The White Oak

Gastropub·
££££
·
Bronze Award
·

SquareMeal Review of The White Oak

Bronze Award

Long-established as a local gastropub favourite, The White Oak is increasingly becoming a destination for a wider audience. Drinkers can still pop into the bar for a pint or two, but most of the action takes place in the good-looking dining room with its taupe shades, thick pine beams, cream chandeliers and widely spaced, bare tables. The food is equally smart and unfussy, mixing ingredients and flavours from far and wide in a succession of well-considered dishes. Starters of confit duck croquettes or sea trout tartare with apple, avocado, pickled radish and sourdough could give way to Cornish skate with saffron and chorizo risotto, hefty steaks with triple-cooked chips or slow-cooked beef fillet with pickled celeriac and savoy cabbage. To finish, try coconut and lavender pannacotta. Warm, engaging staff, a hidden garden out back and a compact, broadly priced wine list complete the package. Related to The Three Oaks in Gerrards Cross.

Good to know

Average Price
££££ - £30 - £49
Cuisines
Gastropub

Location

The Pound, Cookham, Berkshire, SL6 9QE

01628 523043 01628 523043

Website

Opening Times

Mon-Sat 12N-2.30pm 6.30-9.30pm Sun 12N-3.30pm

Reviews

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2 Reviews 
Food/Drink
Service
Atmosphere
Value

Wendy M

13 July 2013  
Food & Drink 3.5
Service 3.5
Atmosphere 3
Value 3
Top of the Pops for some
A make-over for another pub and the surroundings are rather pleasant. It was susrprisingly quite busy for mid week. When I saw Jamon bellota (Pata Negra) on the menu, hopes were high and I was looking forward to soft ham with melting fat. Unfortunately it was tough and cut too thick, so very disappointing. Bread had good flavour and not freshly baked which showed. Mains were tasty but some ingredients were not cooked as well as they could have been. My partner was happier than I, so maybe I was a bit unlucky. I wouldn't rush back, and I certainly cannot dismiss on one meal. Prices are probably mid range. Our wine was pleasant, nothing more. It seems they are pleasing a lot of people and doing quite well.

David H

26 February 2013  
Food & Drink 3
Service 4
Atmosphere 4
Value 3
Curate's egg- good in parts
We've eaten here quite a few times, and at its sister-restaurants too, so we know that its never going to be poor; that sometimes it will be very good indeed and will turn out dishes that more highly rated restaurants locally will struggle to match- and sometimes , like this time, it will be right in the middle. We liked our table in a quiet alcove where we could talk with our friends without a din, even on a Saturday night. The service was unfailingly pleasant and obliging, I did feel differently about each of my three courses though. The fish soup had a strange flavour and I couldn't taste fish. Personally I won't try this again and I'm not at all sure the dish is good enough for the standard they set. By contrast, my cannon of lamb was quite delicious and perfectly cooked. I had a single cheese – a piece of Vacherin- and it was delicious- but I'm not certain that I could have served quite such a small amount of cheese to a customer- literally served on a teaspoon. I know it was only a fiver, and I know how much Vacherin is, for we buy it at home- it just looked and felt a bit wrong. My wife gave her savoury tart starter and pasta with duck ragu about 7 out of 10. Our Puglian red was decent. Our half of the bill came to £82 which seems about right for what we had. There was a long gap before our coffee, but we were chatting and it didn't bother us much. All told a good evening , and we'll certainly be back, but you know the Bel and Dragon at the other end of Cookham High Street is pretty good too. I eat at the Green Oak at Windsor more often perhaps, and I'm beginning to think I prefer it.
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