The Fat DuckUnforgettableExpectations are of course high and very occasionally there was a risk that the concept of a dish overwhelms the pleasure of eating it, but overall it manages to surprise and delight in equal measure. The 'kid in a sweetshop' theme is very apt.12/06/2013 00:00:00WowWow, super, fantastic, unforgettable, mind altering. The food and staff were, simply perfect. We cannot enthuse enough - jaw dropping.11/06/2013 00:00:00Sensational!Once in your life you have to do it! Words cannot describe the experience.08/06/2013 00:00:00The Fat DuckTruly an awesome experience. We really loved the food and sampling all of the different dishes. It was a unique experience and was very cleverly done. The matching tasting wine menu was also fantastic and we highly recommend. Our only criticism is the actual look of the restaurant. It looks like a Michelin star restaurant! Not what we expected! We expected the restaurant to look more exciting like the food! But it was very plain. We epected the decor to show Hestons imagination or at least display artwork showing his fabulous creations. However overall the experience was brilliant and the service fantastic! Highly recommend!!07/06/2013 00:00:00The helpfulness and enthusiasmThe helpfulness and enthusiasm of the staf and the spectacular food made this a clebration meal to remember.07/06/2013 00:00:00Lovely but long eveningA fantastic experience with some very special food, some of which is not for everyone. The only downside in our evening was that although we expected a long evening, we had been seated an hour before the first course was served.
As the evening wore on we had to speak to the staff to speed things along (which to their credit they certainly did). We finished after 4hrs 15mins.05/06/2013 00:00:00MagicThe best experience with food I have ever had.
Hard to describe the whole experience.
You just have to go and do it yourself.
Food was out of this world and the theme did make you feel like a kid again.
Matched wines were perfect.04/06/2013 00:00:00Birthday celebrationsWe celebrated my husband andy my birthday. Great fun and a fantastic experience, something everyone should try. Glad we did lunch as it gave us the evening to walk the food off!31/05/2013 00:00:00Everything we hoped for! (and more)Having seen the TV shows and read many articles about the experience at The Fat Duck I approached the day with some concern that maybe it would not reach expectations. How wrong I was and how right they all were.
From the moment you walk in you are looked after superbly. The entire customer service team are very well drilled, extremely courteous, helpful and quite adept at anticipating your requirements.
The food was excellent - well prepared and presented - and the only topic for discussion was which dish was the favourite. The macerated strawberries won the day.
Definitely for special occasions or when you are seeking to impress but, for most, an experience you have only once in your life.29/05/2013 00:00:00Unforgettable !The ambiance is a mix of authenticity & lux, the service is perfect and the dinner is not a meal but an experience for all senses. Fabulous.28/05/2013 00:00:00An Amazing taste experienceYour taste buds will explode with delight with every mouthful of truly amazing gastromic brilliance!! This wasn't a meal, it was a dining experience that we will never forget! Attentive waiters who were all experts in their own fields. We spent over 4 hours being treated to new tastes, exciting aromas and theatrical demonstrations! It really was worth the extravagant cost! A lot of time and effort has gone into the precise combinations of flavours and attention to detail to make each dish taste like the name suggests.28/05/2013 00:00:00AmazingThis was one the most AMAZING lunches, I've ever had. I really loved the nitro-poached aperitifs.28/05/2013 00:00:00Lunch for 10 at the Fat DuckHaving enjoyed the experience with their neighbor (Waterside Inn) and having heard of the theatrical nature of Hester Blumenthal's Bray restaurant. Getting reservations was a huge effort!
14 courses for lunch - my favorite being the Red Cabbage Gazpacho with Pommery Grain Mustard Ice Cream and the Foie Gras - all presented with panache and spread over 3 hours and 45 minutes meant that the eventual bill of GBP195 per person ultimately seemed fairly reasonable! (perhaps viewing it through a few bottles of wine alleviated the pain to the wallet?)
The service was impeccable - I was tickled to discover that all their staff have reflexology 3 times a week to offset the long hours spent standing and serving.28/05/2013 00:00:00fantastic evening outfantastic experience with great service, the anticipation of what was going to happen next was brilliant25/05/2013 00:00:00MOST INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE EVER!!!My wife & I celebrated our 1st Wedding Anniversary at The Fat Duck and I can honestly say it was the most incredible food experience ever.
Favourites were Snail Porridge, Roast Fois Gras, Mock Turtle Soup, Hot & Iced Tea, Macerated Strawberries and The BFG!! I recommend everyone should experience The Fat Duck once in their life.
The staff were so polite, friendly and most of all accommodating as my wife is 4 months pregnant they were able to adapt the menu so each course was suitable for her to eat so she never missed out on a course or the experience (apart from Whiskey Bottles which I had).
I am in genuine awe of both the creativity and imagination.25/05/2013 00:00:00Unforgettable experienceWe went to the Fat Duck for my Dad's birthday as a very special surprise and we had the most fantastic time. The staff were all wonderful, witty and professional. The service was impeccable and the food was presented with theatre.
Formy sins i am quite particular and critical about food but The Fat Duck is faultless. Incredibly clever, innovative, genius. On the whole I'm not into the celeb chef hype but Heston is a one off......go to The Fat Duck once if you can! It's expensive but it is magical.24/05/2013 00:00:00Fantastic fat duck!This is theatre pure and simple
The service is second to none
The food is beautifully prepared, served, explained and well you just have to go to find out. I don't want to spoil your visit by explaining too much.
It would spoil your visit
We had a wonderful time at the Fat Duck
Go and have fun23/05/2013 00:00:00Absolutely SuperbAn absolutely wonderful experience. Yes it's expensive but this isn't an ordinary meal. The food was sensational and the service superb. There are also wonderful surprises throughout the meal and we were thoroughly looked after for the 4 hours plus we were there. One for the bucket list!22/05/2013 00:00:00kid in a sweet shopMyself and my wife had the most magical evening at the fat duck , the food was outstanding with friendly staff who made you feel comfortable , would definitely go again , thankyou for a memorable night17/05/2013 00:00:00Simply Amazing.I can honestly say that I have never been so excited about visiting a restaurant before. My anticipation was matched by the atmosphere, service, and the journey of the tasting menu.
From the moment you arrive, you are swept up into the world of Heston. Each course brings a surprise and amazes.
While it was dfficult to get a reservation, I can only recommend you perservere. It took me 2 months to get a reservation, then 2 months until our booking. This probably added to the levels of anticipation.
I would definitely recommend this restaurant and experience.16/05/2013 00:00:00What a Birthday treat!My husband and I were joined by two friends who have a hotel in SW France. Foodies all, we opted for the wine tasting to accompany the meal and what an excellent choice this turned out to be.
Simply superb, intelligent service and just enough information about the phenomenal food and wine to help us appreciate the subtler flavours without intruding on our experience.
We came with very high expectations which were exceeded on every level. Stand out dishes were the beetroot and horseradish amuse bouche, and the sublime 'sound of the sea' which really is enhanced by the headphones and the much vaunted BFG. The next night we watched the 'Masterchef' programme and marvelled at the preparation and care needed to produce such masterpieces.16/05/2013 00:00:00MrsFrom going into the restaurant i felt relaxed and made special never forget this wonderful meal15/05/2013 00:00:00Different Dining ExperienceIf you want to enjoy an entirely different experience I can thoroughly recommend the tasting menu at this restaurant. Great care and thought has been given to each course, the ingredients used were top quality, the variety extensive and presentation outstanding. The service was exceptional and the waiting staff were very knowledgeable about each dish. Naturally it is not cheap but you are made to feel very special and get what you pay for.15/05/2013 00:00:00a must-have-in-lifetime experiencedespite so hard to book and bit off site location, the Fat Duck is definitely a very exiting restaurant to go. word: Nostalgia.15/05/2013 00:00:00Extraordinary experienceThe tasting menu is really a special moment. It is very expensive and therefore suited for special occasions. It is also quite long - 3.5 hours. The whole experience is fun and creative, suprising and yummy, but generally outstanding.
Definitely worth paying a visit.14/05/2013 00:00:00Been fat ducked...Top money but was worth every penny,,travelled up from North Devon for wife`s` 40th and would drive up tomorrow if could get another table,,Just an amazing day at and amazing food,,Heston also signed a birthday card which was in the sweet bag at the end,nice touch.14/05/2013 00:00:00Leg's Birthday treatWell! I've been fortunate enough to get two bookings here within twelve months, Perhaps I should let someone else have a turn? Not a chance, it's far too good. I really enjoyed it the first time and having watched the episode of Masterchef the professionals featuring the fat duck, I was able to appreciate the experience more the second time. We were amazed at the Eggs in Verjus. How do they do it? All through the dining experience we were trying to rate our favourite course so far... But it's just impossible since each course has a spectacular element to it. We saved the sweet shop bag for the journey home...yum yum. The staff are amazing, when you look up, there are so many of them, but they remain inconspicuous!
We'll be back!11/05/2013 00:00:00A Theatre of Sensory DelightsThis was an unforgettable dining experience. From the moment we arrived until the moment we stepped into the taxi we were so well looked after by all the staff and made to feel very special. The entire evening was a theatre of sensory delights - visual, aural, smell and, of course, taste. We were treated to some 16 different courses in total over a period of 4 hours - each one enthusiastically introduced and intricately described by the front of house team. Each course was simply sublime and there are not enough characters available to be able to give them the recognition they deserve. The attention to detail was immaculate - not just with the presentation of each course but way also the front of house team attended to your needs.10/05/2013 00:00:00Amazing experienceThe Fat Duck was an amazing experience which I recommend to anyone for a special occasion. Lovely atmosphere and waiting staff to make it a day I will never forget.09/05/2013 00:00:00Brilliant ExperienceA truly unique experience in both food cooking, presentation and service.08/05/2013 00:00:00What an experience!This is more than a meal, it's a whole experience. We had a wonderful afternoon with amazing tastes. Not cheap but Wow!!04/05/2013 00:00:00Once a life time experienceBeen to other 3 michelin star restaurants but Fat Duck is different, it's a dinning experience. We went on Sat. lunch time,had the tasting menu £195 (the only menu available ) and it last for 4 hours. It's well worth the hassle of 2 months advance booking. Try to book earlier sitting as the restaurant get busy, the food service will slow down slightly. Do try to watch the video they email you. By the way, water is free and drinks are very reasonable. Will I return soon, not until they changed the menu but will recommend to try at least once in your life time!04/05/2013 00:00:00A great experience with wonderfulA great experience with wonderful food and service.03/05/2013 00:00:00the wow factorThe difference between this and every other Michelin starred restaurant is simple ... The wow factor. Every dish is an experience and nothing is what it seems ... Continues to be the best03/05/2013 00:00:00An experience of a lifetimeThe food was sublime, the staff and service were impeccable and the show is what you hope you will get and it did not disappoint. If you are ever in Bray do not miss the chance to go to the Fat Duck. The effort to book it (that's the tricky bit as the website fails as soon as it's 10am) and the hefty bill is worth it and you will see why it holds 3 Michelin stars and still sits in the top 50 in the world.03/05/2013 00:00:00Stunning food - attentive staff!!After many many attempts of trying to book a table we finally managed to book a 1.30pm sitting for 2 on 3/5/13, from the very start of our visit the service was unfaultable from being met at the door to saying goodbye at the end of our 3 hour meal!!
The food was out of this world- everything we expected and more!! every course was carefully explained, presented to us at exactly the same time and finished plates promptly removed from the table, drinks refilled after a few sips and napkins promptly folded if you left the table!!
We really really could not fault The Fat Duck and would love to return again one day! Well done Heston and ALL your staff!03/05/2013 00:00:00Delicious and Designed MealI went with friends to celebrate a special occasion and there is no doubt that the Fat Duck creates a special occasion. Although you can find many of the dishes described online, they really need to be experienced to be understood. And it *is* an experience, the two 'main' dishes (Sound of the Sea, Mad Hatter's Tea Party) are as much about theatre as they are about food.
But I suspect that the key to the Fat Duck's continued success is that these dishes would be spectacularly good even without the theatre, it's just that the theatrical aspect takes them to some whole other level. If you compare it to a fancy dinner out and a show in Central London then it's probably not bad value, but I must note it's eye wateringly pricey nonetheless.02/05/2013 00:00:00The Food AlchemyFrom the begenning untill the end Heston 's food is an amazing explosion of flavours and an hyper multisensorial exeperience that i will remember all my life.
Nobody is gone so far like he did and still does.
His endless passion for the culture of food will always inspire many generation...
Many thanks to Heston and to all his amazing and professional team of the fat duck for the unforgettable day i had.01/05/2013 00:00:00AN EVENING OF NEW EXPERIENCESWe had lunch at this 3 star Michelin restaurant. We spent four wonderful hours experiencing and enjoying those legendary meals such as The Sounds of the Sea and Snail Porridge. Everything lived up to and exceeded expectations. Very, very expensive and a little out of our league but will be remembered and shared with others for a very long time to come. Brought my special bag of sweets home with me and still have that pleasure to come.01/05/2013 00:00:0040th at The Fat DuckWhat an amazing experience, great service and a birthday card signed by Heston!27/04/2013 00:00:00What a nightAmazing experience, not one to do twice, but most definitely worth the saving up for! Food was fantastic and the combination of service, presentation and taste sensations made it an evening not easily forgotten. We went (4 people) for a double birthday celebration and everything was better than our VERY high expectations! Would highly recommend the wine pairings as they were a perfect complement to the dishes; if you're going to spend as much as this, go all the way, you'll only ever need / want to do it once.27/04/2013 00:00:00a once in a lifetime experienceLike nothing else. Taster menu with accompanying wines. Expensive but unique. Fantastic knowledgable staff who were all quietly passionate about the food and drink. It was truly out of this world. Go there and enjoy it!26/04/2013 00:00:00Two fat MallardsWe had been thinking and dreaming of a visit here for about 10 years. Savings made and off we went. It was worth everything we paid and more. The front of house staff all made us feel very welcome. The sommelier led us through the wine choices and then the food...it is difficult to use the word exceptional when it is used so freely nowadays. But it was truly eye opening.26/04/2013 00:00:00The most amazing experienceThe most amazing experience ever! 14 courses of gorgeousness food with appropriate wine to compliment the food!25/04/2013 00:00:00Great experienceHeston Blumenthal uses amazing sciencific technics produces truly surprising and delicious results. The experience starts and finishes with an emailed visual presentation.
An evening at the Fat Duck is an amazing experience, the food is fantastic and is served in novel and interesting ways which genuinely enhance the whole sensory experience.
The service is absolutely impeccable and the staff manage to combine this with a sense of humour. The staff at the restaurant are very knowledgeable.
Every little detail including the type of cutlery , plates etc have been carefully selected to enhance the experience.
If you love food this should definitely be near the top of your list of 'one hundred things to do before you die'.25/04/2013 00:00:00Lived up to the hypeAmazing food
So relaxed yet fantastic service. The wife is pregnant but they changed he menu without any problems - and to dishes as magical and exciting as the 'normal' menu. Matching wines were fanastic. A special occasion for us but really glad we saved up for it. A fantastic day.24/04/2013 00:00:00Amazing experienceWhat Heston's team does with food is simply a magical, sensory experience. A league of its own. Service is outstanding: funny, knowledgable, attentive. A must for foodies.20/04/2013 00:00:00The best restaurant ever!My husband and I managed to score a booking here on our honeymoon! Magnificent food! Very out there and all delicious. Service was faultless. It is in the middle of nowhere but the trip to the restaurant was fun. Loved every bit and would definitely come back20/04/2013 00:00:00Unbeatable experienceI'd say simply superb that that would do the food and service an injustice - it is seen and tasted to be believed20/04/2013 00:00:00Through various televisionThrough various television programmes etc I thought that I would know what to expect at The Fat Duck - but I was very wrong! The whole experience - from the wonderful and attentive waiting staff through to the visual and taste experience of the food - is quite outstanding. Surprise after surprise, treat after treat. I dine out quite a bit but this was something in an entirely different world. It's not cheap of course, but I will definitely return again sometime to experience all that delight once again.17/04/2013 00:00:00