to ask what your best dining experience was? (UK)

[polkadotty2]

We have a milestone anniversary coming up and I would like ideas for something a bit more special than "lunch/dinner at a nice restaurant" but I'm not even sure what.. hit me up with your ideas/experinces!

We did Teppanyaki years ago which was interesting but looking for something different this time.

If you can't justify spending £350 then a lot of the above mentioned will be out of your budget I think, unless the lunch options suit?

Not The Fat Duck. Dinner was ok.

Loved Le Manoir & Waterside Inn.

Agree about the dining room at Le Gavroche but food is fab.

If you want a different experience L’Ortolan (?) in Reading do a cookery course followed by lunch.

Lympstone Manor was amazing.

Salt in Stratford upon Avon was lovely but not been since the prices went up (they got a star!)

There's a few nice places in Bath, various price points. Nice city for overnight too.

Had a really nice afternoon tea in Cardiff recently, in a little covered arcade but not sure of the name as dd took us (rubbish memory here).

For a bit different book the swim and brunch package at the Bristol lido

@FangsForTheMemory

Le Gavroche, In a class of its own.

Agree with this. Michel Roux came to our table for a chat, which made my night.

Probably not the right area for you but my best dining experience was at the Andrew Fairlie Restaurant at Gleneagles

The Fat Duck by far -it was so good it reduced me to tears. But bloody hell it was expensive!

Set lunch at Le Gavroche is our regular birthday treat to each other - special but not too pricey (unlike a la carte!)

Hind’s Head in Bray (clearly the epicentre of good food ) - I'd describe it as Heston lite. Excellent meal and probably closer to £250 than £350.

Marcus in London. Fabulous.

Failing that I can recommend our local Italian, it's not far from you based on your description I suspect (I can see Newport from outside), it's not as fancy as these but it's delicious and you'll get change from £100, well probably - unless you drink champagne.

Le Manoir is awesome
Claude Bosi at Bibendum

I didn’t care for Heston at Dinner and could take or leave the fat duck

@polkadotty2

Thanks for all the suggestions! A rough idea of prices would also be helpful!

Anywhere from South Wales / Bristol / Reading :)
We have an unusual living set up at the moment (renting in London having not long bought near the Wales/England border )

www.thegardenofeaston.co.uk/

This place is very cute, different and has lovely food. It may be a bit too casual for what you are after though!

Hand and Flowers is really lovely. V attentive service and top quality menu.

St John in London. Quality Chop is simpler and cheaper but also a great menu. Quo Vadis and Noble Rot in a similar vein. Bob Bob Ricard for outrageous silliness.

The Beach House on Gower. Such a beautiful setting, relaxed atmosphere, wonderful food.

Angels in Uddingston....outside Glasgow

Very surprisingly the website doesn't have many photos...
so here is a review...

www.bristol247.com/food-and-drink/restaurants/1the-garden-of-easton-come-for-the-style-stay-for-the-sensational-food-restaurant-review/

Paul Kitching's 21212 in Edinburgh. Incredible food and our sommelier was amazing. One of the best meals ever, such an experience.

@margotsdevil

Hind’s Head in Bray (clearly the epicentre of good food ) - I'd describe it as Heston lite. Excellent meal and probably closer to £250 than £350.

We love the Hind’s Head. Not done the Fat Duck, doesn’t really appeal despite my love for a good tasting menu.

If you like Indian, the tasting menu at Sindhu in Marlow is fabulous.

L’Ortolan seems a bit Marmite, but I’ve always loved it.

A lot of these restaurants are very expensive, even for lunch, but there are plenty that you’ll get a lovely tasting menu for a reasonable price, particularly if you’re happy to go for lunch.

L’Enclume is desperately on my list, this thread isn’t helping - really must get it booked.

Really disappointed with L'Enclume - massively expensive, ok food, some poor service / organisation (we sat for 30 minutes with only a glass of water)

Fat Duck was amazing. We didn't drink much because we wanted to enjoy the food.

Disappointed with Marcus Warwing at the Berkely - food was delicious but some of the surrounding service was atrocious.

Loved the Waterside, and Le Manoir

But are you looking for the food or an experience? Places with a chef's table - 12121 in Edinburgh for example - where you are sitting by the kitchen watching waht goes on and interacting with the chefs?

Talland Bay Hotel, near Looe in Cornwall. An amazing hotel, but we had the taster menu one night - it was as you’d expect from Masterchef! I can’t for the life of me remember what we ate, but each course was heaven!

Raymond blanc also has a pub/bistro in Thame Oxfordshire, the black horse. That’s nice £20 for a main

DH and I had fancy dinner in The Criterion in London and it was stunning. Such good service, food was amazing, great wine list.

And if you're a Downton Abbey fan, it's in the 4th series, Edith meets Michael Gregson there for dinner.

The one I want to go to is The Sir Charles Napier in Chinnor. A bit lower-tier, low key, cheaper! I've heard great things though.

@dollymuchymuchness same! I nearly swooned.

How about Bath? Went for a birthday weekend a few years ago and had a long lunch at Menu Gordon Jones - not Michelin starred, but great food. There is no a la carte menu, just the chef's tasting menu which changes each day.

@polkadotty2 Le Gavroche was about £250 for two. We had three courses and a bottle of wine. Some of the dishes eg lobster and turbot were very expensive, about £100 each I think so it does depend what you order.