I've never laughed out of pure ecstasy and wonderment whilst eating before. This restaurant rocks my world. A combination of science and culinary expertise makes this place so appealing to me (as a biochemist). And not only is the presentation unique and aesthetically pleasing, the tastes are out of this world. Imagine a whole trough-full of flavor packed into one tiny jelly cube. That's what it's all about. Everybody should save a bit of cash and try this place at least once. I'm planning on going back again for the a la carte dishes! WOO! read more

Ok Barb and I have been to several "top" restaurants over the last several years but don't think we have ever had the pleasure of having a dining experience that engaged our senses as much as this one, the tastes, smells, and even yes sounds were amazing and it felt almost as much as a Broadway show as it did a dinner. I won't go over the menu as I think it has been done several times and if you have interest in pictures and such you can see our blog. I will say though if you are in the area and want a truly unique dining experience that you will find nowhere else you must eat.. No experience the Fat Duck. read more

This is the most expensive meal that I have ever had in a restaurant. It's a great experience and something that I am pleased to have done, but obviously not a treat that you can do too often. We had the tasting menu - I think this is the only thing that you can get. We were there for the lunch service. When each of the courses came out, we all took photos (everyone around us did too, when their turn came around). Each course was a work of art. The service was impeccable - we got a good explanation of what each course was and how to eat it. (One of them - Mock turtle soup - involved dissolving a "gold watch" in hot water which became a broth that you poured over the rest of the dish in a bowl - awesome stuff!) My favourite courses were the snail porridge, sounds of the sea and the black forest gateaux. We had a nice bottle of red wine to go with it - we had help from the sommelier who was very helpful when recommending a bottle of wine to our taste and within our price range. The whole meal took 4 hours, but really it didn't feel that long. We never felt that we were waiting long in between courses, yet it also didn't feel rushed. We were experiencing the tastes, textures and sounds at our own pace. Fully recommended. read more

There is a reason why The Fat Duck only has 5 star reviews and why there are so few restaurants around with 3 Michellin Stars. My only complaint is that it is not lactose-tolerant-friendly...but what great restaurants are? Just bring some lactaid! I gladly endured being sick the next day for the eating experience of a life-time. If you love food and are lucky enough to snag a reservation (you have to call one month ahead of time immediately at opening...which is quite early for anyone across the pond), this is a must see. The town in which it is located is also charming to explore. My parents and I all did the tasting menu and my father paired it with the wine tasting menu. It took 5 hours and was unbelievable and even magical! The service and ambiance are also impeccable. read more

The Fat Duck - British Near Me - Berkshire, WNM

Well, I finally made it. Or, should I say, made it back. 12 years ago, when I was just a wee nipper, I visited The Fat Duck with my family. I read my book the whole time, and the only thing I can remember about it is that there were pig's trotters on the menu, so on the whole I have to say, it wasn't exactly a memorable experience. Over a decade later, things seem to have changed a bit in this small locale in the middle of picturesque Bray. Not in the least the addition of 3 Michelin Stars. But what of the food, I hear you cry? Now, everyone knows it's going to be good. Everyone knows that the gastronmic wizadry of Blumenthal's Fat Duck includes ipods, gold watches, and snail porridge. But was it great? Now, I have to say that I have never had a meal like the Fat Duck. I have never experience such theatre, such inventiveness, such impishness in a meal. However. I am sure this is going to incite outrage from foodies the world over, but I have to say that without the theatrics, I find it hard to say that the food blew me away. A lot of the ingredients were of the norm liquorice, salmon and grapefruit may sound a strange combo, but are easily attainable and many of the cooking styles were a take on traditional french. Having visited Simon Rogan's L'Enclume a year previously, I had been astounded by the twists and turns his menus contained cod crispy yolk, douglas fir milkshake, sea buckthorn a puddingevery course delighted, but honestly, and without hiding behind smoke and mirrors. All-in-all, an amazing show, but not necessarily one I'd see more than once read more

Ah, The Fat Duck...the stuff food-lover's dreams are made of... The Fat Duck has been on my radar for quite some time (no kidding), but I always seemed to forget to make reservations whenever I planned on being in London. This past time however, with my trusty iphone Reminder App, I made sure to mark the day to attempt to get reservations... There are many forums devoted to techniques in obtaining a reservation, with most people making the attempt numerous times. Perhaps I was lucky, or rather I sat there staring at the clock at 2am (Los Angeles time) before being able to book. I was able to make reservations without a problem, but I'm assuming that it's not always that easy. I would advise you to be flexible however with your times. I went for lunch (same menu as for dinner) simply because I was fully aware of the time it takes to go through all the courses. Should you choose to go for dinner you will be there past midnight. Our reservation was for 12:30pm, but our driver had us there a bit early. If you do find yourself in Bray with time to spare, walk around a bit...you'll see others do the same thing, or maybe you'll be like us, who decided to wait it out in the backseat, with the heaters (it was quite chilly). Our driver decided to check for us, and they were more than happy to seat us early. Warning my driver for the millionth time that he would have quite a wait on his hands, my friend and I went inside... I will not spend time ooohing and awwwwwing over the food, simply because I'm sure I would not be able to write about it near as eloquently as some Yelpers who have reviewed before me. What I WILL say is that it was all absolutely delightful, from the food, to the service, to the comfortable ambiance (although the whole 'come as you are' dress code took me a while to get over). We ended up finishing lunch by 5:30pm...so a total of five hours (our driver thought we had died in there). Keep in mind it may take you longer or shorter, depending on your party. TIP (Drinks): While I know it is tempting to order wine or other drinks with your meal here, I would suggest sticking to water, ice tea, etc.... The food is what you come for and you should make sure you have room for it! Drinking wine would have definitely limited the amount of courses I would have been able to complete. TIP (Getting There): You could take a taxi (wouldn't recommend it), or you could attempt to take public transport (not a good idea either), but it would be quite time consuming. There are several chauffeur services that will do a pick up or drop off between London and Bray so you do not have to hire a car to just wait over the course of however many hours you're there. read more

THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST RESTAURANTS IN THE WORLD... NO SERIOUSLY IT'S ACTUALLY RATED AS ONE OF THE BEST IN THE WORLD!!!!! I used 32 napkins because I am a clutsy person and the napkins kept falling on the floor and the waiter would keep taking them away and bringing new ones.. so besides my cleaning bill, I think I was a good patron... one odd thing... the traditional English Breakfast with Parsnip cereal and Parsnip milk was odd to have as a middle course... but it was still delicious.... wine pairings are excellent and staff has knowledge beyond their years.... WORTH THE WAIT.. WORTH THE PRICE... AN EXPERIENCE YOU'LL NEVER FORGET !!!! read more

Amazing, amazing, amazing. Heston - hats off to you mate. This is an extremely creative culinary adventure. It's not just the food, its the "show". Stimulates all your senses. Taste, Smell and even sound. Food - exceptional Service - exceptional Be prepared to try things that you have never seen prepared this way. If you an open-minded, non-veg person who loves to be surprised, these 14 courses will make you extremely happy. And for the first time in my life I realized what a good wine-paring really means. Well done Heston. I am a fan read more

Anyone who considers visiting The Fat Duck for dinner really needs to know, up-front, what they are getting themselves into. It is exceptionally expensive. The food is decidedly experimental (although obviously very well-practiced). From what I can tell, there is only one menu -- the dozen-or-so course tasting menu -- which will take the best part of four hours. You won't get much success asking them to "knock up a sandwich" for you. The portions will, for each course, be small (although, after a dozen courses, you're likely to be quite satisfied). If you don't like the sound of the above aspects of the restaurant, for goodness sake don't go. Save your money, or go somewhere else. For everyone else, I would not hesitate to recommend this restaurant, as a truly memorable and utterly unique experience. And I think the word 'experience' is important here. I left the place with a huge, wide-eyed grin on my face, aware that I hadn't really "gone out for a meal" -- it felt more like an immersive and stimulating theatrical experience. With food. Amazing, incredible, absurdly elaborate, intensely flavourful food. I could probably write a couple of thousand words on the food. But others have already done this, and I doubt that I could add much to what has already been written. Suffice it to say, each course was flawlessly executed, but we all had our different favourites from the lengthy menu. However, The Fat Duck is really not just about the food. It really is about the experience, mixing taste, smell, presentation, sounds (including one course which the diners were encouraged to eat whilst listening to sounds of the sea from an iPod hidden inside a conch shell) and psychology. It's that latter element, the subtle psychology of how some of the courses were delivered, that I realised afterwards truly sets this restaurant apart from others. The meal was delivered in a way that provoked genuine curiosity and excitement, very cleverly executed. We chose not to drink too much wine -- a couple of bottles, shared between six people, over four hours -- for two reasons. Firstly, the wine is really very pricey indeed (although quite excellent). Secondly, and I can't imagine saying this about many restaurants, drinking too much would take the focus away from the amazing food. The service was, in my experience, unparalled. Everything was delivered with flawless precision by a host of smart, courteous, pleasant waiters. All dishes were delivered to the table in unison -- three waiters per table taking care to place the dishes in front of us at exactly the same time. Each course was explained to us as it arrived, often with a nod towards the theatrical (including, for example, references to Alice in Wonderland and the Mad Hatter's tea party, when serving the Mock Turtle Soup). Finally, I was pleased to see that the 'little touches' did not disappoint. They did not charge for bread, butter and still/sparkling water. (Sure, when you're paying £160 for a meal (without wine), you really wouldn't expect them to charge for these, but some pricey restaurants still do.) We were given souvenir menus, in delightfully tactile envelopes, to take away with us. The packaging of the final course (Kid in a Sweet Shop) was delightfully well put together, to the extent that I also took some of that home. The cutlery and glassware was all excellent. And so on. For me, it was an unforgettable experience. read more

It was a great experience!! I can say it was the most interesting meal I have ever had, really don't know how you would give The Fat Duck a review as its unlike anything you most likely have ever had or ever will. I have seen words like out of this world used for it and I have to agree!! It's a must try if you can. Oh btw a great wine list on top of it all. read more

The Fat Duck - British Near Me - Berkshire, WNM

Probably the best experience I ever had. We went for our 3rd anniversary and also to celebrate our wedding and a lot of details were added to the traditional amazing experience to make it even more special to us. It was the second time there for my husband and even him found it very special that day and some dishes were different from his first time. A very special way of celebrating a occasion. read more

The Fat Duck - British Near Me - Berkshire, WNM

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Very few restaurants in the world, especially those rare gems that are feted by all and aspired to by many, live up to the reality of our lofty expectations....The Fat Duck in Bray does....it was quite simply the most amazing culinary experience I have probaby ever had (though a gastronomic dinner in Lyons awash with Foie Gras and truffles came close). If you're debating whether it's worth the money...IT IS....if perhaps you think it's a little too far to go for dinner IT'S NOT. If you think it's a touch pretentious and faddy IT'S NOT. If you want to experience a once in lifetime repast where every course stimulates all of your senses...then look no further, the service is tip top and the atmosphere is delightful as everyone around you experiences the same child like delight as each course appears....try not too look around too much if people around you are ahead of you on the tasting menu...it kind of spoils the surprises of which there are many......my fave dishes? Sound of the Sea and Egg and Bacon Ice Cream...not at all faddy...just amazing... I have two bits of advice to offer if you go; despite the lengthy list of courses and the amount of time I spent at the table I was still vaguely hungry when I left as I had not taken advantage of the ever replenished basket of fabulous home made bread...it's there for a reason...tuck in...and don't miss out on the butter...it's awesome...ENJOY! One more tip....the massive champange bucket that is wheeled to your table when you arrive should be eyed with caution...a single glass of pink champagne ordered on a whim came to £54....you have been warned...much better to order a bottle from the list if the fancy takes you. read more

This is one of the most memorable dining experiences I've ever had. The food was delicious, beautiful and artfully plated. It was a bit of travel from our hotel but so worth it. Staff is professional and helpful, definitely knowledgeable about the menu. The whole dining experience engaged all five senses, oh, how I wish I can return to do the tasting menu again. One of my favorite course was Sound of the Sea. read more

Incredible food - kind of a Disney Land for grown ups. The lunch with a wine pairing option did certainly set us back a few quid, but the whole experience was worth every penny. I'm sure most people could find worse ways to spend that kind of money. The service was impeccable, the food was out of a fairy tale, and we had an amazing time eating ourselves through the 13 courses. You'll probably not be surprised to know we went for a quite light meal that evening... read more

The Fat Duck - British Near Me - Berkshire, WNM

It i can add more stars to the review I would, Fat Duck doesn't just serve you incredible food They serve you magic. read more

The Fat Duck - British Near Me - Berkshire, WNM

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The lunch we had at the Fat Duck wasn't merely a meal, it was so much more. It was an experience unlike anything i had ever had in my life ... and i am not talking only about food here. It seemed a super-natural experience and not something that i would forget in a hurry. It was a gift from me to my best friend, on her wedding. But i wouldn't let them go off and enjoy it all by themselves, would i ? So after making what seemed like a few hundred calls over several weeks, i finally secured one of the elusive bookings. Now i am not going to describe each of the ~15 courses in detail. But i warn those planning a visit in the near future to stop reading at this point ... as there would be a few spoilers ahead. Heston Blumenthal truly believes that to enjoy a dish to the fullest, the sights, sounds, and smells, and not merely the taste, should be controlled. This resulted in us witnessing a lot of theatrics during the serving process. From the thin film that had to be placed on the tongue before eating the "jelly of quail, crayfish cream" (it dissolved into my tongue in a few minutes, leaving that area dry) to the conch with earphones to make us listen to the sounds of the waves during course 7 ("sounds of the sea"), the effect these enhancements had was extra-ordinary. As i had expected, The Fat Duck gets full marks for uniqueness. There was nothing that i had here that i have had ever before, or i think i will be able to have anywhere else. You want a vodka and lime sour cocktail to start the meal ? No problem ... just poach the paste in liquid nitrogen to get the solid alcohol to eat. Or maybe you want a drink, but you cannot decide whether you prefer a hot or a cold one. Then you should try the hot and iced tea ... half the liquid was cold and half warm. You like Alice in Wonderland ? Remember the Mad Hatter making tea by dropping a golden watch into the water ? That's the "Mock Turtle Soup" for you. How would you like to sign off ? Maybe by eating the whole of a Queen of Hearts card made out of white chocolate, which came sealed in an envelope where you could lick off the seal (also made of chocolate, but red in colour), or by eating a chocolate eclairs, with the wrapper and all. However the best was reserved for course 12. Scrambled eggs on french toast. What's so special about it ?, i hear you say. Just that they broke the egg on the tableside and cooked it in front of us with liquid nitrogen ... but the output, though it looked exactly like scrambled egg, was ice-cream. My friends were vegetarians. The Fat Duck took care to alter almost every dish in the menu (except for the whiskey gums) to suit their needs. What was especially surprising was that except for 2-3 dishes, all the vegetarian dishes looked exactly like the stuff that i was served from the main menu. They also tasted similar, based on the few that i had tasted. I take my non-existent hat off to them for this. We had asked for a wine pairing with the food. I don't understand much about wine, but i can say that it went along well with the courses. We were served products from Australia to Italy to France to Spain ... probably we had something from almost all major wine producing countries. The course i loved the most (in terms of taste and not the presentation) was the "Anjou Pigeon" (course 9). It had blood pudding and a risotto of spelt. Besides the fact that it was the first course with red meat that i actually recognized, the risotto was absolutely marvellous. The chicken liver parfait with the truffle toast would come a close second. I am surely missing out on a number of courses and their unique display. The foie gras didn't look like any foie gras that i have had before (it had rhubarb). The salmon (course 8) was great ... but it didn't measure up to what came immediately afterwards. The snail porridge (course 4) here was the first time i actually enjoyed snails. The visit to The Fat Duck was to commemorate a special occasion ... and i would recommend it highly for that. I might not come back again too soon ... but that's not entirely because the menu would be the same ... but more so because i don't want the memories that i hold currently to be tarnished. read more

One of the greatest dining experiences a person will ever have. Heston Blumethal has a respect for food that most chefs only dream of and a staff and capabilities to make dreams come true. The staff is incredibly warm and professional and make your 4+ hour meal extremely pleasurable. The tasting menu is second to none as well as a outstanding a la carte menu. Some memorable dishes were the green tea nitro amuse bouche and the bacon and egg ice cream. Reservations are only taken two months to the calender date and fill up quickly. read more

A tick on my bucket list. If its not in yours, I suggest you add it. First, how to find it. The sign is difficult to see especially at night so go slow when you are on that road. When you see the Hinds Head Pub, The Fat Duck should be right before Hinds Head on the right with the wooden door. Go slow on the bend and you will see a small sign on the left "Hinds Head Parking" and Fat Duck customers are allowed to park there. The sign is not at eye-level -- more at the height of your head lights so look out for it since its difficult to see. Second, go with an empty stomach and open your mind to a new experience. Leave your prejudices behind and enjoy your meal. Third, I also strongly suggest doing the wine pairing. Some may think that ordering a bottle will be more cost efficient but the wine pairing enhances the flavor of the food. Just make sure you have a designated driver. And pace your drink, because they refill your glass if you finish it before the course ends. Anyway, definitely one of the best meals I have ever had. They begin with an amuse bouche of beets but in an aerated ball texture. So its so exciting to be feeling food in different forms and textures. Of the 14 courses, the ones that are memorable are the chicken liver parfait and truffle toast, snail porridge, roast foie gras, the mad hatter's tea party (mock turtle soup) and the sounds of the sea. Lastly, follow what they say. If they tell you to put on the ear phones, do so. Just open your mind and all your senses.. and enjoy! Oh and there is no dress code -- so you can dress up or dress down. The atmosphere is not as formal as French Laundry or Per Se. read more

Eating at the Fat Duck clearly demonstrates the difference between having a dinner and having a dining experience. The dining experience at the Fat Duck is like watching a great movie. You sit back and just enjoy the ride... give yourself up to the director and enter his world... the perfect combination of creativity, flavor, execution and best of all... a compelling and wonderful storyline. One of the best dining experiences I've ever had! read more

What can I say about The Fat Duck that hasn't already been said? I booked it for my partner's birthday as it's been on our list since moving to the UK. Up until the booking, we had only been to three other three MIchelin star restaurants: The French Laundry in Yountville (twice), Per Se in NYC, and Gordon Ramsay in London. Luckily, we managed to squeeze in The Waterside Inn the night before our Fat Duck booking as a warm-up to our reservation here. I had a great time. The food was spectacular. There was a good balance of whimsy and taste with the courses. And there were many of them. My favorites were the jelly of quail, the foie gras, the salmon, and the macerated strawberries. My least favorite was the Sound of the Sea. Maybe growing up completely landlocked did me in on this course, as my partner loved it and raved about how it reminded him of his childhood. To me, it was like eating sand and seawater. It was tasty sand and seawater, but sad and seawater none-the-less. We even splurged for the optional cheese course, and we both love cheese and they had some great choices available. We also opted for the wine pairings to go with the courses, and they had some amazing wines that paired excellently with all the courses. One downfall seemed to be that the pacing was a bit erratic and some courses came out much quicker than others. Would I recommend going to The Fat Duck? Yes! I'd tell them to go in a heartbeat. That it's a lot of fun, full of whimsy, with delicious food and great service. Would I go back? Honestly, that's a tough question. If my parents or my sister were visiting and they wanted to go, I'd probably try to make it happen. Otherwise, I'd definitely want to wait until the menu changes a bit. One nice thing about some of the other places we've been is that they do change the menu on a daily basis, so you know you're not going to have the same thing. A lot of the options on The Fat Duck's tasting menu have been on the website for months, and I've seen them being reviewed by other people months ago. They were all very tasty, but I'm not sure I'd want to go somewhere and just have a repeat performance of my meal over and over again. read more

... Nitro Poached Apertif : Gin & Tonic All great meals in England begin with an aperitif, and this was no exception. The only difference with this particular service was that it was served as a single bite using liquid nitrogen. The server arrived with a full bar set up and three drinks available- a Gin & Tonic, a Vodka and Lime Sour and a Tequila and Grapefruit. The candle stick was used to light the corresponding citrus rind on fire to encourage some of its aromas to come into the bite, and then the liquid was flash frozen. It exploded with boozy intensity. Splendid. Beatroot Meringue and Horseradish Cream In a word- Passover. Anyone who has enjoyed a maror sandwich (with beet juice stained prepared horseradish) knows this flavour well. Red Cabbage Gazpacho: Pommery Grain Mustard Ice Cream Another European inspired bite. The gazpacho was sweet and sulfurous, complemented nicely by a fabulous kick of heat from the mustard ice cream. Savoury Lollies: Waldorf Salad (Frozen Apple, Celery and Grape, Walnut), Salmon Twister (Smoked Salmon with Avocado and Horseradish), Foie Gras Feast (with Almond and Cocoa Nibs) An off-the-menu addition, this was one of my favouriteplates. We were told that these lollies are an absolute nightmare to prepare on a large scale because each has incredible detail. The favourite of the three by far was the foie gras, which was like most rich, luxurious Magnum bar ever (minus the frozen part). Jelly of Quail, Crayfish Cream : Chicken Liver Parfait, Oak Moss, Truffle Toast (Homage to Alain Chapel) 1) 2010 Sancerre, Les Culs de Beaujeau, Francois Cotat, Loire Valley France 2) 2011 Sevillen 900, Fume Blanc, Guney, Denizli Turkey This dish began with a little leaf of mildly mossy flavoured paper from a plastic packet that we placed on our tongue to begin the sensory experience. Next, a server poured dry ice over the bed of moss which roused up a very delicate aroma that spilled onto our plates. The first pot contained a dreamy mildly fishy crayfish cream, below which there was a fowl scented jelly and a luscious ball of liver. We alternated bites of this rich dish with a bite of the umami-rich crispy toast. Rich and oh so lovely. Snail Porridge : Iberico Bellota Ham, Shaved Fennel 1) 2008 Heritage, Jean Lotus Chave Selections, Rhone Valley France 2) 2011 Chateauneuf du Pape, Clos La Roquete, Rhone Valley France Parsley stained porridge with fabulously salty ham and sweet fennel on top. I was very impressed with the texture of the snails, which were not at all chewy or unpleasant. I think this would have been better as a smaller bite (perhaps just a spoonful sized course) but ultimately I can't complain about having too much escargot. Scallop : Birch Syrup, Bergamot, Coral Royal An off the menu dish that they had only a few of to try. The "scallop" in the back was actually a Daikon cut and dressed like a scallop and filled with the scallop roe inside. I loved the crunchy fresh flavour of the daikon against the creamy richness of the Coral Royal, while the real scallop was perfectly cooked and seasoned. Roast Foie Gras : Gooseberry, Confit Kombu and Crab Biscuit 1) 2008 Alba Antiqua, Matosevic, Istria Croatia 2) 2012 Pinot Gris, Signature, Rene Mure, Alsace France Probably the largest bit of foie gras that I have ever eaten at one time but I certainly wouldn't complain. The gooseberry brought a much needed element of acidity, while the kombu and crab offered a nice hit of savoury umami to balance it out. Mat Hatter's Tea Party C.1850 - Mock Turtle Soup, Pocket Watch, Toast Sandwich What is Mock Turkey soup you ask? Well, any uber-Alice fan like me knows that Mock Turtle soup gained popularity in the 19th C because turtle meat was very pricy so instead they would use calves head and feet- this would explain why in Alice in Wonderland, the Mock Turkey is portrayed as a turtle body with a calves head and hooves. So the way this dish worked was that two servers popped by with some glass two-layered tea pots (with quail egg, calves head and other bits in the bottom and hot water in the top) and a "watch box" with gold lined pocket watches. They call me by my other name, Alice, and let my partner (the dormouse, obviously) listen to the ticking watches (the box actually ticketed!) The gold watch was then dropped into the hot water in the teapot and it began to dissolve into gold flake and bouillon. Once dissolved, we were told to pour it over the soup components and drink it up. On the side were classic Victorian tea sandwiches- the filling of which included buttered burnt toast, bone marrow, cucumber, and homemade condiments. The history of this was that less British affluent families used to burn an extra piece of bread to add flavour and textural contrast and use that in place of a pricey piece of meat. To me, however, the dish reminded me of my grandmother who used to deliberately make us almost-burnt bread with copious amounts of melted butter. I absolutely loved t read more

Definitely an experience, make a weekend trip out of it. We probably spent 3-4 hours in there. This is probably as close to art you will get during a dining experience, and 5 stars for that. The pigeon was my favourite, perfectly tender, as was the snail porridge - delish!! Found a poor ladybug in our oak moss, didn't survive the -32 degrees nitrogen freeze - no chance! read more

Wow where do I start? You cannot describe The Fat Duck experience with words or photographs online. One must simply go see, eat, feel and experience. The service was amazing. The staffs were kind enough to explain the food and any related stories or meanings behind each dish served. I also loved the fact that they let you take a wax sealed envelope which includes the menu you had that night. Just great. This restaurant is truly worthy of three Michelin stars, a restaurant, an experience worthy enough to visit the country, just to visit the restaurant. I will most certainly visit this restaurant in the future. read more

More than just dining...The Fat Duck is unequivocally, irrevocably the pinnacle of my dining experiences. An absolute must!

Go for the Bacon ice cream!!

Just brilliant. The only weird thing is the amount of tourists in there studiously photographing every dish and not really seeming to have fun- which detracts from the atmosphere a bit. read more

I was charmed from the minute I heard about this place. You must try the Matter Hatter Tea Party (mock soup) and Pocket Watch Toast to get a sense of what Blumenthal has put together. His unique menu makes the 1 hour trek from London seem insignificant. Put The Fat Duck on your restaurant list - pronto !! read more

Amazing! The food is just peculiar - amazingly peculiar! The service is great, the setting is great, the food is amazing. I do however think that this isn't so much "fine dining". I think it's more of a "one time experience". I've had the opportunity of going to this amazing restaurant twice before. And I must say that the second time, when you have a rough idea of the quirkyness of the whole experience, it isn't as good as the first time. Still amazing, and a great experience - but not necessarily worth the £150+ per person for a second time! read more

What an amazing experience!!! It really takes tasting food/wine to a different level. Not much more to say than... A Once in a Lifetime Experience!!!! read more

Absolutely stunning restaurant where you'll experience wonderful culinary sights, smells and tastes like nothing you've tried before. The man behind the restaurant, Heston Blumentahl, for years was a relatively unknown quantity. Recently though he's come out into the spotlight and for example has his own TV series. he's reknowned for his scientific approach to cooking, having his very own laboratory where weights & measures, bunsen burners and dry ice assist in the cooking process. If that all sounds very clinical, then the result is not. Heston combines all kinds of tastes, scents and flavours to create some of the most extraordinary dishes. Snail porridge is fast becoming the signature dish, but other fascinating ones include scallop tartare with white chocolate and caviar plus strawberries with leather purée & pistachio scrambled egg. You certainly come away feeling like your taste buds have been given a work out! The restaurant itself is a converted village cottage, with low ceilings and beams, in the most unassuming (albeit affluent) village. So sightly off the beaten track, but absolutely worth the 20 mile trip out from London. Its no wonder this was voted the world's best restaurant a few years ago read more

Go with an open mind, leave with an empty wallet but what happens during your time at The Fat Duck is a truly incredible dining experience - one which cannot be rivaled anywhere in the world. It was a while ago now that I ate here (2005 just after it had been named as best in the world by Restaurant magazine) but the main points to my review should still be pertanent. As this is a visit once place for a man off my worth we decided to go all out and have the tasting menu matched with wines. If you are going to visit here then I would always recommend that. It comprised of 17 courses and about 8-9 wines to my recolection. The Fat Duck is all about challenging perceptions and eating ustilising all of our senses. This is put to the test immediately when two jellies are placed infront of you. One is orange coloured and one is a deep purple. They are announced as a beetroot and an orange jelly. Nothing to special there? Wrong. the purple one is the orange flavour and the orange one tasted of beetroot. A very cleaver reminder from Heston not to eat just with your eyes. The palate cleanser of green tea, vodka and lime foam which is 'poached' in liquid nitrogen at the table sets the tone for the rest of the meal (or culinary journey as I prefer to name it!). I am not going to regail each and every course many a better wordsman (or woman) would have done so a thousand times and their reviews are just a click away. I will just say that as a foodie I loved every second of it. It was so cleaverly put together and although some of the dishes were not mind blowing and if they stood alone they may appear weak but together they form a real symphony of flavours and textures. Obviosly the service was faultless, an incredible knowledge of the (very intricate) dishes was exibited by all. The restaurant iself is charming - exposed beams and neautral colours feel calm and provide a perfect backdrop for dining. The meal lasted for close to four hours and cost £520 for two. At that price it will be many years (or a lottery win!) until I return - but I cannot wait to do so. read more

Incredible. Yes, it's extortionate, buy you're paying for the whole experience. We had the tasting menu, and were there for 3 1/2 hours. The service was absolutely faultless, each dish was introduced (which was necessary given the incredible array of ingredients and combinations in the dishes). They were innovative, exciting and unexpected. One amuse-bouche, hot and iced tea was a shot glass of tea- as you drank it, there was almost a dividing line down the middle- one side of the tea was hot, the other cold, it was amazing! Some of the dishes were too much- we found the first 6 courses all quite similar textures, a bit slimy but they just got better and better (17 courses in all). Unmissable. read more

Simply put, the greatest meal I've ever experienced and worth it, despite the h-i-g-h price. OK, here's the detail: For my job (and hey, because I'm a foodie) I've eaten in some swanky joints. To my view, many of these places are often filled with braying posh morons who are there to show off their wealth. If you smoke a cigar before your starter, you've just demonstrated you have no understanding of taste buds - I am looking at you Mr-average-clientele-of-Rick-Steins-every-time-I-have-been. There was none of that at The Fat Duck. The setting, staff and nature of cooking combine to quieten down the poshos - they're actually far too busy enjoying the experience. And the restaurant often has many "normal" people (like me?!) that have saved up for the event - and are thus really savouring everything. The staff are exceptional - individualistic and not too formal, but at the same time psychic as to your needs and delicately melding themselves to your table's personality. Posh where they need to be, matey elsewhere, but knowledgeable and helpful always. The food isn't as uber-experimental as it's made out to be. For that, go to El Bulli. I haven't been, but I'm reliably informed by mates who have that it alternates awesome with evilly foul - it was too experimental. There's nothing at The Fat Duck that will give most people terrors. If anything, Blumenthal tends towards a kind of quaint English nostalgia - the seaside as a theme appears on the main tasting menu. What the food does do, that I'd say is pretty much unique, is deliver combinations of flavour that are always greater than the sum of their parts. So, the spiced puy lentils are amazing, the peach sauce they float in is beautiful, but somehow, against expectations, the combination of the two is even better. I'm not a big big fan of things on a bed of blah, in a jus of something, with a tuille of ziggedy-do. But here it works - simply put, each flavour is individually superb, together it's a symphony, never discordant. I'd also add, that I am vegetarian - and the veggie tasting menu was spectacular, stunning and every bit as inventive as the "normal" one other people around me were eating (and they reported similar experiences to me). For once, I didn't feel like I was being treated as a second class citizen - with less inventive cooking. Finally, on top of the great food and great service, Blumenthal really does know how to sprinkle on the drama. Liquid Nitrogen mousses, iPods with the sound of the sea etc. all do actually serve to transport you into a magical food land where you realise a great dining experience is about more than just taste. Notes: 1. Portions are small - but there are something like 17 courses including all the amuse bouches etc. So you will be stuffed by the end. 2. It's a long sitting. We arrived at 7.30 pm and left at 1.30 am! 3. I'd personally recommend the matched wine. It doubles the price of the meal pretty much, but the results were amazing. And again, the Sommelier, a) matched wines specifically to the veggie menu, rather than just using the "normal" matched wine list b) topped us up all too often and c) the wines both surprised us and complemented the dishes they were matched to beautifully. 4. Do what we did and stay outside Bray (it's posh and pricey) - the Chilterns are nearby, lots of little b&bs and pubs. Go for the weekend and do lots of long walks to work up an appetite, then eat not just at The Fat Duck, but Blumenthal's excellent gastro-pub The Hinds head too (mm, triple cooked chips!). In short, if I could only ever eat out once every five years, but got to eat at The Fat Duck, I'd probably take that deal. read more

A once in a lifetime experience. So many amazing creations, but also items on the menu that really challenge you, and that's how it should be at a place like this given the reputation of the restaurant. read more

Stunning. We went last Tuesday lunchtime and it was everything I had hoped for and more. Attentive and fun staff. Although the diners at the next table were a humourless lot (Dutch), the rest of the punters were having fun. Not at all stuffy and people took photographs without being made to feel like lemons! The food was sensational to look at, extraordinary to eat, and we felt we were very welcome. A request to see the kitchen was granted with a huge smile. Altogether a wonderful experience. Sometimes when you have high expectations, the actuality can be a let down - not at the Fat Duck. Magic. read more

This place is absolutely INSANE the food is everything you could have imagined and more. It's like eating at Hogwarts, really. They gave me a great goodie bag of sweets to take home including coconut tobacco and every detail was taken care of. I'm not sure I have words to describe the food, I wish I was a real restaurant reviewer! All I have to say is that you must eat here. The food is unique, delicious, and made with crazy ingredients you would never usually think of trying but don't be squeamish just eat it! You'll be so glad you did. read more

Would have put no stars as booking system is complete joke. Let's you go through all the stages of booking and apparently accepts. Then when you proceed to presumably the payment page it says the agreed time and date is not available. This was all completed within 45 secs approx from the very moment the internet booking system opened. If you are booking for the future don't hold out too many hopes. read more

Amazing. Dont ready review, just go. Everything is innovating and new. Indeed a wonderful experience and my best restaurant visit ever. Service os great. Had the wine tasting but wine list was extensive and well priced. Take an uber back to london. read more

The Fat Duck is all you've heard about and more. I've been here a couple of times now and I don't think I'll ever get bored of this heaven. Of course it is expensive: £130 for the tasting menu and £90 for the cheapest wine tasting menu. This is the most expensive place I've eaten at but I have no hesitation at all forking over the money. For those thinking about whether or not to go for the wine menu to accompany the tasting courses I'd say go for it! Each glass was superlativesuperlativesuperlative and you certainly get value for money with 7-9 glasses (you'll forget exactly how many too by the end of the night). On this note the only advice I'd give is if you're not used to drinking much then perhaps choose a few glasses of the same wines to go with the courses and not the whole wine menu; the first time I went with a Jamaican friend who drinks very rarely, by the end of the 8 or so glasses he was pretty out of it trying to rap about the Fat Duck. Yeahso for me it was worth it but perhaps not him. There's nothing to do in the area really so you're going just for the restaurant. If you can afford it maybe you could stay for two nights and also eat at the Waterside (another 3star place) which a friend (the Jamaican guy hah) says is equally excellent if far more traditional. With regards to the food all I'll say is keep an open mind, if you know the idea of listening to a conch playing sea sounds from an ipod taped to the inside while eating seafood is going to annoy the hell out of you the Fat Duck may not be your place. But if you can suspend disbelief and utter whimsical pretension it will likely be the best food experience of your life. The service is excellent too, very attentive but not overly stuffy, the staff describe each meal in detail as it comes and without this you really would be lost. If you can afford it, bite the bullet and go! read more

superb dining experience. pure theatre. beautiful service. formal, but with gentle elegance. read more

The Fat Duck - British Near Me - Berkshire, WNM