Found in Henley, this cosy restaurant is the first retail outfit for wine merchants HOF’s, who have been supplying restaurants in the area for more than a decade. Opened in 2019 (found on the former site of Station House pub) HOF’s Bar & Dining is a relaxed and casual site which offers a rather unique menu - alongside the obligatory list of quality wines from around the world, you will find a selection of dishes inspired by South Africa, Germany and Switzerland.
Split between a pub and dining room, HOF’s is a rustic-chic space featuring distressed wooden flooring and sanded down tables, while natural light pours in through large sloping windows running along the ceiling. The bar area meanwhile sees shelves lined with wine bottles and upstanding beer barrels double up as tables flanked by high stools.
HOF’S opens during the latter half of the week, serving lunch and dinner. On your visit, you can begin your meal with starters such as panko chicken wings served with sweet chilli dipping sauce or German pork sausages (your choice of Bratwurst or Bockwurst) accompanied by potato salad and dijon mustard. For your mains, choose between the likes of a South African lamb stew with saffron rice or the catch of the day baked in Cafe de Paris butter and served atop seasonal vegetables.
You can pad out your meal with side orders of skinny fries or tenderstem broccoli tossed in chilli and garlic, while sweet treats to round things off include chocolate mousse, warm apple crumble with vanilla ice cream and a selection of flavoured sorbets - think mango, passionfruit or Prosecco.
Those in the mood for some actual fizz can explore HOF’s impressive global list of wines and sparklings, while we would also recommend popping down on a Sunday to try the much-loved roast.