The Waterside Inn is a beautiful, classic English experience from start to finish. The ambiance is timeless and elegant, set right on the water with swans gliding by--it's peaceful and genuinely charming. We stayed overnight and the rooms were beautifully appointed: comfortable, refined, and thoughtfully done. Breakfast was included and was excellent, made even better by the serene waterside setting. It felt like a proper, unhurried start to the day. Dinner was a real highlight. Inevitably, it gets compared to The Fat Duck across the street--and while both may hold similar star ratings, the food here simply tasted better to us. No theatrics, no gimmicks--just well-executed, satisfying dishes paired with warm, polished service. Everything made sense on the plate, and we left feeling genuinely content. The cheese cart deserves its own mention--an incredible selection with so many varieties, all beautifully curated and clearly chosen with care. It was the kind of cheese course you remember long after the meal is over. Overall, a wonderful place to stay and dine. Classic, comfortable, and quietly confident in what it does well. We'd happily return. read more

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We had come a long way for the tasting menu at The Waterside Inn, a Michelin three-star restaurant that has held its crown for 40 consecutive years. We walked away deeply satisfied, carrying with us an unforgettable memory. Had I not come to The Waterside Inn, I might never have known foie gras and scallop at their most extraordinary. Had I not traveled to Bray, a small town just outside London, I might never have realized that another world-renowned restaurant, The Fat Duck, sits only a short walk away. And had I not made it to London, I might still believe the tired cliché that British food is poor. In 1985, when I was still a college student, I heard a joke from a British student to a Chinese friend: If you want a good life, eat Chinese food, earn an American salary, marry a Japanese wife, and live in London. For a poor life, make a Chinese wage, marry an American wife, live in Tokyo, and eat British food. It was that same year, 1985, that The Waterside Inn first earned its Michelin three stars--and it has kept them ever since. That alone disproves the joke. Forty years later, sitting at its tables, I could testify personally: British cuisine can be just as exquisite as any in the world. The secret, I think, lies in the best ingredients, sourced close to home, prepared with simplicity, and served without pretension. The foie gras was unforgettable. A thick cut, lightly grilled until diamond grill marks appeared, offered a bite that was creamy, rich, and succulent, yet never heavy. The charred surface added a subtle contrast, like the delicate skin formed on warm milk--different textures melding into one coherent experience. I told the waiter simply: "It melts in the mouth." It was also a special indulgence: in California, where I live, foie gras has been outlawed for years. The scallop, harvested from the Orkney Islands, was equally revelatory. Cold, pristine waters yield scallops as sweet as those from Hokkaido--considered the best in Japan. Raw, they are creamy and fresh; grilled, their tightened muscle fibers concentrate the sweetness even more. Each bite broke apart into strands that released a briny-sweet burst, filling the mouth with the taste of the sea. And then there was the raspberry soufflé. When the waiter pierced it and poured in the sauce, the soufflé trembled and rose as if alive. I couldn't resist exclaiming, "It's alive!" before plunging my spoon into the airy pink cloud. Light, tangy, and fluffy, it was a final note of delight. Had I not traveled to Europe, I would never have experienced the contrasts and connections between Britain and the US. And had I never left China, I might never have discovered the vastness of the world beyond my imagination. read more

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My 1st 3 stars Michelin experience. Yes in Bray London. We called night prior to make reservations for 3 and voila. Service is excellent! Food good but I've had better in Paris from a 1 star Michelin. The least memorable was the Apple pie. read more

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If you're looking for a quaint, 3-star meal in an English village, this is the place to go. It's tucked in a quiet street with a beautiful patio sitting right on the banks of the Thames. What we did, and what I highly recommend, is coming about an hour early to sit on the patio and enjoy drinks before your table is ready. I suggest going with wine because their cocktail menu is a bit steep for standard drinks (a mojito was 21 pounds). We went with the set dinner which I highly suggest doing, especially if it's your first time eating here, as it allows you to fully explore the food here. The food here feels focused on delivering classic, upscale food and not so much worried about what's "trendy." While it may not be the most exciting meal you eat, the quality is excellent. I believe the menu changes a bit seasonally, but the highlight for me was my guinea fowl entree. It came with a piece of white meat and dark meat, and it was so tender you almost couldn't tell which was which. The service here was what truly gave this restaurant its 3 stars in my opinion. The waiters were extremely attentive without feeling overbearing. Every course was timed to perfection with a set of waiters clearing and delivering the plates all at the same time. The way they effortlessly carried us through our 3-hour meal was truly an experience in itself. read more

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The Waterside Inn has some of the best food and service I have experienced in the UK. It definitely lives up to its 3 Michelin Stars. Often overlooked by the Fat Duck, its more famous neighbour and also 3-Michelin starred restaurant, the Waterside Inn is certainly a destination dining experience in its own right and I was amazed by the well executed French cuisine. We of course went with the Le Menu Exceptionnel and elected to match it with the wine pairings. Perhaps the most decadent dish of all was the pan seared escalope of foie gras. It was as rich as one would expect served in a sweet sauce and paired with a fantastic glass of dessert wine. Other standouts were the duo of seasonal game (the venison was melt in your mouth delicious) and the pan-fried lobster medallions. If you are allergic to shellfish, fear not, you can substitute the lobster for another dish on the menu. For dessert, expect not one, but essentially 3 courses---first up was a teardrop shaped chocolate mousse, followed by a delicious orange/cranberry souffle, and to round this off we got a tray of mini desserts (petit fours, madeleines, financiers, etc). Sure enough, we were greeting with the trolley of dessert drinks. I opted for a special whiskey casked especially for the Waterside Inn. Service was unapologetically French, but was among the best I've experienced. It's hard defining great service, but when you experience it first-hand you definitely know it. The Waterside Inn itself is a charming building, though the dinning room surprisingly was a bit outdated (covered in floral prints and awash in pastel green colours reminiscent of a 1970s retirement home in Florida). At night you unfortunately miss out on the sweeping views of the river. I stayed overnight in one of their rooms (highly recommended as the Waterside Inn is a good hour outside of London). The room I was given ("the boat house") was a bit comical as they took the nautical theme a bit far. See-through port-holes between the bedroom and bath was a bit unnecessary. However, the joy of not having to train back to London on a frigid night and the freshly baked basket of croissants that greeted me in the morning made it so worth-while. All in, 5 stars all the way. read more

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Nestled in picturesque Bray, an ancient exurb on the distant Western end of Greater London, the Waterside Inn is a culinary icon. Albert Roux runs the place, taking over for his dad Michel Roux who had the reins from 1977-2010. The family is basically gastronomical legend; the restaurant has held 3 stars for 31 years. Service was distant and French, but attentive enough to merit decent marks. Each dish was precisely-cut, full of gorgeous color, and delicious to look at- and usually to eat. You'll drop at last $500 per couple here without alcohol, so beware that this is a splurge trip to beat the band. For a dorky, course-by-course description, check this out: ow.ly/Xtpu3 read more

We took advantage of their Signature Promotion to stay overnight and experience the Menu Exceptionnel, half a bottle of champagne, French continental breakfast; a selection of Roux goodies and a personally signed copy of one of Michel Roux's books. The whole package was very well executed. We were met in the road as we arrived in the car and helped with our bags and the car was removed and parked for us. The superior room was very nice, a good size with a nice bathroom and a large (shared) balcony with a river view. Down the hall was a small kitchen with tea, coffee and cold drinks available. The one time I tried to use it I was joined by 2 members of staff who offered to help. The Menu Exceptionnel is a tasting menu with 7 courses plus Amuse Bouche and sorbet. Each of the courses is small, but beautifully flavoured and presented (see pictures). We had the occasional dispute over some of the value of some of the ingredients, like the carrot jelly in the Flaked Devon crab and marinated seabass served on a delicate carrot jelly lightly infused with ginger, Oscietra Royal Belgian caviar, but they were all minor points and the food, and presentation were excellent. A neighbouring table was having a rare treat: Canard à la Presse where duck is cooked and the breast meat sliced and removed. The duck carcass is then crushed in an ornate press at the table to remove the juices and these are made into a sauce with cognac, butter and other ingredients. It was interesting and impressive to see such an ornate dish being prepared at the table. The service throughout was excellent. Staff had the knack of slipping in and sorting things out without you realising. Drinks were topped up, used crockery and empty glasses were removed quietly and efficiently. The breakfast the next morning is a very well prepared French Breakfast served in the room. Different breads and croissants are served with fruit juices, jams, yoghurt and fruit compote: a very relaxing and satisfying start to the day. The cost of a meal here is very high: it would probably be difficult to eat off the a la carte menu for less than £100 each. The wine list is extensive, several hundred wines, and expensive: few bottles are available at under £100, but these do match the cost of the meal. On the other hand the standard of food and wine available is amongst the best anywhere and The Waterside Inn is a wonderful place to enjoy a very special occasion. Highly recommended. read more

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We went here for our anniversary lunch and I must say that I was impressed with the service. It seemed like there are a swarm of waiters to cater for your every need! It is your old school style restaurant, so prices for the gentleman only! - and this is definitely batting at the high end of dining at around £56 quid per person for the simpler menu, double that for the taster menu, a la carte menu was a varying range. However I don't mind paying if the food and service is exquisite- which I would say was almost there. The only slight disappointment that I had was they didn't take into account my wife was pregnant and despite a few reminders, some of the food came out undercooked to what was required. Don't let this put you off. It was a genuinely pleasant experience with good food, a picturesque setting with charming river views and your every whim taken care of. read more

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The Waterside Inn is a beautiful restaurant with absolutely magnificent food. From there entrées to there main course and dessert the food and service is amazing. When eating the food you could look out to a wide beautiful view with a river and the tress that the wind blew in the distance. read more

The menu prices were a little on the high but the setting was exquisite so certainly worth it.

Reached via £20 roundtrip ticket from Paddington to Maidenhead and a two kilometer walk through English countryside to follow it was mere minutes before my noon reservation that I arrived at Waterside Inn and although as highly rated by Michelin as its Bray neighbor, The Fat Duck, suffice it to say that the two experiences could not possibly have been any different - the formal dining room and riverside locale of Waterside seemingly its only selling points unless one shows up as a septuagenarian dripping in pearls. Perhaps the very definition of hoity-toity and the sort of place where pretense is palpable in air from the moment one walks through the door it was to raised eyebrows and a sneered 'can I help you' that I was greeted on entry and after 'consulting the register' to confirm my reservation I was taken to the back - a seat on the edge of the room furthest from the river my prize, one leg of my chair literally abutting the stone patio as I was handed a menu and immediately scolded for taking a flashless photo entirely free of noise. At this point already detecting a trend and admittedly a bit perplexed regarding a rule apparently grandfathered in just a few weeks ago it was here that I opted to consult the maitre d' and with both he and Chef Alain Roux soon arriving tableside after a lengthy delay and some fancy but forgettable canapes a wordy explanation unfurled - the end result me walking out of a Michelin 3* establishment after the words "I've been managing restaurants since before you were born" trickled from one of their mouths. RECOMMENDED: Free Canapes? AVOID: Being young and caring about your food more than the 'exclusivity of the experience and protection of our patrons.' TIP: Having dined both with multi-millionaires and persons receiving Medicaid benefits I've not once experienced the degree of classist behavior I saw at Waterside Inn. Tall enough that it would have been difficult for anyone in the room to truly 'look down' on me I guess I can instead check-off 'nose in the air' as a more appropriate descriptor of everyone from the door to the dining room. With The Fat Duck mere meters away and Heston's two Pubs equally close by suffice it to say your time and money can be put to far better use in the Town of Bray. read more

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I decided to treat my partner to a lovely dinner at The Fat Duck for his birthday. I got the booking for a Saturday night, and semi-jokingly mentioned to him that we could also book The Waterside Inn for the Friday before. About a week and a half after I did The Fat Duck booking, he asks me, "So, are we going to get that reservation at the other place?" I got online the next day, and I got a booking for 9:30 pm on Friday. So six Michelin stars in one weekend! Delightful! Dinner at the Waterside Inn was pretty amazing. Until this point, we had been to three other three Michelin star restaurants: The French Laundry in Napa (twice), Per Se in NYC, and Gordon Ramsay. Honestly, I didn't know what to expect out of The Waterside Inn. Both The French Laundry and Per Se have been in the list of the Top 50 Restaurants in the World, and compared to them, Gordon Ramsay was seriously lacking. I was kind of expecting a Gordon Ramsay-esque experience. Not that Gordon Ramsay was terrible. Just not up to par for my other two experiences. The Waterside Inn definitely stood up to both The French Laundry and Per Se. We were presented with a trio of amuse bouches: an anchovy stick (basically anchovies and puff pastry, something I'm definitely attempting to recreate at home), steak tartare, and a shrimp in a lemon mayonnaise. All three were spectacular! We had the tasting menu, and almost everything we had was spectacular. Yet another trio of amuse bouches came out: a poached quail egg, tuna tartare, and a cauliflower salad. The crab starter was a nice way to start the meal. Next was a foie gras terrine paired with Champagne. I had never had foie gras with Champagne before, and it was a nice change from the Sauternes and German sweet wines I was used to having with it. The scallop with octopus was spectacular. The Riesling it was paired with was unlike any other I've had before. Quite strange to start, but once the food came it blew my mind. The octopus was tender and succulent, which was unlike any sort of octopus I've ever had. The next course, the lamb with moussaka, was a bit of a disappointment compared to the rest of the courses. It was tender and nicely cooked, but a bit bland. The moussaka with it was pretty amazing though. We had cheese next (for a bit extra), and we each tried five different cheeses, and they were all phenomenal. I love cheese, and they were probably some of the best cheeses I've ever tried. I don't get to eat goat's cheese very often, as the other half hates it, but when I do get it, I always hope it will be as nice as what I was presented with at The Waterside Inn! They followed it with a rose sorbet to cleanse the palate, which was one of the best sorbets I've had to date. I love both the apricot mousse and sorbet and the raspberry souffle. It was better than any souffle I've attempted to make at home! The sweet bites at the end were a perfect ending to a great meal! Would I come back here? Definitely! I kept seeing these delicious looking a la carte meals coming out to other tables. I was a bit jealous that I didn't get those as well. It was amazing French food in a beautiful locations with amazing service. It was comparable to The French Laundry as some of the courses may have been better. I think The French Laundry might be slightly better when it comes to a few decadent courses and the bread, but now that I live in London, it's going to be much harder to get back there, and The Waterside Inn is close by! It does make me wonder slightly about the three Michelin star rating at Gordon Ramsay, as it does lack a certain quality that the other ones I've been to have. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone who loves a good meal and wants to have a nice weekend away! read more

First stop on my weekend of Michelin excess! I will say that I do love The Waterside Inn for the experience as a whole. The atmosphere is a breath of fresh air away from the endless battle for who can be the most trendy within London, and takes you more into old school class. The location is lovely in picturesque Bray, directly on a particularly pretty part of the Thames. I wish it had been warmer so that I could have experienced the outdoor portions right on the river! The service is absolutely perfect, and they have no qualms about you chilling out in the lounge for tea/drinks for all eternity after the dining, despite their preparations for a big Christmas dinner in the evening! We had the menu exceptionelle (read: tasting menu), and supplemented a cheese course to go with. At the end, I was satisfied but not bursting with fullness levels, which is nice. Bits of the meal were fantastic, but for the level of the restaurant's reputation, I'm feeling a tad underwhelmed. The meat course was definitely the stand out as the venison was so tender and the pumpkin subric served with it was absolutely creamy and phenomenal. There was a lowlight in the lobster course, but I'm seriously so over lobster as a gourmet food item. It's rarely ever done just right. Not to mention that the staff said the lobster was a signature dish! Hrm. Moving on, the souffle was easily the best souffle I've ever had. As a minor gripe, the cheese course was £29 which seems quite steep to me for a "supplement" to a tasting menu. Waterside Inn is definitely worth the experience. I think if I ever have a chance to revisit, I'd be more inclined to try the a la carte options to get a better feel for where they truly shine. read more

As one of the four 3 star Michelin restaurants in the UK, The Waterside Inn sets the bar high. And for most of the evening, it meets expectations. Warming up with a G&T at the bar, the complimentary hors d'heuvres are a nice kick starter to give an idea what is to come for the rest of the evening. Having taken a seat in the classic but comfortable dining room, we are presented with an amuse bouche, a clever popcorn soup, made from creamy corn and with bits of chicken and popcorn in it. A promising start to the dining experience! The Menu Exceptionel then "officially" opens with a beautiful dish of lobster with beetroot and caviar, cleverly composed with different textures and flavours - expectations are rising further with every bite. Next comes a velouté of chestnuts and champagne with a single diablotin (a small dumpling, stuffed with partridge and foie gras) in it. A wonderful dish, with warm umami flavours pleasing the palate - I just wish there would have been a few more of the gorgeous diablotins... Next comes a breaded medallion of monkfish in chorizo sauce, and while that was very pleasant and perfectly prepared, it represented a big drop in ingenuity as it was an unsurprising and somewhat "been there, done that" type of dish. The same actually goes for the next dish, roast duck (carved at the table), which was again cooked perfectly but lacked originality. The palate cleanser that followed made up for that in spades - the beautiful dark green basil sorbet found its perfect match in a passion fruit crème: what a strike of genius, unmatched during the whole evening when it comes to inspiration, courage simplicity and ingenuity. Bravo! The yoghurt dessert again resembles the first (lobster) course in its playfulness with different textures and flavours, again very well and carefully composed. The final desert, a yellow plum (mirabelle) soufflé represents perfected craftsmanship, a simple yet lovely and flawlessly executed dish. Strong espresso, a selection of petit fours and a couple of interesting and enjoyable digestives (we went for a 30th anniversary house Armagnac and a Costa Rican aged rum) round off the evening in style. The wine flight that accompanied the menu was pricey, but very well matched with the dishes; the service was always attentive, friendly and professional. Compared to the other two 3 star restaurants I sampled in the UK, my ranking is as follows: 1. The Fat Duck - every dish a surprise and great food combined with great entertainment, difficult to top. Coming back is much less exciting as the menu does not vary often enough. 2. Gordon Ramsay's, Hospital Road - a very consistent experience where every dish held its own and offered a number of unspectacular but memorable surprises 3. The Waterside Inn - would be at par with Mr. Ramsay if the fish and meat dish had been less classic and more imaginative. Alain Ducasse, the last 3 starred food palace in the UK, is next on the list! read more

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Ahhhhh... the food... the atmosphere... the service... the lifelong memories. My experience at The Waterside Inn was amazing. The location and atmosphere are perfect. The dining room looks out over the Thames River and there is a small patio area where you can enjoy your coffee/after dinner drink and desserts. The service at The Waterside Inn was the best I have ever experienced. The staff was welcoming and attentive. They were even kind enough to create a special dessert when they discovered that we were on our honeymoon. Our dinner was fantastic from start to finish. I loved the foie gras terrine, and the entree of duck carved at table side was delicious. I highly recommend The Waterside Inn. read more

We went there after flying from london to have lunch. Very good meals especially after a long and tiring flight due to wind and turbulence, low visibility. Needed something fresh and plenty of vitamins that's the place to go read more

I visited The Waterside Inn with friends on a Sunday lunchtime in December. It is a lovely restaurant located beside the river in Bray serving French cuisine. The dining room has a river view which I can imagine would be lovely in the summer. From arrival, where we were greeted with valet parking, it showed why it has consistently held 3 Michelin Stars for over 25 years. The service was excellent, with just the right mix of playfulness and professionalism. We went for the tasting Menu Exceptionnel which several of us paired with a fantastic Sancerre. The food was excellent, very rich and full of butter (heavenly). All in all a perfect meal and definitely worth a second visit. read more

A very good restaurant. We had the taste menu. From 7.00-11.00, we got warm welcome. All staff are very nice. We enjoyed to talk to them and the owner is nice as well. Treat us two desert wine. We love all the dishes, especially the sole. read more

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Absolutely beautiful ambiance in the enchanting little town of Bray. When you hear "the Waterside Inn," you might dream of a quaint cottage by a beautiful lake, willows weaving around a pagoda. Indeed your dream in this case would describe the actual scenery - the dining room was full of large glossy windows overlooking the idyllic water, whispering murmurs and laughter. The maître d' was a jovial and charismatic man, delightful to converse with. The service was impeccable and at expectations. They were very accommodating and quite flexible with seating, menu choice and mixed matching, among other considerations. I had the abridged tasting menu because I could not stay for very long, but the courses I had were all very delicious and in ample portions. The place had a traditional, slightly old fashioned feel, the food was French at its fullest and finest. Perhaps not creative, the food was excellent as a hearty and satisfying staple of fresh and finely prepared French - from buttered and creamy soups, to meats and foie gras sprinkled with herbs and vegetables. I felt enveloped in savory richness with every bite. I look forward to coming back and spending some quality time with their full tasting menu. read more

For photos see Greedy Diva @ http://greedydiva.blogspot.com/2011/01/waterside-inn-bray-berkshire.html For my birthday last week, TPG and I took a turn at The Waterside Inn, in the quaint 16th century village of Bray. Bray is quite the hub for Michelin stars it seems. The Waterside Inn is only one of 4 restaurants in the UK to hold 3 of them (it's held them firmly for 25 years) - another, The Fat Duck, is just down the road. While Heston Blumenthal's gaff is all about pushing the boundaries of modern cuisine, Alain Roux's elegant French restaurant focusses on perfecting the classics. Boring? Quite the opposite. I think it's the all round best meal I had in 2010. Set on the banks of the Thames, a long lunch was a first class way to enjoy the sunlit, genteel setting, riverside views and the simply wonderful food and service. It's nose bleedingly expensive but, based on the a la carte prices (a cup of coffee costs you £12 so you get the drift), the 6 course tasting menu is the better value way to go at £140 (including service and coffee) - it includes starters priced at upwards of £50 on the a la carte menu. There's also a 3 course menu gastronomique for £56.50, which I'll be going back for. After a lovely selection of amuses bouche (I particularly liked a pretty dome of creamy foie gras), we start with a smooth parmesan cream, pink fir apple potato topped with truffle and served with an almond pastry straw. It's elegant and light, despite the luxurious creamy "truffleyness" of it all. Warm escalopes of silky foie gras follow with cardamom, glazed root vegetables, verjuice and sultana sauce. I normally see the word "sultana" and burst into tears (eg. why ruin a good scone etc.). However, it appears that if you pop a bit of foie gras beneath them, I can handle a sultana with ease. Again, a dish so rich, but so well balanced. Pan fried lobster medallions with a white port sauce and ginger flavoured vegetable julienne were a marvel - the meat is sweet and prepared perfectly (there's no chewiness in sight) and then served back inside the shell to beautiful effect. For mains, a choice. TPG's roasted Challandais duck was served with slices of poached quince, soft, creamy polenta, chestnuts (I'm addicted at the moment) and a cider flavoured sauce. When 2 people order this, it is carved at the side of the table where lavish slices of duck are splayed across the plates. Highly recommended if you're both up for it. Being picky, the only criticism that could be made of TPG's plate was that the meat was a fraction chewy, but it had a fabulous flavour - still the best bit of duck we've had for an age. I opted for the duo of seasonal game (partridge and venison) with a pumpkin subric, parcel of wild mushrooms and spinach and poivrade sauce. It was the best piece of partridge I've ever had and the venison was succulent and pink. I worried over this one as I knew the duck would be good, but my game was at least its equal on the table. Our first dessert was a teardrop of milk chocolate mousse flavoured with caramel, mango and passionfruit and accompanied by a mango sorbet. The chocolate mousse was divine. DIVINE. It's light but with the right amount of richness and chocolate. The mango worked so much better than I expected (I don't usually go fruit with chocolate) and it was all done so well that I still didn't want this meal to end. A warm date souffle is flavoured with cognac and comes with coffee ice cream. The flavours are extremely subtle, but the souffle is cooked perfectly and is as scrumptious as it sounds. We finish with mint tea, coffee and lovely mignardises. Service was excellent, and not overly fussy. Our sommelier was also terrific - we shared bottles of white and red, both of which we loved (although I've since lost track of the details). If you have a special occassion coming up and are looking for one fine dining restaurant in which to have a splurge, this is certainly a place I'd heartily recommend. The Waterside Inn feels really special. This was easily one of my best meals of the year. read more

After a visit to Windsor Castle, we enjoyed an exceptional gourmet lunch. Complimenting the impeccable French cuisine, is the quaint views of the Thames , topped off by 5 Star 5 Diamond Service, all orchestrated by the master of service, Diego. read more

When I think of how Escoffier once cooked and how amazing it would be to travel back in time and eat a meal prepared by the king of Haute cuisine I think the Waterside Inn. Bray is such an amazing town with two 3 star michelin restaurants. The Roux brothers know how to make Classic French Cuisine as well as the top chefs in Paris. They do have three michelin stars so I guess that means they are better =). read more

Serene location, Superlative cuisine. I've eaten here about four times in my life and each time has been sensational. The best of all was arriving to dinner on their river boat (which moors at their private jetty), enjoying a gastronomic 3-hour, blowout dinner and then staying the night in one of their cottages. Unsurprisingly expensive but intimate, well polished and impossible to forget. read more

The view at this restaurant is absolutely gorgeous. Before the meal we were taken out on to the deck that looks out onto the water and it is very calm and just the beauty of nature. Once they are ready for you, were taken into the dining room and served. The service is friendly and good. The food is great, and displayed beautifully. After the meal you are taken outside again for coffee and some more little goodies that they bring for you. Would be a wonderful place to go for the night in the summer then have a meal. read more

First of all, it's not in Maidenhead, it's in Bray, but Qype - in its infinite wisdom - has decided that Bray doesn't exist. Note to administrator: don't make me come over there and sort this problem out for you. Because a) I'm grumpy and b) I can't. I'm not very technical. Be warned. Bray being something of a culinary Mecca - it's also home to Mr Blumenthal's celebrated Fat Duck - it's full of thick-set middle-class people in wellies and Land Rovers. Vom-worthy, let me assure you. Still, it's pretty as a picture in petticoats, and the sort of place that, were I nobbut 10 years older, would be planning to live in. If I could afford the defence budget that I'm sure a 2-bedroom cottage costs around there. The Waterside Inn is Michel Roux's restaurant, and very sweet and charming it is too. If you can possibly get a seat overlooking the river, do. The Thames may look like a toxic dump if you're looking at it from Tower Bridge, but out here it's rather lovely. I should preface the foodie bit by saying that we went for Sunday lunch, and - for all I know - the a la carte dinner menu is a joyous romp through the 5 senses. Prix fixe on Sunday, though, was well, rather disappointing. 2 choices for starter. 2 for main. 2 for dessert, or the usual supplement for the cheese board. And, in all honesty, it was all rather bland. I was the only one on my table of 6 to go for the halibut for the main, and how smug I felt. Everyone else's lamb looked - and apparently, was - pretty insipid. Starters were perfectly adequate, which is certainly not what I expect from a gastronome of Mr Roux's reputation. Even his brief appearance after the meal to tour the room and politely enquire about everyone's lunch didn't do much to persuade me that this was a bit of a culinary non-event. Being English, none of us quite managed the cojones to tell him that his stellar reputation counted for naught when lunch's highlight had been the cheese. Still, we made our feelings clear by grunting and meeting his eye with a certain sullenness. That'll show him. Tch. The French, eh? In all seriousness, it's a gorgeous spot and I've no doubt that an a la carte dinner would be a much better way to experience the Roux school of cooking, even if (I'm guessing) that would double the cost of what was a reasonably pricey meal in the first place. Still, the service was exemplary - when I ran out of cigarettes and it turned out that not a newsagent was to be found, the staff found me one and literally presented it to me on a silver platter - and the area's deeply cute, as our transatlantic cousins would have it. Go if you like, but don't blame me if the lamb's a bit dodgy. read more

Went there for a long lunch and thoroughly enjoyed it. Maidendead rail & taxi £8 each way. Genuinely welcoming service without being over egged and of course a pleasant attractive dining room. (I have also eaten in the private room and it is also very comfortable). Had Gaspacho with ravioli, served with Gewurtz, splendid. Salmon (fish is a little undercooked IMHO you could ask) with an excellent white burgundy St. Romaine. Roast beef beautifully done (specifically as I requested it) and & rather nice Bergerac. Peach & Montbazilliac to finish. Ho hum. read more

Doesn't get any better than this. Great food, great location, great ambiance. Aperitifs and amuse bouches on the patio, move to the conservatory overlooking the Thames for lunch, return to the patio for coffee and sweets. Lunch menu was excellent - they catered to adults and kids. Kids just stuck with the "plain" stuff and it was still excellent. Adults were more adventurous and everything was a hit. Foie pate was excellent. Dumb California lawmakers should try it and they would change their ruling... Duck with cherry sauce was fantastic. read more

Perhaps the best Resturant I have ever been to. There is a reason they have had 3 Michlin stars for over 25 years. The food is outstanding and the service / atmosphere is fit for a King. Should you have be pleasure of dining in the private room then like a Egyptian pharaoh your every need is taken care of and always service with a smile. read more

A truly amaizng place- my husband's favourite. The menu here is exquisite.

Have just returned from a fantastic week in Berkshire /Buckinghamshire. Realising how close we'd be to the waterside I spent quite some time trying to secure a reservation and managed to do so for 8pm on Wednesday 8th August 2012. This was a real bucket list moment for me!! Firstly I have to say can you review your summary of the waterside. You have it classed as no for child friendly. I couldn't disagree more with this classification. We booked for and took along our 2 year old (admittedly who is very well behaved!!) however they couldn't have been more friendly and accommodating of him. From arriving to leaving the service was impeccable and just so warm toward our sone Benjamin. Upon arrival we were asked whether we'd like to have had drinks on the deck before sitting down. We chose to sit straight down as we were conscious if the time for our little boy We had to forego the starters due to the time window we had (That and my wife is a dessert freak!!!) and both went for fish as our mains. Salmon for my wife and halibut for myself. Both dishes were simply stunning. However the real delight was how they treated Benjamin. After asking whether "master would be dining with us this evening" they then went on to speak to him about what options there were for him to eat. Basically treating him as a guest and allowing him to pick what he'd like to eat. He chose pasta with a homemade tomato sauce. All of our mains we're superb. As we ordered our dessert Benjamin started to get restless. they asked whether we'd like to go and sit in one of the summerhouses they have outside n the deck to have our desserts in, which we did. We both realised this was a very polite way of managing Benjamin's restlessness however we both agreed a fantastic way to do it and we're fairly level headed people - we wouldn't have wished to have a child getting over excited when you were out for such a special evening out!!!! However they never once made us feel in anyway uncomfortable or that Benjamin wasn't welcome - in fact the pole opposite they were collectively amazing with him. The Matre' D - Diego was utterly fabulous. An amazing host but equally fantastic with Benjamin. He came across to speak to him but was blown away when he said ciao to Benjamin only to be returned with a confident and loud ciao Bella from Benjamin!! All in all one of the best dining experiences of our live's and good reason to revisit the area again. A lot of our reasoning is the level of service. So friendly and far less formal than we'd expected. read more

Always incredible- faultless in every way. The food is beyond amazing. Staff are absolutely incredible, knowledgeable, accommodating in every way and make you feel at ease. Always an amazing experience when we go. Always made to feel at home and very well looked after. The best. read more

I am writing this review as a vegetarian and I can say hand on heart that this has been the 'best' restaurant I have ever dined in! Of course the service and the location were perfect. However it is a rare treat as a vegetarian ( no meat or fish ) to be presented with such a variety of colorful and appetizing dishes. I was lucky enough to be invited to a five course dining experience with no expense spared, and for the first time ever I actually felt like being a 'vegetarian' was more than just providing a kind 'after thought' dish, a secondary effort to the meat eater companions. On this occasion I actually felt like the star guest at the table was me! Not only were my dishes imaginative , delicious and colorful ( for example the french version of an asparagus green bean medley! apologies for not bringing home the menu.. ) but each plate was filled with such an abundance of taste and texture that for once the meat eaters looked on with envy at the vegetarian! read more