Heston & The Fat Duck

[PK99]

The Fat Duck gets very bad reviews from real people, the staff being arrogant and superior, and the food unsatisfying. The consensus seems to be to try his pub next door, real food cooked very well.

With all due respect that is nonsense - check out the review sites, the bulk of reviews are very positive.

the Hind's Head does indeed serve top notch Gastro Pub food - the best Lancashire hot pot i've ever tasted, complete with prime lamb and oysters under the potato crust, also the Oxtail and kidney pudding with triple cooked chips was divine - but as you can see from just the two dishes i mention, this is not real/ordinary food by normal definitions. the Hind's Head benefits from much of the development work in fat duck development kitchens and while prices are far lower than the Duck, £40 plus drinks for 3 courses is not cheap for a Country Pub.

 

[EltonFrog]

With all due respect that is nonsense - check out the review sites, the bulk of reviews are very positive.

Well it's not quite nonsense, I gave it two very bad reviews, plus one on CC so that's three.

 

[PK99]

Well it's not quite nonsense, I gave it two very bad reviews, plus one on CC so that's three.

93% on trip advisor give 4 or 5 stars - there will always be some for whom the concept does not work or for whom something was wrong on the day.

I see you have not actually eaten there? How can you review something you have not tried? all you experienced was the booking system

 

[User482]

The Fat Duck gets very bad reviews from real people, the staff being arrogant and superior, and the food unsatisfying. The consensus seems to be to try his pub next door, real food cooked very well.

My friends went there and thought it was outstanding. There was quite an amusing story - Heston came round to meet the diners, and after he left my friends' table, they thought they should get a photo with him. So they went over to Heston, who was by now at the next table...talking to Jude Law. Jude started to get a pen out his pocket for an autograph, just as my friend handed him her camera to take a photo of her and Heston.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

I like Heston, the couple of shows of his I have seen where he's creating perfect recipes are quite good telly, amazing attention to detail.

 

[PK99]

My friends went there and thought it was outstanding. There was quite an amusing story - Heston came round to meet the diners, and after he left my friends' table, they thought they should get a photo with him. So they went over to Heston, who was by now at the next table...talking to Jude Law. Jude started to get a pen out his pocket for an autograph, just as my friend handed him her camera to take a photo of her and Heston.

Heard an allegedly true story from a friend: having a fag outside Gordon's Hospital road a few years back. Cab pulls up, Gordon gets out, pulling on his Chef's whites. Friend re enters restaurant and there is Gordon glad-handing around the restaurant giving the impression he has been in the kitchen

 

[srw]

£40 plus drinks for 3 courses is not cheap for a Country Pub.

It's not expensive in South Buckinghamshire...

 

[ASC1951]

It would be hard, I suggest, to find a better definition of mind-bogglingly pointless fripperies, designed for the mind-bogglingly rich and foolish.

I'm afraid that's my view. But I don't begrudge people doing it, because it gives them a lot of harmless pleasure - it's not like tooling round in an [insert Bloatmobile of choice], which is antisocial and dangerous.

 

[EltonFrog]

93% on trip advisor give 4 or 5 stars - there will always be some for whom the concept does not work or for whom something was wrong on the day.

I see you have not actually eaten there? How can you review something you have not tried? all you experienced was the booking system

Exactly, all part of the experience, it does not matter what the food is like, if the attitude is wrong, or the behaviour of staff is inappropriate then they don't get a chance. One can have the best food in the world, but if you give a customer terrible service on the phone then you ain't getting my money.

Just to be clear, this was a serious attitude problem in my case, enough for me to write about it and complain. I've had better service in a Toby carvery, but if I got the same sort of attitude there I probably would not write about it, I just wouldn't go there again.

 

[Cyclist33]

It was from his book Heston Blumenthal at home - not very technical or complex, but you will need a silicone mould to get a professional looking end product - about £3 from lakeland.

The Jelly sweet has all the flavour of the whiskey but the cooking process has driven off the alcohol

That principle in itself is nothing revolutionary. Mulled wine for instance.

 

[PK99]

That principle in itself is nothing revolutionary. Mulled wine for instance.

eh? Mulled wine is alcoholic, gentle warming does not drive off the alcohol

 

[Cyclist33]

Really? (hic) - there goes my 24 hr Le mans Christmas present!

 

[Archie_tect]

It's not expensive in South Buckinghamshire...

Is that for 2, or 3, people including drinks?

 

[srw]

Is that for 2, or 3, people including drinks?

I've just checked our local chain pub (it's Chef & Brewer and one of only two pubs within a flat easy walking distance). I'd budget about £25 - £30 a head for three courses without drinks. Fancier pubs are available in the vicinity and are considerably more expensive - £40 in Bray doesn't sound out-of-line with what I'd expect.

 

[Archie_tect]

Wow, perhaps it's time I went out for a meal in the real world!