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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To want to go to the Fat Duck for my 40th

77 replies

MrsHelsBels74 · 23/05/2012 20:25

Its not for a couple of years but we'll probably have to start saving now. I'd really like to go but I feel hubby isn't too keen, & it's a lot of money to spend if you're not going to enjoy it.
My husband wants us to have a joint 40th party instead, but my birthday is in July & his isn't until December so I don't really think this is doable.

AIBU to think that it's my birthday, we should do what I want (assuming we can actually afford it) with the proviso that I have to go along with whatever my husband wants to do for his birthday?

OP posts:

GetTheeToANunnery · 23/05/2012 21:25

Yanbu if you really want to go and can afford it.

Can someone tell me what they actually serve please. I can't get my head round why it costs £180 pp?!

PrematurelyAirconditioned · 23/05/2012 21:28

It's the man-hours Nunnery. Every one of the teeny teeny component of the umpteen courses has been sweated over by zillions of highly skilled minions. AFAIK The Fat Duck doesn't actually turn a profit even at those prices - HB subsidises it with the telly/books/Waitrose lines etc.

ChocolateTeacup · 23/05/2012 21:29

This Created by Heston Blumenthal

Stinkyminkymoo · 23/05/2012 21:30

Ooh the Hinds Head is delish! We debated over the Fat Duck too for my birthday 2 years ago and decided on the Hinds Head. I just couldn't stomach snails porridge and other weird and wonderfuls!

I'm so glad we did as the food was just amazing - especially the quails eggs scotch eggs!

LAlady · 23/05/2012 21:31

Yes, it's fantastic and I live nearby which is even better. Have eaten there twice, on one occasion with the tasting menu and the wine menu that compliments every course !

I also had an interview at their offices a few years ago. They have two ladies on Pcs with headphones taking the bookings. You have to be very on the ball and know exactly when to phone particularly for Fridays and Saturdays.

But it's amazing - really sticks in the mind as a brilliant experience.

As well as the Hinds Head (nice but menu has stayed the same for a long time) Heston also owns The Crown too (good food too).

kittysaysmiaow · 23/05/2012 21:37

We went for my FIL's significant birthday and it was wonderful. A cut above every other restaurant I've eaten in, the food is mind blowing. It's absolutely worth it! I'm so glad I've been. The service is something else too. Le Manoir is fantastic and the grounds and location are more attractive than the FD, but for me the restaurant itself isn't up there with the Fat Duck experience. You need to find out the date they take bookings for your preferred date (think its 3 months in advance) and put it in your diary and make sure you get phoning first thing. The tables sell out within 10-15 mins. Of course if you go on a weekday you've more chance of getting in.

mumtoone123 · 23/05/2012 21:40

We went for DHs 40th. It's completely overrated and the emperors new clothes springs to mind and you'll be starving by the end of it. But the again its always booked up, so....

Hulababy · 23/05/2012 21:41

AFAIK there are two tasting menus and two wine tasting menus. Think the base menu is around £200 per head, and another one above that. Likewise with the wine tasting menu that goes along side them.

Friends of friends spent over £1000 for two people!

NoGoodGirlo · 23/05/2012 21:45

Totally agree with mumtoone123 - the food was really interesting but didn't actually taste that great. It all seemed a little pretentious.

I agree with the other two posters who have recommended the Manoir Quatre Saison. It was totally fantastic and they made us feel really special.

HidingInTheUndergrowth · 23/05/2012 21:48

I would love to go and had planned to for my 30th this year but new baby means I really can't afford it. Like your's my dp really wasn't keen (he is a bit of a fussy eater whereas I wil consume anything at least once) so we just agreed that I would go with some other friends and do something else with him as it really is too expensive to go to if you are just going to look horrified at the contents of every other course.

Perhaps if you have some other friends who are really keen on going you could go with them instead and leave your dp at home to plan his birthday party :o

EmmaCate · 23/05/2012 21:53

Fook no. We happened to celebrate my birthday in Michelin starred or recommended restaurants for two of the early years in mine and DH's relationship, so now I have made it a tradition .

I said the other day I am going to call and book a table for whenever. I just want to go - but actually my 40th isn't far off either so it may be a PLAN.

Do it girl!!

nancerama · 23/05/2012 21:59

YANBU. It's an edible theme park - not just a meal, but a day out. DM took DH and me there 18 months ago. It was a fabulous experience and we left clutching our sweetie bags with massive ear to ear grins.

Save all your pennies and do it!

PoppyWearer · 23/05/2012 22:04

Not St James, it was Le Manoir, sorry for not being clear.

Le Manoir is fabulous.

post · 23/05/2012 22:13

Haha, I got FLAMED on here (years ago, under another name) for going to the Fat Duck, so beware, op! I loved it, do it, do it.

lambbone · 23/05/2012 22:21

Go,go,go! We went for DH's 40th a few years ago. Completely wonderful. A whole new world of deliciousness. Even the things that sound as if they might be a bit like snail porridge are an edible orgasm.

I want to go again but we now have 2 kids at university!

LuubyLuu · 23/05/2012 22:34

If you do go for it, it's easier to get a booking for a lunchtime, and earlier in the week. May be worth having a practice run on making a booking! The booking staff are really helpful and will advise you the correct day and time to book.

kickassangel · 24/05/2012 01:57

Post it was reading your thread that spurred me on to attempt booking. Never did manage to get through. Sat with my phone ready for 10.00 every day, and by the time I got a ring tone, not engaged , it had sold out.

Then we moved to the US so really not an evening out for us.

AdoraBell · 24/05/2012 03:25

Well, I had dinner at the Grand Hyatt on my fortieth-we don't have a Fat Duck here- so I don't see why you shouldn't go to your venue of choice for your fortieth. Anyone who complains just tell them I said it's okay because If I can eat where I want so can you. Sorted.

blapbird · 24/05/2012 04:37

My brother used to chef there, so my parents ate there for free and they said 'it was an amazing experience' but they wouldn't have paid for it

Dolcelatte · 24/05/2012 05:26

I would say that it is definitely a 'once in a lifetime' experience. In other words, different, fabulous, innovative, unique etc. But I haven't felt the need to repeat the experience - not because it isn't totally brilliant, but I don't think I would enjoy it as much a second time. I would definitey recommend that you should go, but as other posters have said, the problem is booking a table.

I also agree that Le Manoir may be a better option - absolutely gorgeous, romantic, beautiful house and gardens, exceptional service and good food!

PrematurelyAirconditioned · 24/05/2012 08:19

Looking at the website I think that in practice the only way to get a booking nowadays is online.

EightiesChick · 24/05/2012 08:32

I agree that Le Manoir is probably a better option. Also there is the Waterside Inn, also in Bray but not a Heston enterprise which is a Roux brothers restaurant and which also has 3 Michelin stars, if that part of the world works for you. Plus Gordon Ramsey's 3 star restaurant on Hospital Road is outstanding, in spite of having a bit of a backlash in recent years. The trick is to look for deals on set menus (lunchtime is particularly good for this).

DH and I have had a thing of trying to go to Michelin-starred restaurants (though cutting back now as income has lowered ) but I have never been bothered about the Fat Duck idea as it just seems, in the words of Moe from the Simpsons, 'weird for the sake of being weird'.

ProfCoxWouldGetIt · 24/05/2012 09:30

YANBU - it's an amazing experience, I went years ago, and plan to go again for my 40th. Of course that goes without saying that of course you should only do it if you can afford it

MrJasc · 24/05/2012 10:12

Apparently the Fat Duck isn't as cutting edge as it used to be. It's now down to 13th in the world (though Dinner is somehow voted 9th, a shock to us seeing as they burnt our toast when we went. One of the ?best? restaurants in the world, and they burn a piece of toast!).

If you really want to push the boat out consider Noma in Copenhagen, or El Celler de Can Roca just outside of Barcelona. You can then build a holiday into it as well for the less foodie in your party and still make it a "joint" birthday something?

Alternatively, save some cash and you can do a weeks worth of Michelin starred dining in London using online deals for the same total cost as a night at the Fat Duck.

mrsseed · 24/05/2012 10:23

waterside inn is gorgeous, definately recommend. But I also want to 'do' the fat duck-wouldnt mind heston either

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