Finer Dining.

[Thefatduck]

Inspired by one of the most entertaining and informative topics, ‘Chippy Tea’, I thought it MIGHT be a nice place to share observations, recommendations and reviews of fine dining restaurants you have been to, heard of or would like to try. 

Questions. 
Reviews. 
Recommendations. 
Likes and Dislikes. 
Wish List.

[Thefatduck]

I was shown the app First Table recently which gives 50% discount on food at a whole range of restaurants including fine dining. 

My next stop will be 670g in Birmingham. 
https://670grams.com

50% of the food menu is a great offer (still pricey though)  https://670grams.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Menu-Jan2025.pdf

Has anyone been? Anyone recommend?

 

 

Edited August 23, 2025 by Thefatduck
Spag

[Carbomb]

I don't know First Table, but our family has a Taste card, which is similar. Think there's one called Top Table too. Had some good deals via Taste.

BTW I love the fact that someone called thefatduck is starting a thread on fine dining and restaurants (though I'm guessing it's why you chose that username in the first place).

[Thefatduck]

We’ve had a Taste Card in the past and had some great deals. 

[Chili]

Restaurants are way out of my price range. Haven't been to one in years. That's my contribution done and dusted.

[SuperBacon]

The Hand and Flowers, which is owned by Tom Kerridge, is the nicest place I've ever been to.

And the sort of place where I felt like I had to try things I never normally would. So I had whitebait and venison, which are things that I would never order anywhere else (think the whitebait just came as a starter anyway) and both were fantastic.

Even better, as I'd won some incentive at work for a meal for up to £150, I didn't pay for it!

I've always wanted to try Benares, and this place reviewed by Grace Dent really intrigues me.

https://www.theguardian.com/food/2025/may/18/the-fat-badger-london-w10-grace-dent-restaurant-review

[Just Some Guy]

As one of the most easily pleased people on the planet my reviews are pretty meaningless so it's just a list of nice places I've been to (usually associated with celebrity chefs).

Rick Stein's seafood restaurant in Padstow a couple of times, but.....

If you are in Padstow I would recommend Paul Ainsworth's place more highly.

The Elephant in Torquay

Northcote Manor in Lancashire where Lisa Goodwin Allen is the head chef. This was a gift from me to Just Some Girl for her 60th. I couldn't let her go alone and selflessly went along too!

Probably my favourite of all but that may have been down to the occasion.

Most recently Sheeps & Leeks in Caernarfon. A delightfully small place that has an array of amazing tasting menus.

[johnnyboy]

I'm planning on taking my wife up the OXO Tower as a Christmas present.

[Carbomb]

7 minutes ago, johnnyboy said:

I'm planning on taking my wife up the OXO Tower as a Christmas present.

Filth.

[Onyx2]

I'm sure some people here are expecting me to list off reams of places I've been to but I've never done much fine dining. 

The price is just a non starter for me. I absolutely understand why (most) places charge what they do - partly because people pay it (see: WWE tickets) but there is a gargantuan effort involved to look like effortless food. I've been lucky enough to stand at the passe while some of the best in the world plate up and the prep and finesse is unbelievable. As per OP I have wanted to visit The Fat Duck for 20 years but you won't get much change out of £300 pp for a visit. And you can easily spend more. And I just think what else I could do with that money. 

But equally at fine dining... most of it isn't the kind of food I want to eat. While I like to explore food I really enjoy the burnt bits, the crunchy bits, the slurpy bits. I really appreciate the high end cuisine and take inspiration from it, but I'm not that fussed about eating it. 

I just came back from a week in Berlin. Best thing I ate? A currywurst and chips served from a tiny little tourist craphole near the zoo handed to me on a cardboard tray. We sat in the sun on a concrete wall cursing wasps but loving every bite. 

So short answer not a lot, though I have been fortunate enough to be cooked for by the best and been in proximity of it. 

[johnnyboy]

1 hour ago, Carbomb said:

Filth.

It is a dream many years in the making.

Spoiler

Afternoon Tea rather than a full meal.

 

[Gus Mears]

After the old man carked it, one of the few indulgences with the inheritance money was a slap up feed down Le Gavroche, Michel Roux's former 2* restaurant. A Real Treat, the souffle it's famous for was worth the billing and the service was exemplary. 

Think the best high end meal I've had was my first time at Noni in Valletta which had the best amuse bouches I'll ever eat. Proper Blumenthal stuff with olives that aren't olives and shite like that.

I've done very little restauranting since moving to London between it being hideously expensive and not having a wife any more, but I will heartily recommend Sushi Atelier on Great Portland Street. You get what you pay for with sushi and I could eat almost unlimited quantities of a la carte sashimi.

Edited August 23, 2025 by Gus Mears

[Jesse]

I think the highest end meal we've done was for our most recent wedding anniversary, we went to Hawksmoor. Not ridiculously expensive, but still substantially more than I'm used to paying - regretted it immediately. Not because it wasn't worth it, but because it was maybe the nicest meal I've ever eaten and now I want to go back all the time.

[Gus Mears]

1 hour ago, Jesse said:

I think the highest end meal we've done was for our most recent wedding anniversary, we went to Hawksmoor. Not ridiculously expensive, but still substantially more than I'm used to paying - regretted it immediately. Not because it wasn't worth it, but because it was maybe the nicest meal I've ever eaten and now I want to go back all the time.

Probably teaching you to suck eggs here, but they do a pre theatre menu - two courses for £23 - which for the quality of food is great value.

[huwbacca]

The Wife and I have always had a bucket list item of going to a Michelin starred restaurant and as i was back in England last year for my sisters wedding i decided the time had come to splurge. After doing some research i ended up picking Frog by Adam Handling mostly because it didn't have a prohibitive dress code and the tasting menu looked exciting and very seasonal.

We got seats at the counter in front of the chef, and it was just a stunning experience. All the staff were  down to earth and the Chef actually took the time to chat to us in between courses and just made us feel totally relaxed.

The food itself was on another level to anything I've had and does show exactly what great ingredients handled right can be like. There were touches of whimsy and molecular gastronomy but it never overshadowed the food just made us say 'wow'.  Despite the fact it was $200 per person we certainly didn't feel like we got a rough deal. After the 10 course tasting was done i don't think we could have managed to fit anything else in if we had tried. 

https://www.frogbyadamhandling.com/