The Waterside Inn

Jonesy ( 30s, Male, London )

I've dined here twice, once for dinner and once for lunch. As you would expect from one of the UK's few 3-star Michelin restaurants, the food is excellent, service is flawless, and the whole experience is very memorable.

On both occasions, Head Chef Alain Roux did the rounds in the dining room, and stopped to have a quick chat with us, which I think is a nice touch. With so many star chefs hiding behind the pass, or indeed nowhere to be seen on the premises, it's nice that the Rouxs still value the customer experience as much as the food they serve. The legendary Michel Roux was also pottering around.

One thing I would mention is the price. There are some really excellent chefs cooking in the UK today, producing some groundbreaking food and charging a lot less than they do here, for what are generally fairly standard, classic haute cuisine dishes. This is not necessarily a criticism, as The Waterside Inn is known as a rather elite establishment, but if you are concerned about prices then this is probably not the place for you. One needs to throw caution to the wind here, have a good time, indulge yourself, and you will come away thoroughly satisfied.