My girlfriend and I stayed over for Valentines weekend. The Manor House has an absolutely beautiful setting with the local village, Castle Coombe, regularly featuring as the prettiest in England. Can highly recomment staying and lovely walks in the surrounds. Anyhow, we dined at the restaurant last Sunday and enjoyed the Menu Gourmand, a five course feast, lasting a couple of hours. We both simply could not fault the food. The highlights being the game terrine (course 2) and the smoked salmon (course 3) which would cause me to return just to heat them both again. I have never been a huge fan of big multi-course meals but they at least allow the chef to demonstrate what he can do and boy did he do it. Certainly one meal I will recall for some time to come and rates up there with offerings enjoyed at Chez Bruce and The Berkeley over the past few months. Like the previous reviewer in hindsight I would have sent the pianist a drink and asked him to go and enjoy it in the bar whilst we ate. Service was OK but fell well short of what I would expect from a Michelin establishment – the staff seemed terrified and smile would have been pleasant. The dining room is big and lacks atmosphere but given this was Valentines maybe everybody was just focussing on whispering sweet nothings to their better halves. The bill nearly cused a heart attack and given that we did not really go nuts on the wine front left a bitter taste in the mouth. However in summary I would go back but only after bonus time!
Link to this reviewFebruary 2010 | 
Colin M.30s, Male, United Kingdom