Can anyone please help me choose a really great restaurant?

[TheHouseofMirth]

DH is 40 next year and I'd like to take him to a really amazing restaurant. Am planning ahead so I can save up for it and also I'm guessing I'll need to book quite a way in advance.

We're in London but I don't mind travelling a bit. DH likes quite classic food so I was wondering about Le Gavroche or The Waterside Inn in Bray. The other thing is that DH is quite shy and has a horror of "poncey places" (his words) so it also needs to be somewhere where he'll feel comfortable.

Get the train up to Liverpool and go here highest restaurant in england

I have been twice, both for special occasions - pricey but gorgeous!

OXO tower is pretty good

I took my DH to La Gavroche for his 30th birthday. We went for lunch and had the £48/head menu. It was AMAZING. My DH loved it, well, we both did really. It is really classic french food and the service is as good as the food. It is very 'traditional' but doesn't feel poncey at all as the waiting staff are all so nice. Michel Roux Jr was in the restaurant on the day we were there and came and said hello to a few tables, including ours. After telling him that we were celebrating my DH's 30th, he sent a complimentary piece of chocolate tart to our table. That, along with the little amuse bouches, coffee, wine and petit fours (plus of course the 3 proper courses) meant that we rolled out very, very happy 3 hours later.

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oh yes tethersend, getting taken up the Oxo Tower is always good

Just been reading Ackroyd's Clerkenwell and will never view St Johns in quite the same way -someone dies on the latrine in the location ...

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Raymond Blanc's restaurant Le Manoir is lovely - it's near to Oxford.

Not poncey at all, very relaxed and welcoming and the food is amazing.

Does he like meat? If so go to St Johns. Not poncy at all. Sells squirrel livers on toast. God I want to go.

On a first date, too.

I prefer St John Bread and Wine to St John. Cheaper, same food quality, smaller portions so you can scoff more. Quite casual though.

If he likes dead cow, perhaps Maze Grill (Gordon Ramsay steakhouse).

Le Gavroche I think asks that 'gentlemen wear a jacket'.

Marcus Wareing @ The Berkeley is the top restaurant in London ATM.

I didn't rate The Waterside inn at all.

Try going to www.toptable.co.uk

They do good offers, like bogof, and it's all done when you book, so very subtle. I took my husband to Tamarai for the chefs taster menu, 9 courses, usually £52 per head, but I got it half price. Plus, if you review the resteraunt after, you get points to save up for a free meal!

My sisters a chef and takes me all over when various friends are working in different places. Love La Gavroche, and also Oxo. Didn't like The Berkeley at all, but I do hate Marcus Wareing soooo much.

Would say that Le Manoir is a good destination place, but you'd obviously have to pay for a room on top of the meal.

BTW, hey, THOM!

for the price of dinner, bed and breakfast, at Le Manoir (£460 and up for the room, at least £250 for the dinner), you could have a weekend away.

Le Gavroche is too poncey - it will make your DH very uncomfortable.

Chez Bruce in Wandsworth is great - and not that expensive; food is fabulous and the staff are very welcoming too.

I wondered about Chez Bruce & we're in Wimbledon so not too far.

The reason I thought of Le Gavroche is that DH is a huge Masterchef fan and I think would love to eat at Michel Roux Jr's restaurant. I know he'd be less impressed by The Fat Duck as he would prefer to eat "real" food (though I would love it).

A weekend away is not really feasible as neither of us would want to leave the DSs. Also a bit unnecessary when we are a cab's ride away from some of the best restaurants in the country.

MrsY I had no idea your sister's a chef. How fab!

my friend has just had his 50th at gordon ramsays Boxwood. he said it was brilliant without being too poncey. The wine was on the expensive side but the food worked out a t about £75 a head which i thought wasnt too bad.

Of course the way things are going, there's no guarantee that Gordon Ramsay's restaurants will still be in business by DH's birthday!

true if he isnt then no one else will be

I think his group has been having particular financial problems though.

probably the ready made mash potato incident that was in the press

i think he will close a few and concentrate on the real money spinners. I love his cooking recipes so i would still like to go for my next big birthday.

TheHouseofMirth - if you're in Wimbledon, how come you haven't been to any of our meet ups?!

I'm in Merton Park.

I'm assuming that you've been to The Lighthouse, on the Ridgeway? It's very good and very interesting/unusual. Otherwise, I'm always shocked by how few decent restaurants we have round here, considering the type of people who live in Wimbledon, espescially the village.

There's always the Cannizaro - although I haven't been there to eat for a very long time - if you're also looking for something more local.

But definitely, definitely recommend Chez Bruce if you've not been there before.

Chez Bruce is brilliant, and not at all poncey, v relaxed. And 15 mins in a cab from SW19.

BIWI, was Cannizaro good when you went? I read some bad reviews recently, shame as was quite interested in going.

Chez Bruce has to be a given, food is great and it is brilliant for lunch too!

Have been to Maze (GR) which was a completely different experience indeed, the food was incredible and the atmosphere very relaxed and chilled out. We were given a tour of the kitchen too, which was great.