Everyone dreams of going to this world famous restaurant, and it didn’t disappoint. The Waterside Inn is set in the incredible village of Bray, which holds seven Michelin stars (three at the Waterside Inn, three at the Fat Duck, and one at the Hinds Head), and is quintessentially English. We arrived and wandered down to the Waterside Inn, which unsurprisingly, is situated right on the Thames and has an incredible vantage point. On a summer’s day, this offers the perfect pre-drinks setting, where the attentive staff serve you with drinks and amuse bouche. A test for any restaurant is how they handle dietary requirements (I am lactose intolerant) and the Waterside Inn excelled in this. The lactose-free canapés were delicious and there were three each. The menus were brought to us outside, and we opted for the set lunch menu (Le Menu Gastronomique) of three courses, which at £79.50 on a Saturday and Sunday, is fantastic value. Quite often, the set menus are limited, but there was definitely enough choice on here for us, and the staff were well versed in the lactose free options. After canapés, we were taken inside by Frederic, the Assistant Manager, who offered the highest level of service throughout the day! The bread was freshly baked and warm, and the waiting staff brought me olive oil for dipping rather than butter. The food was so well presented and absolutely delicious. My only complaint would be that no cameras are allowed, and therefore there are no pictures to remember the incredible food. For pudding, there were no lactose free options on the menu, so Frederic gave me a pudding from the main menu – an amazing poached peach in champagne, which was exquisite – for no extra charge. We were there for our friend’s birthday, and they brought her out an extra plate, with a scoop of sorbet on it and a candle. This came with extra miniature puddings as well, which were apparently amazing. After lunch, we sat back outside on the river and could observe the comings and goings of other guests arriving via boat at the jetty. Here, we had a complimentary glass of champagne and some petit fours. The wine list was extensive and exclusively French, which their website makes no apology for, and a great choice of all levels of wine. We opted for a bottle of Sancerre, which was crisp and perfect for an August day.
Source: Waterside Inn
The highlight of the day was being shown into the kitchen by Frederic and seeing how a three Michelin starred kitchen runs. The Chefs were clearing down from lunch service, but it was as though service had never happened. The kitchen was immaculate, the Chefs smiley and able to talk about the menu and very accommodating.
I would highly recommend The Waterside Inn. The food is fantastic, as is the wine and choice of it. The situation is perfect, but what takes the experience to another level, is the standard of service. I have never experienced service like this before, and you can see why they deserve their Michelin stars.
Source: Waterside Inn
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