the table next to us was so loud that it ruined the experience for me. I know it would be really difficult to do, but I wish every table was seated at the same time and each course was presented at the same time. It would give a much better experience to everyone and wouldn't spoil the surprise along the way. If that were to happen it would've been an experience way more than a dinner. Or, have people sit in pods so you can't tell what's going on at the tables next to you. That said, it's amazing and the talent executed by the kitchen and the staff is not to be missed. Do yourself a favor and go appreciate it for yourself! read more

See all

The food was not tasty , staff was ok , very loud dining room, service was on the slow side and their house policy to not to allow the guest to choose an individual type of meal seemed bizarre read more

I've always been intrigued by molecular gastronomy and I have been wanting to try more fine dining, so I knew when I visited the UK I needed to try The Fat Duck. From the moment you enter the small airlock before going into the restaurant, you feel swept away to a whimsical place, like a trip into Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. We came for their Sensorium tasting menu which seeks to enthrall all 5 senses, and it surely does. Dining here can change your entire perception of food. My favorite dish is their Sound of the Sea which they claim will transport you to the seaside which I didn't really believe at first, but after trying it I realized it was true. When you close your eyes and wear the headphones and start eating the dish, your brain really feels like you're at the beach, seeing the sunlight hit your eyelid, feeling the foam of the ocean on your lip. Overall, they are masters of their craft here and really know how to create an immersive experience. I could go on-and-on about each course of their menu, but I don't want to spoil too many surprises. I definitely would come back one day once they have a new menu. I really enjoyed the non-alcoholic drink pairing which had a wide variety of unique drinks, so I would probably do that again as well. read more

See all

I'm speechless. I don't possess the gifted genius to even comprehend the level of creativity, artistry, food-chemistry, and skill, let alone the sheer grit and guts to even fantasize what becomes behind the nondescript walls of that remodeled old tavern. All I can do is appreciate the once in a lifetime experience. And thanks to the impeccable storyteller waitstaff for caring for our bicycles during our fantasy experience. read more

Low ceiling and dim lights to set to an intimate journey. The journey was approximately 3-4 hours in length thats personalized and playful and keeps you excited on what's coming next. The journey comes to life with scents, sounds, and visuals along with various dishes representing each stop. My favorite stop was the holiday story dinner, three course including their signature snail porridge with iberico bellota ham and shaved fennel. And the dessert- various circular filled desserts, not knowing what to expect, some better than others but overall interesting flavors and very good. Looks like ice cream but isn't cold or ice cream. Mad Hatter tea party with a tea bag that melts as you prepare it and turns into mock turtle soup. Memorable experience and worth the trip out to Bray when in UK. read more

I can't even describe it. Just wow. Food was weird, delicious and beautiful. If you go, the full 11 course meal is a journey that is well worth it. The staff are story tellers with food. read more

How does one even begin to describe an experience at The Fat Duck? Is it even possible? That sh*t cray. We've been to Alinea, and while we were definitely entertained there (see review), we felt that some of the food quality was sacrificed for spectacle. At The Fat Duck, you get both. We had the Sensorium experience--"a journey through the mind"--with certain components that were so over-the-top that they induced eye-rolling, but we have to say that for the most part, we were dazzled. We don't want to parade through every course, but will shout out some of our favorites and least favorites. The Nitroaperitif was an ideal start to the gastro-shenanigans, and while the aerated beetroot was tiny, it was delicious. The lobster and shiitake was pure joy; the sound of the sea was fun with the headphones, but the foam was really unappetizing, as were some of the other textures on the "seafloor." Best bread ever!!!! The "walk in the woods" was insane with the smoke, and the leaves were remarkable, but there was a bit too much jelly for one of us. The barley "haytack" on the beef course was probably one of our favorite bites of the night, and we loved the uniqueness of having three different cuts on one plate, but the largest one was way too tough. We went up to the cellar for the wine and lights show before the cheese course, and that was perfect timing. The only other thing that we didn't like was the mousse in the alphonso mango course--it just tasted/felt odd in the mouth. The whole kid in a candy shop thing was gimmicky but fun. We had some nice cocktails (lavender collins and a mezcal one) to start and the somm suggested a lovely dessert wine as well. Service was solid--sometimes the different global accents were hard to understand, and folks spoke too quickly, but that was no big deal. Everyone was really polite. We had asked for our courses to come out more quickly since we had a long drive back to London with a babysitter waiting, and they were great about that for the most part. We were lucky because we "caught up" to the people who were already seated before us and then we kept being surprised because our dishes were coming out first amongst the tables next to us. Obviously there's a lot we're leaving out, but we have to say that we have been to MANY of these types of restaurants, and rarely do we feel that they have been worth the price of entry (which is not for the faint of heart--our final bill creeped into the four figures!), but we can say that The Fat Duck was worth it. We had a great time, it was memorable, and we left on a high note. Not perfect, but close, so five stars. read more

My review for fat duck is long overdue. Going on The Fat Duck's "journey" is more like an evening's theatre than a meal. There is a large cast, and each plays their part perfectly. From the doorman that greets you to the guide on your journey and all the specialist food preparers and servers that come to your table over the 4 or 5 hours you are seated. The low key building exterior gives way to an equally low key interior. However the quality throughout is undeniable. Interesting and enjoyable evening with world class food and possibly the best service in the world. Do take time to complete the questionnaire that they send you before arrival. They do customise your experience based on what you tell them. It is a meal like no other. Something to remember for years to come. Worthy of a michelin star. read more

This, people, is a proper 5.0 star review. For the vast majority of my 5 star reviews, in truth, they're 4.51 to 4.99 and being the generous fellow that I am, I round them up. However, this is the real thing - 5.0 stars and fully deserving of every whole one Next thing is to warn you that this review will be full of spoilers!! More than any other restaurant, if you truly want to enjoy each and every little surprise of Heston Blumenthal's molecular gastronomy cooking menu as the wow moment it was intended to be, you need to stop reading at the end of this paragraph. Suffice to know that I've had the privilege to dine at most of the 3 and 2 Michelin star restaurants in England, New York and San Francisco (yes, the French Laundry and el Bulli are 2 major omissions) and this has been the best single meal of my life. You will be thrilled in so many ways and with so many senses that it will be an unforgettable experience Still with me? OK, you've obviously either dined here before or have an insatiable curiosity! Everyone who dines in this light airy restaurant goes for the tasting menu - I've been twice and I haven't seen the a la carte menu served once. I took a good friend for her birthday this time and was curious to see what if anything had changed since I last dined here a few years ago 1 Palate cleanser of nitro-poached green tea and vodka and lime mousse. The meal opens with the spectacular table-side use of liquid nitrogen to freeze the mousse. Green tea powder was pouffed on and a spritz of lime aerosol completed the sense enhancement 2 Pommery grain mustard ice cream and red cabbage gazpacho. You could taste all the ingredients clearly despite the unfamiliar presentation 3 Pea puree, quail jelly, langoustine cream, parfait of foie gras layered in a bowl, oak moss and truffle toast on the side. The food was rich and decadent as you'd expect from the ingredients and the scent of oak moss was added by pouring warm water onto a large square of moss on a board on the table 4 Snail porridge - several succulent snails on a bed of oat porridge with fennel shavings on top. My friend wolfed it down despite initial reservations about the snails 5 Roast foie gras 'benzaldehyde' served with almond fluid gel, cherry sauce. Rich and yummy 6 "Sound of the sea" - an amazing medley of fresh fish, eel and anchovy roasted to look like sand, seaweed and vegetable foam, served with an iPod playing seaside sounds. It was served on top of another box containing sand, so it looked like we had a piece of beach on our plate. We agreed this was the best dish of the menu. 7 Salmon poached in liquorice, asparagus, vamilla mayonnaise & salmon pearls. Trust me - it tastes heavenly despite the unpromising sounding ingredients. It somehow all fits together in 1 mouthful 8 Ballotine of Anjou pigeon, black pudding sauce and spiced juices. Cooked sous-vide, this is moist and very gamey. There was pigoen on the menu before but cooked differently 9 Cup of tea which tastes hot on 1 side and cold on the other 10 Mini cornet with ice cream and a granita 11 Pine sherbet dipper 12 Bavarois of lychee & mango, blackcurrant sorbet, mango & Douglas fir puree. Delicate flavours all intermingling and complementing each other 13 Parsnip cereal - could eat this for breakfast everyday! 14 Egg & bacon ice cream scrambled table-side with liquid nitrogen, served with bacon sliver, tomato jam & pain perdu. Tea jelly on the side. More spectacular visually than before with table-side presentation but not enough salt now in taste mix 15 Petits fours - mandarin aerated chocolate, violet tartlet, apple pie caramel with edible wrapper Each dish is explained at the table-side by the staff, helping to bring flavours to life. Service was impeccable. We really liked it because it was friendly and not stuffy like some fine dining establishments can be. My friend had the wine pairing, which resulted in 7 wines and a sake being delivered to a increasingly happy customer! I enjoyed their organic Sicilian lemonade and the pear & apple juice. Perhaps the thing that reflected the quality of this experience the best was that when we checked our watches at the end of the meal, 4 and half hours had passed and it was like the blink of an eye. Time flies when you're having fun and trust me, you will have a lot of fun at the Fat Duck! read more

See all

wow! 23 reviews before me and they were all 5 stars reviews?! even the 6 filtered reviews were 5 stars reviews!? amazing!!! that is a testament of how consistently good they are. my first date with heston was for lunch at dinner. i must say he did not quite create the impression i expected of him. i love watching his shows on tv. he has an amazing love for doing the unexpected and a genuine desire to bring out the best in every dish he attempts. this being my second date with heston, i needed extra motivation especially when he expects me to drive my ass all the way to bray(a lovely place by the way) just to give him a second chance??? that is if you can get hold of a reservation here. a random attempt to book a table of 4, turned up alternative dates and timings available. no second invitation required. lunch at 12pm on 5jun it is! no stuffy dress code here and children are allowed. no children's menu but they can modify certain dishes to cater to their palates.. do note however that it is still based on the same, only, tasting menu and still £195. your heston entertainment starts even before you arrive in bray. you will receive a video in your email for a prelude of what's to come. driving here isnt difficult but parking can be challenging. we managed to park near the hines head hotel. do plan extra time to cater for that or in our case just arrive extra early like 11ish and head for the hines head for a drink and free wifi! the staff were excellent. friendly, courteous, helpful, accommodating, knowledgeable and non pushy. a great team with great attention to details, like remembering if you are left handed and whether it was still or sparkling you were drinking. the setting is a small dining area packed to the brim but not uncomfortably so. it is not particularly tall people friendly as low support beams criss cross the room. caution also required as you come down the stairs after using the bathrooms located upstairs. however, anyone 1.73m or shorter can safely traverse without concerns. the pacing for the 14 courses lunch was nothing short of perfection. do remember to bring along all your senses as they are mandatory when you dine at the fat duck! in typical heston fashion the colours, textures, tastes, sounds and smells were all incorporated for your total enjoyment! special fat duck film left on your tongue to bring it to live. oak moss scent was both visually and olfactorily stimulating. sand and foam collided in texture with seaweed and smoked fish whilst you listen to the lapping waves. crispy crab biscuits contrasted with melt in your mouth foie gras. the kirsch spray prior to the black forest gateau dessert makes you wonder if you even need to taste it. and now for the awards: 1) best dish - roast foie gras 2) most creative - "sound of the sea". 3) best costume - mad hatter's tea party. 4) most alcoholic - whisk(e)y wine gums. 5) best dessert - macerated strawberries. 6) best special effects - jelly of quail, crayfish cream. 7) best scientific application - tied by nitro poached aperitifs and hot & ice tea. 8) most forgettable - lamb with cucumber. 9) environmental award - snail porridge. 10) most unexpected - salmon poached in a liquorice gel. 11) best name - the "BFG". 12) most unusual - red cabbage gazpacho. 13) and the best movie goes to - "like a kid in a sweet shop". read more

See all

If it was possible to give more than 5 stars, this would get beyond 5 stars. This meal was more than amazing food. It was a sensory experience that included smells, sounds, tastes, and textures that you wouldn't imagine otherwise. A few of the plates told a story like the Jelly of Quail, Crayfish Cream and Mad Hatter's Tea Party. My favorite plates were Jelly of Quail, Crayfish Cream, Hot and Ice Tea (it is literally hot and cold tea), Macerated Strawberries, and Botrytis Cinerea. The service was amazing too. We had a really sweet guy from Poland serving us and also a guy from Hungry, who prepared the Nitro Aperitif. They were particularly nice and friendly and answered all our questions about the dishes and how they were made. No one was pretentious at all and I felt really comfortable about the whole experience. We even got a chance to look into their kitchen, which was surprisingly small considering the amazing and beautiful dishes that come out of it. Attire: Surprisingly, no dress code. The experience is not very formal at all and the staff was very welcoming and accommodating in all ways. If you want to take all the pictures, you totally can and they don't frown upon it at all. Reservations: You have to be ready with credit card in hand to book your reservation online via OpenTable. They open reservations at 10am UK time and they go fast. I was able to make my reservation after my 3rd 2am night/early morning. Also, you have to book the day that they start taking reservations for that day. They start taking reservations 6 weeks in advance so plan in advance if you are traveling to London. Getting there: From London, we took the train to Maidenhead. From the train station, we took a short cab ride there that cost £6. In sum, go and pay the money for it. It's all worth it and it's amazing. read more

The Fat Duck - British Near Me - Berkshire, WNM

See all

I went to the Fat Duck a couple of years ago with 5 other people, the table had been booked long in advance. The building is crooked and cool, with low ceilings. The food was as much art and sensory experience as it was tasty. Some of the dishes I still recall fondly, years later, and the GREEN kale-y snail porridge (which was unedible for erm one of us but the other 5 did eat) I still laugh about. The timing and pairings were wonderful, though we did find (keep in mind, my table mates were Scotsmen...) they were a little cheap with the wine. Less than a glass per dish for sure, which would be reasonable after the first few dishes, of course, since there were like 16 dishes, but it would have been nice to have something to nip at while waiting for the next dish during the first couple of courses. We were first offered champagne, which was awesome, and we said yes please, but keep in mind this is at an EXTRA charge. Some of the dishes were mind-bogglingly beautiful, others super original, and of course some were a bit like "but why" (you made me listen to ocean sounds for 20 minutes because...Im supposed to get a sense of the ocean, I guess? Okay). Clearly some of the dishes were more experience than taste, which is cool but weird. Also sometimes we were like "are we supposed to eat this..?" because there was a lot of weird stuff and sometimes non-food looked like food and vice versa (we had a plate holder that looked like a beach or something, which we stared at for five minutes before the waiter brought us a single mushroom and an octopus eye or whatever, you feel me). So yes, the food was amazing, and the amount of work and styling possibly reflects the pricing, but unfortunately the memory that stuck with me was the snooty waiter's reaction (and btw oh my god that French cheesegirl was condescending to everyone) when I had the gall to ask for salt and pepper JUST FOR THE BREAD, I wasn't even going to "edit" their dishes, for fox sake, I just enjoy salt-n-peppering the delish butter on my starter bread :( She looked at me like I was a slimy, kale-covered snail and finally said "... I'll see if we maybe have some in the kitchen..." gurl I know yall have salt and pepper in this establishment! Get ready for an amazing, artful, extremely long-winded meal, and turn your nose up and to prepare for the wait staff to think you are all lowly scrubs. :) read more

I went to Fat Duck maybe 3 years ago but I thought I'd review it now since I'll probably never go back there (they never seem to change their menu!). Fat Duck was a 4 hour - 14 course spectacular. It included everything you would expect from a Heston Blumenthal restaurant including smoke, sprays, melting gold, intricate food sculptures and strange concoctions. However without these theatrics, I wouldn't say the food was particularly memorable. And even though they only have 2 sittings a day, food was brought out at different times to different tables, kind of ruining the surprise of what was coming next. Also one of the waitresses gave me a dirty look for playing with my food (I rearranged the whisky wine gums okaaay). Serially though - if I'm paying £250 for my meal, I kind of expect to be able to do whatever I god damn please. All in all I would say it's a worthwhile experience if you have the cash to splash and love pretty food. read more

The Fat Duck - Mushroom garden on an egg - British Near Me - Berkshire, WNM

What can I say that has already not been said below. Definitely an unbelievable experience. I went with a friend and we took the train from Paddington to Maidenhead and then took a cab to the restaurant. We did a lunch time slot without the wine pairing. TIPS: - Check the reservation system every Monday. If work is slow (August!) and can take a day off later in the week, you may be able to nab a last minute cancellation. - If you're traveling from London, it's a LONG experience. With train travel and meal service, it's a 6h+ stretch. I would think that if you're doing the dinner service, booking an inn for the night in Bray would be a good suggestion. - The bread they bring around after the first few courses is delicious, as is the butter they serve it with. Remember though, you still have many more courses to go, so I would limit yourself to a single piece of bread. I regretted my second slice of bread about half an hour later. Would I do it again? I'm torn on this. It is quite expensive and time consuming, but if I had someone special visiting that really wanted to go, I'm sure I could be convinced. read more

See all

Absolutely, without question, the BEST dining experience I have ever had in my entire life. I came here for dinner 3 years ago and I STILL remember the tastes, the textures, the smells... I still dream about that bacon and egg ice cream with liquid nitrogen... and the smell of that oak moss forest with foie gras... AND the whiskey gummies placed on that cute little map of what region in the world the whiskey was brewed... AND the sound of the sea with the nano ipod ahhh that was so adorable! Yee Gan O. covered the menu pretty extensively so I won't repeat even though I still have that menu after all these years (I am refraining from framing it... not because I don't want to be seen as a freak but just because looking at the menu everyday would depress me knowing it's so far away!) I was training in London for a summer before beginning work in NYC and ALL I wanted to do was to try Fat Duck before I left. And I am so so so happy I did it. I found another foodie friend to accompany me to this famous restaurant - we took the train out from Paddington to Maidenhead and hopped in a cab for a short ride to the restaurant. We were directed to an unassuming, quaint cottage and I probably would have never thought it was The Fat Duck except for the Lamborghini parked out front... BALLLERR Very simple decor, felt like I was waiting for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to pop out at anytime. Service was spectacular and KIND, no false pretenses here - just people who love food and love to help others enjoy it as well. I was 21 when I came here, although I looked like a teen, and experienced no age discrimination whatsoever (my biggest pet peeve when I'm dining). Fat Duck being my first Michelin experience ever has totally spoiled every other dining establishment for me though sadly, I have never been to a place that had the same high level of unbiased service... The food was a ridiculously amazing gastronomic chemistry experiment - how can we manipulate your taste buds in the most awesome way possible? The combination of flavors are unlike anything you have ever tried before... it's absolute ambrosia you are tasting. The bacon and scrambled egg ice cream created with liquid nitrogen right in front of you, oh my... it has the texture and temperature of ice cream but the taste is completely as if you are eating bacon and eggs. It's insane! Leave all preconceptions at the door, this will blow you away. I didn't try to wine pairing, I just had a single glass of wine but I was so full after our 3 hour meal, I'm glad I cut down on that. 150GBP per person, which was basically $300 at the time with a crappy USD exchange rate. WORTH EVERY PENNY AND EVERY SECOND THERE! It totally has ruined every other Michelin dining experience since... but no regrets! read more

Okay, okay. I am a big fan of Heston Blumenthal. And why not? He is a master culinary showman! It was a splendid experience. Anniversary dinner here was spectacular. Booked a place here 3 months in advance. You get a bag of goodies to take home with you too. Anyone with a desire to treat themselves to a nice celebratory dinner should dine here. You will leave impressed with conversations about it on the way home. Dined here in 2013. read more

See all

The Fat Duck. Wow. What an epic culinary experience. I have eaten at a few 3-Michelin starred restaurants, but none had the same level of creativity and food wizardry as the Fat Duck. It clearly lives up to its top billing as the most famous and influential restaurant in the UK and is worth the journey to Bray regardless where in the world you live. Where to begin? To start I had a "gin & tonic" aperitif that was frozen in front of us in a vat of smoking liquid nitrogen. This was the prefect start to a 4.5 hour tasting menu with wine pairings. Highlights included: The "sound of the sea" which came with ipods hidden in giant counch shells allowing you to actually listen to the surf as you eat edible sand and a collection of seafood. The Alison in Wonderland inspired Mad Tea Party mock turtle soup complete with "gold pocket watches" that melted under the broth of the soup and turned into edible gold leaf Snail porridge - no further explanation needed The Whisk(ey) Wine Gums - a collection of gummy candies flavoured by whiskies across Scotland and randomly Tennessee The like a kid in a sweet shop - a to go bag of ridiculously tasty candies - caramel with edible wrapper. And that only covers 1/2 of the courses. All in it was an expensive over the top experience (£180/person for food only), but one that needs to be on top of all foodie's must eat at lists. Without any doubt, Heston Blumenthal is clearly the Dumbledore of the culinary world. read more

See all

It was a fine enough experience, but just not really worth the price for me. The pros: 1. Everyone was really nice, and seemed willing to go out of their way to help (my wife and I didn't really ask for much). 2. The dishes were unique and unlike anything you'll get anywhere else. The cons: 1. For our personal experience, we didn't experience many of the cool things other reviewer seems to have, for example: 1a. We were not invited to meet the chef or tour the kitchen; several other people seem to have been. 1b. We answered their pre-reservation questionnaire, providing many details and extended answers. Other reviewers have mentioned that there were pleasant surprises related to the answers they offered during the meal. We had none of this at all. Zero personalization. Other reviewers have mentioned that they commented on how they were looking forward to trying dishes no longer on the menu, and then they were surprised with that dish. We tried this specifically, and got nothing. 1c. There seemed to be a lot of buildup that the candies you got at the end would be somehow personalized for you. They weren't. Everyone gets the same thing. 2. We simply couldn't understand anything our waiter said. He had a very thick French accent, and was pleasant, but we entirely missed the description of every dish. And the menu you're provided gives very little information. 3. My wife was pregnant, and required a number of substitutions. They were accommodating of this (we let them know ahead of time), but all of their substitutions were for mushrooms. I mean, the mushrooms were fine, but this is supposed to be a uniquely creative restaurant, and my wife ended up having six mushroom courses. 4. There were certain courses we were looking forward to that other tables actually got and we didn't. Specifically, several other tables got the dessert "Botrytis CInerea" while we got a rhubarb dessert. It was fine, but it would have been a treat if we both got a different dessert and could have shared. 5. They called a taxi for me, but then lost my coat and had the taxi's meter running and charging me while they tried to find my coat, doubling my cost for the taxi. I know that's splitting hairs, but they didn't seem to mind charging 3-4 extra pounds to add stuff to your espresso despite charging many hundreds of pounds for the meal, AND adding their own tip to the final bill. 6. The crab/passion fruit ice cream, and the meal meant to simulate being in a forest tasted awful. Simply awful. I was bothered that I had to eat them. It has to be said. I'm glad I did it because the itch has been scratched. I don't imagine I'd go again, and it wasn't worth the price. I probably won't visit any other Heston Blumenthal restaurants after this. An unquestionably mediocre experience. read more

See all

I will start with the booking process; the first aspect worthy of comment. We had tried many times to get a reservation involving a handful of Saturday mornings at 10am (2-months prior to the date you wish to book) redialing for half an hour just to get through. One Saturday after redialing on 3 phones over 100 times each we got a live line...only to be put on hold for 20 minutes listening to a nursery rhyme (which is much more annoying than music as you have to listen and pay attention because it is constantly a person speaking and hard to tell if the line has been answered or not!) So, we were booked, a 4-hour lunch tasting menu was on the horizon. Day of we take the train from Paddington and arrive early to check out the town, and hopefully have a peak at the Waterside in, the other 3 Michelin star in the area. Too bad they have French-foodie bouncers and you're not allowed to take a peak (what if we are checking out the hotel as a potential place to stay next time, jerks) The Fat Duck was thankfully far less pretentious and has a very humble ambiance. No frills besides food and drink. Perfect. They used to allow a la carte orders, but 80% of people had the tasting menu, so now that is all that is available. This is definitely not a 'local' restaurant; it's a culinary entertainment event. Please travel from the world be experience this, camera in hand and trainers on (no joke, people were wearing TRAINERS, there should be a dress code, I mean, RESPECT, right?) I might add here than we were sitting next to a young family that brought their new born. It was well behaved for the most part, but judge me or not, this is not appropriate. If you can afford the fat duck, you can afford a nanny for the evening. And seriously no breast feeding in the restaurant, ARE YOU SERIOUS!? Anyway, that's not the restaurants' fault, but, ahem, rude! On to the experience: Fantastic. I could repeat what you've already read, rave about the earthy similarity of the Sand and the Sea (personal ipod included), the nitro-poached aperitif, and my personal favorite, oak moss and truffled toast, but what struck me the most was how perfectly everything was presented. Each piece of cutlery and dish seemed to be made for the exact dish (if fact is probably was). The presentation is interactive, has a story and arouses all the sense, achieving exactly what Blumenthal aims for. Even the candy shoppe take away treat bag smelled like a candy store and inevitably makes one nostalgic for childhood, a topic that he is constantly developing with help from patrons who can fill out a card requesting, say an oreo milkshake or fruit rollups to spark ideas. It's more than a culinary feast, in fact some dishes I wouldn't care to have again for taste (read: Alice in Wonderland Mad Hatter dish...) as one can't re-experience the surprise of the presentation. I don't care much to ever go back unless the menu dramatically changes, but I will strongly and convincingly recommend the Fat Duck to anyone to go there once. read more

See all

Fat Duck was like watching a well-orchestrated Broadway show, with all of the casts giving a phenomenal performance. From the chef to the waitstaff, everyone was in sync and in tune with each other. Fat Duck is in a very quaint part of town and the building was so nondescript that it makes you wonder about the magical journey inside. I totally felt like the Alice in Wonderland from the story as I walked through the door. My favorite course was probably the Turtle Soup and the Sound of the Sea. The little touches of how they tell the story to the answers in your questionnaire beforehand was a lovely touch. Even though I snagged the reservation about two weeks prior (yes, I clicked every day for a cancellation!), the staff was still able to gave a magnificent story. I definitely enjoyed being able to see the small kitchen and seeing everyone work so cohesively together. read more

One of the most disgusting, viscerally offensive meals I've ever had in my life. For those familiar with fragrance, the dining experience here was similar to that of the perfume "Secretions Magnifique". Very uncanny valley. I think this place is a performance art commentary on capitalism, how people will pay $$$ for places that they see other people pay $$$ for, no matter how poor quality the goods may be. Horrifying alien textures throughout. Gelatinous, sandy, screechy. I was served a lukewarm tea that was the texture of slime. Pond scum. The 'sound of the sea' was atrocious, it looked like the beach on Coney Island and tasted like it too. Disgusting gritty sand, and the fish was extremely sharp and tasted like FISH smell. The English breakfast cereal thing really did me in. Meat should not be....goop. Snotty mucousal goop. I ended up having to leave in the middle of the meal because it was so foul that I got dizzy. The gimmicks were obnoxious and trite. Maybe some will enjoy them, but I personally found it annoying to have so much theatre for inedible slop. Every single food had been processed to death to create something absolutely artificially tasting and artificially textured, such that it was no longer food. Maybe I'm a philistine who doesn't understand molecular gastronomy. But, if I am going to spend $$$ on a dining experience, it better be absolutely delicious. And this was....atrocious. If you've ever read 120 Days of Sodom, and want to eat something that gives you the same feeling as that book, come here! I feel like all of my organs need a shower. read more

There are some huge descriptions of the food here, so I won't try to describe in detail the Magic of the food that self-taught chef Heston Marc Blumenthal OBE brings to the table at his 3 Michelin starred Fat Duck restaurant in Bray. The 4-hour Tasting Menu is something you experience, not just eat. The attention to detail over the food, and the presentation of it, firmly puts it in the fine dining category, as does the pricing! Eating at the Fat Duck is more like a theatre experience with food, rather than just dining, so prepare to be wowed! If you can afford it, and if you can manage to make a reservation, I can only suggest you try it: you will either love it (like I did) or perhaps be overwhelmed by the Pantomime of it all, it is perhaps 50% theatre! Booking is essential and very difficult as it is nearly permanently fully booked. They accept reservations by phone up to two months in advance and online reservations open a week after the phone line reservations. read more

See all

It's not just about food in this place, it's about the entire dining experience. Although priced at £125, the tasting menu takes you through a gastronomic journey easily lasting several hours and letting you try things you just can't get anywhere else. Being so unique, delivering quality food consistently well and easily seating less than a hundred people for each meal, it's no wonder you end up with some difficulty getting a booking. We tried for a weekend one but had some success getting a lunch time booking for a week day one instead. Everyone talks about the snail porridge, and it's good but there are many other dishes just as worthy to talk about such as the initial palette cleanser, a green tea and lime mousse, cooked with liquid nitrogen. It's an impressive sight to see the clouds rolling out of a small bucket and what emerges is a small mouthful packed with plenty of flavour. I wouldn't want to give too many details for those that want to go without too many expectations, but for a unique dining experience that titillates all the senses and some dishes causing you to relive some youth, it's definitely worth it for a special occasion. read more

See all

So heres an honest review. For anyone who complained that this place is too expensive...all the costs are directly up front. Nothing is hidden. Yes, its very expensive. But i would liken going here to going to an amazing show. The fact that this restaurant isnt on the top 50 list while other places that are far worse experiences just tells me the list itself is broken. This experience was completely worth every penny. If you can afford it you should try it at least once. Weve been to 20 of the top 50 and this was definetely top 5. Loved it. read more

See all

Really interesting evening with a lot of detail gone into each course. Be prepared to leave feeling a little on the hungry side though, while there are many different kinds of courses and meals, I still felt hungry after the whole 4 or 5 hour meal! Still almost a performance piece evening rather then your typical sit down meal. Excellent time with family and friends! read more

I took my brother here, and didn't tell him about how they research the guests beforehand. I think he was initially a little creeped out when the waiter started bringing up our personal childhood memories HAHAHAHA read more

My wife and I saved up to dine here & we have to say it's worth every penny. The fat duck experience is more than a meal but I shall begin there for my review. We visited in 2022 & selected one of the anthology menus. Each dish was superb with immense flavour and a little magic sprinkled throughout our meal from liquid nitrogen to dry ice, sights, sounds & scents permeated our senses enhancing the dishes & each dish did not disappoint the nitro poached starter explodes on the tongue, damping through the woodland was playful along with being beautifully presented & full of flavour finally the Black Forest gateau was sublime. Not a single dish we had would we be upset with if it was our last meal. We are things we'd never choose & am pleased we did. Our advice for dining here & enjoying it to the maximum amount is to embrace every dish & leave any food opinions at the door cause these ingredients will not taste like what you may have had in the past. Now I'd like to talk about the drinks menu. Neither of us drink wine in fact I can't drink alcohol at all so whilst the wine list was extensive & am sure would delight any wine buff we were delighted with the variety of soft drinks & cocktails both normal & alcohol free I thoroughly recommend the fat duck shrub it's a drink that you can enjoy & not feel left out cause you're t total it's amazing. Finally the service & general atmosphere. We'd booked for our anniversary & it was made wonderful by the storytellers & staff of the duck. From the lovely touch of a card from them to the general friendly atmosphere & welcoming feel of the restaurant it's truly a space for everyone don't let the stars or it's reputation as one of the worlds top restaurants put you off from going it's a place of dreams for anyone & everyone if you've booked you belong there. To finish this review and to sum up our feelings about the fat duck is simple we're saving to return asap it's that good read more

See all

Got a last minute cancellation few hours before so didn't get the preparation for the storytelling but glad i got this. Storytelling was amazing and the food preparation was very unique. The tastes and flavors were very good and easily expanded my notion of food and what good food was. For me, the waitstaff with British and international accents was hard to understand but the food was well worth it and not all needed explanation. read more

We stared blankly at the bread and the generous slab of yellow salted butter that was placed in front of us. Was the bread going to pop out of its basket and hum a pretty tune? Was the butter going to taste like oil&vinegar? That didn't happen. But what happened for the next 5 hours can quite frankly only be described as: MAGIC. 1. The aerated beetroot with horseradish cream was a tiny macaron-like object that shattered to dust in our mouths. The aperitif, the first formal course of our meal provided us three options, and I chose campari soda. It wasn't a cocktail, but an egg foam poached tableside in liquid nitrogen, and lightly dusted with some raspberry powder. I had to eat the thing whole as our server sprayed a citrusy fragrance over my head. It felt like a campari-soda flavoured meringue. Oh, was my palate cleansed. 2. Red Cabbage Gazpacho. A crisp and cold bright purple soup, with the mustardy ice cream and the tiniest cubes of cucumber that found their way to my tongue now and then. 3. The next course was probably my favourite of the meal. I thought it was too very earthy to be served so early on in the meal, but who am I to argue with Mr. Blumenthal. A cup with a parfait of mushrooms and pea sorbet (that looked like a cluster of peas) served with the tiniest truffle toast. We placed an oaky film over our tongue, and the server poured a warm liquid into a bed of moss that she had placed on our table. There arose these beautiful earthy white fumes from the moss, as we bit into truffle toast and alternated it with the parfait. 4. Snail Porridge, minus the snails, plus some sundried tomatoes. This stunningly green dish was dominated by parsley, sundried tomatoes and fennel. My husband hates fennel and he didn't mind it in this dish. 5. We got an eggplant with sesame, served with a mushroom tuile. It tasted japanese owing to the combination of flavours, and I can tell you that I have never so far tasted an egglplant more buttery. My friend who got the foie gras course, said my dish tasted as good as his. Can you believe that? 6. Sounds of the sea. Obviously the folks here believe that food is not merely about the sense of taste. So they gave us this conch with earphones sticking out, that played the sound of waves crashing against the shore. They laid the components of the dish on a glass plate above a bed of sand. And they served us sand (tapioca)and the salty sea foam (veg+seaweed broth). Washed on the sand was seaweed, and three different kinds of mushroom (fish for my friend). A bit gimmicky, I know, but an enjoyable course. 7. "No Time , No Time" said the Mad Hatter while dipping his watch in his tea." We were served the mock turtle soup, and a gold dial that we dipped into our tea (a soy broth) before we poured it into the soup bowl. This is not food, it's art. It's homage to one of the most interesting men that ever lived. 8. Beetroot and horseradish risotto, with little dipping dots of sour cream sorbet. Hearty, and a great combination of textures and flavours and temperatures. 9. The hot and iced tea was exactly that. In one cup. 10. Rhubarb with coconut and neroli scented yogurt. The first dessert course, very fresh (albeit a bit unseasonal), this course was light and felt like summer. 11. Our friend got the black forest gateau while we got the most entertaining presentation of an saffron "scrambed egg" prepared tableside - an egg that the server broke and "cooked" and laid it on our french toast. We were laughing through the whole thing. 12. A kid in a sweet shop. The theater continued on. An assortment of visually stunning and mostly delicious candies. One of them looked like a playing card. Why, the queen of hearts of course! Evidently, Heston and I share a common liking for Alice in Wonderland. Why hadn't I guessed before - all the courses were fantastic, completely whimsical, with total disregard for how you think food should be created. What was also interesting to me was that The Fat Duck uses base ingredients that one might find in a regular kitchen, and uses inventive techniques to elevate it to a new level. It is nothing if not sheer genius. If I thought it was pretentious food that only carried novelty value, I will not be giving it 5 stars, but The Fat Duck scores on every count. This meal was a wedding gift to us by Tirthankar D. A gift like no other! *Though I missed a couple less memorable courses, I am aware I am pushing the word limit here. Apologies, but I had to get it all out! read more

Items Enjoyed: BEETROOT - Horseradish Cream NITRO POACHED APERITIFS - Vodka and Lime Sour, Campari Prosecco Blood Orange, Tequila and Grapefruit RED CABBAGE GAZPACHO - Pommery Grain Mustard Ice Cream JELLY OF QUAIL, CRAYFISH CREAM - Chicken Liver Parfait, Oak Moss and Truffle Toast SOURDOUGH - White and Wheat with English Farmhouse Butter SNAIL PORRIDGE - Iberico Bellota Ham, Shaved Fennel ROAST FOIE GRAS - Barberry, Confit Kombu and Crab Biscuit SCALLOP - Birch Syrup, Bergamot, Coral Royale MAD HATTER'S TEA PARTY (c.1892) Mock Turtle Soup, Pocket Watch and Toast Sandwich "SOUND OF THE SEA" SALMON POACHED IN A LIQUORICE GEL - Artichoke, Vanilla Mayonnaise and Golden Trout Roe, Grapefruit LAMB WITH CUCUMBER (c. 1805) - Green Pepper and Caviar Oil, Offal HOT AND ICED TEA EARL GREY ICE CREAM MACERATED STRAWBERRIES - Olive Oil Biscuit, Chamomile and Coriander, White Chocolate Blanket BOTRYTIS CINEREA - Noble Rot WHISK(E)Y WINE GUMS NITRO-SCRAMBLED EGG AND BACON ICE CREAM - Pain Perdu, Tea Jelly "LIKE A KID IN A SWEET SHOP" Having lost favor on certain lists since being named "Best Restaurant in the World" in 2005 but still thrilling a packed house for every single service as reservations fill mere seconds into the two-month advanced booking window it was with high expectations that I traveled to Bray in the passenger seat of a fellow epicure's automobile and arriving at the fabled 16th century cottage housing Heston Blumenthal's The Fat Duck just after 12:30 a nearly three-and-a-half hour adventure began, the end result in every way justifying the journey. Still undoubtedly the definition of destination dining despite a menu that has long remained focused on the Chef's "greatest hits" it was with warm greetings that we were welcomed to the restaurant's casual confines and with two bottles of wine from my companion's cellar joining the proceedings our first classics came quick, the ethereal beetroot cookie chased by a frozen cocktail that left us each blowing smoke. Rich in concept and multi-sensory in spectacle as diners are encouraged to learn, watch, touch, smell, and even hear during each of seventeen courses that played out like a Hi-Def highlight reel suffice it to say that any attempt to name a 'best' dish would only serve to undermine the meal as a whole and with flavors every bit on par with presentations from beginning to end it cannot be overstated that the 'whole' is even greater than the sum of its parts - a dining experience ranking amongst the best of my life and one I'll cherish for years to come. read more

See all

Just when I thought my weekend dining experience couldn't get any better, my friends and I drove to Maidenhead just west of London past Heathrow airport. The establishment is a non-descript rustic stone building. The decor is simple with yellow and violet colors and exposed wooden beams. That afternoon, we sat down to a molecular gastronomic experience that was transcendent. I don't know how to describe what I was eating since I am unsure myself despite having been painstakingly described to me in detail. Dishes like jelly of quail and cream of crayfish, salmon poached in liquorice, and powdered anjou pigeon in blood pudding and to finish it all off, nitro scrambled egg and bacon ice cream. All I could utter was some Dickensian version of, 'Please, sir.. I want some more.' or Jerry McGuire, 'You had me at bacon.' This experience was akin to WD50 in New York or Minibar in DC. The wait staff were excellent and very attentive. They explained all the dishes in detail. The wine pick was the 1994 ch Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande. A heady vanilla bouquet with wonderful flavors of smokiness, cassis and well rounded tannins. read more

If you don't want to read the long review, this is the best meal I've ever had so go, just go. In many ways its not even worth reading many of the other reviews as they will tell you about the surprises that await....and that's bad, very bad. You want to be surprised by the magic and bewilderment of the experience. My only real advice about here is....hunt a reservation....book it (an Olympian task)....go...! I even cancelled a dentist's appointment to get there; the extra week's toothache was worth it! A meal at the Fat Duck is looooog, about four hours with 14 small courses on their tasting menu (your only choice). Each dish is an assault on the senses. They also love liquid nitrogen, no they really really love liquid nitrogen....prepare to be surprised! These guys make this a truly theatrical as well as a culinary experience. Every dish is designed to bring back memories, visually, nasally and even, in some cases, aurally. You will be taken back in time, you will laugh at the new tastes and feelings on your tongue and with each new dish (don't worry they are small) you will savour the next experience. It goes without saying that the food is cooked to perfection, the service is exemplary. It's the combination of unusual tastes, ingredients, smells, textures and sounds that make the restaurant a 3 star Michelin place. My friend and I are both slightly geeky Burning Man veterans who spent half the evening asking "How did they do that?" and trying to reverse engineer them. When the bread and butter and the (optional) cheese course came out we were just confused and looking for the novelty! Where's the damn liquid nitrogen! This was my introduction to Michelin starred places; I suspect everywhere else will be a disappointment. Go, just go. Top Tip 1: The menu; your only option, is about about as expensive as a weekend away (£180). The restaurant is somewhere you need to drive to (you can get a train to Maidenhead from Paddington then a 10 min taxi but we were still eating until midnight). If you are the designated driver, no drinks (though I may have had a cheeky Burn's night whiskey), you get home early and your wallet is a fair bit heavier :) Top Tip 2: The village car park is free. Top Tip 3: If you have food allergies they will ask you beforehand and will provide an equally exceptional alternative, (I'm not sure about vegetarians) Top Tip 4: The restaurant is only distinguished by its logo, no huge signs. It's the white building just next to the "Hind's Head" pub that says "High Street" on it. Top Tip 5: If you don't want to come over as a jaded foodie refrain from doing reviews for at least a month after eating there. read more

This place is truly amazing. Tucked away in a tiny town nearly an hour outside of London, The Fat Duck is a delicious gem. This place is impossible to get reservations. The restaurant is super small, and has just 14 tables for 45 guests. I got super lucky, and scored a last minute cancellation less than 2 weeks before the restaurant closes and moves to Melbourne, Australia for 6 months. The meal did not disappoint. This was our meal: 1) We started with nitro-poached aperitifs. The waiter used liquid nitrogen to whip up a gin and tonic in solid form. Here's video I took of the creation process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xIvJ7WbYgs 2) Our amuse bouche was an aerated red beet with horseradish cream 3) Red cabbage gazpacho with pommery grain mustard ice cream 4) A jelly of quail in crawfish cream. The dish was paired with truffle toast and the aroma of oak moss. Here's some video of liquid nitrogen being poured over the oak moss, to simulate a forest scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jrSqOUmZdQ 5) Snail porridge with Iberico Belotta ham and shaved fennel 6) Scallop in almond milk 7) Mad Hatter's Tea Party - mock turtle soup with farm egg, and a pocket watch tea bag broth, with toast sandwich. The waiter tells a story of the rabbit from Alice in Wonderland, as he drops a gold watch into our tea pot. The gold film dissolves away, releasing a delicious soup concoction inside. To better understand this course, check out this video I took of the meal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTpjvBVMKSY 8) "Sound of the Sea" - This dish was a work of art. We had different sashimi (king fish, octopus, and mackerel) served on top of dehydrated powdered sardine and tapioca made to look like sand, and seaweed foam. The course was served with a big sea shell with an iPod nestled inside. We were invited to listen to the sounds of ocean waves from the iPod as we ate our meal 9) Turbot fish poached in a licorice gel, served with artichoke, vanilla mayonnaise, and golden trout roe 10) "Umble Pie" - venison with truffle mushrooms. Served with red berry jelly and risotto 11) "Hot & Iced Tea" - There were two halves to this cup of tea. One half was cold, and the other half was hot. The tea was served as a semi-liquid jelly, so the hot and cold halves literally were sitting side-by-side in a single cup 12) "The Not-So-Full English Breakfast" - scrambled eggs infused with bacon cooked in liquid nitrogen, and then served on candied bacon and french toast. The dish was paired with marmalade in jar with a lid fashioned out of chocolate. Here's video a took of the creation process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKK3zQjvbsM 13) Botrytis Cinerea - A beautiful assortment of fruit flavors in the shape of grapes 14) "Wisk(e)y Wine Gums" - Mini shots of whiskey from around the world, packaged up into edible gummy candies 15) "Like a Kid in a Sweet Shop" - Final treats including a poker card made of cake and jelly, and made to taste like strawberry cheescake read more

Came here on my honeymoon and it definitely lived up to the hype. The last 2 dishes were amazing and unique. Having been to tons of French cuisine in both the states and Paris as well as many top 25 restaurants in the world, I must say it was an awesome and memorable experience. This is my favorite restaurant of all time. The pigeon and salmon toward the end was orgasmic. Salmon had a unique liquorice gel-like covering and was perfectly cooked, as was the pigeon perfectly cooked as well. I can't describe how hard it is to get a reservation here. They don't care if you have a black card either so good luck. The sound of sea, the turtle soup (circa 1800 style ie not real turtle meat), the foi goie, the snails, the salmon liquorice, and the amazing pigeon... every dish was memorable. They say English food sucks but what's weird is for some reason, their top tier restaurants rival that of the best in Paris. In any case, Fat Duck will not let you down and the best I've ever had in fine dine cuisine. I went to Pierre Gagnaire a few days later in Paris and it was disgusting. Another review for that when I have a free minute. read more

Amazing meal that lived up to the ratings! My husband and I knew that we had to book a reservation here as soon as we purchased our tickets to London. We called to make reservations, when the phone reservations were allowed (2 months in advanced), and landed ourselves a date! (after dialling more than 100 times at 3 in the morning! .... i know, we are crazy). If you have AmEx Gold, it might have been a better idea to have their concierge service reserve it for you. Each course involved almost all our senses... and felt more like a "show". This story telling dining experience was one of a kind and each dish was not only visually amazing, but delicious. My absolute favorite dish would have to be the roasted foie gras. It had the consistency of bone marrow and was like nothing I had ever tasted. I really could rave about each dish, but that would take too long and my words wouldn't do it justice. Heston Blumenthal your creations were genius!! read more

The Fat Duck has been on my 'to do' list for years but until the past year I didn't really know any 'foodies' who wanted to try it. Once I found the friends, the Fat Duck had the audacity to shut for 6 months! Their reopening was eagerly anticipated by me and my fellow foodies. When they reopened for bookings our immediate plan was to book in the new year but somehow our excitement got the better of us and we decided to book for the weekend prior to Christmas. We were lucky as the website reservations opened without a major fanfare, so we easily managed to get a table for dinner on a Saturday night. However, be warned, you pay for the meal at the time of booking. At £255 a head the 'journey' as it is described, isn't cheap but it was definitely worth it if you are a full on foodie. Reservations now become live once a month at noon on the first Wednesday of the month and book three months in advance. If you are able I would advise trying to book an early table. Entrance into the restaurant is staggered which meant later diners could see what was being brought out to earlier tables. The meal itself was amazing. As you would expect it was beautifully presented and full of tantalising flavours and textures. I don't want to go into too much detail about the food as divulging details of the meal feels somehow akin to exposing the deep dark secrets of a mysterious society of which we became part. I felt a little like Alice in Wonderland, having stepped through the looking glass and into some magical fantasy land. The meal was playful and created childlike wonder as the journey evolved. The whole of our table went through the meal with silly grins on our faces as the 'journey' unfolded. Would I go back? I'd definitely like to go a second time, even though it is the most expensive meal I've had to date. One of our group who has since returned said some of the dishes had changed, but with a major part of the meal being the performance around the journey I don't think it would be a place you went over and over again as, to a point, you would know what was coming. But if you are a foodie, definitely one you should try once! read more