Castle Bow Restaurant in Taunton Deane

We didn’t stay at the hotel but had Afternoon Tea there which this review is about! Poor service as waiters seem to have no idea how to serve. We were rushed to pay as they were finishing for the day. We were not offered what type of tea to have. One of us asked for topping up the water glass while the other two got ignored! They had no knowledge of the place either given it’s a building with some history! A refreshing conversation was with the gardener who has good knowledge of the place, but unfortunately it was too late.

I received a Black Friday voucher for an afternoon tea for my birthday and have just tried to book to use it by 29 th March to be told they are fully booked and can’t fit me in as everyone has wanted to use their voucher this month ! So therefore I have to miss out along with lots of other people who chose to wait till March , I asked to pay the difference to use it at the weekend or extend the date but was told no it’s not our fault , terrible customer service , I hope too many other people haven’t lost out , this is great way for the castle to get money for nothing. Very disappointed.

I could be wrong but I was under the impression that The Castle Bow Restaurant was no longer operating as a full evening restaurant and now just did afternoon teas. The hotel has a room called The Drawing Room for drinks and snacks, or people can visit the adjoining Brazz restaurant for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner or drinks, although Brazz has a separate listing on TripAdvisor to this one. I went to the Castle Bow restaurant for the afternoon tea after buying a Black Friday voucher which meant it was half price. It was ok but wouldn't have been worth it at full price.

Popped into the restaurant for a drink and light lunch. First visit here. Chose food off the brunch/ sandwich menu. Fish finger sandwich good, however the beetroot hummus open sandwich not as described as no avocado (which would have stopped the hummus soaking into the bread). No apology when the food arrived for lack of one of the main ingredients. I should have dissected it and raised concern before I ate it but didn’t realise until half way through so only raised it with the server when she collected the plate. No apologies and in fact she totally ignored the comment. Overall found the staff efficient but not personable at all. Plenty of other places in the town for a light lunch at cheaper prices for similar so will not return and we are put off going there for anything else. The main hotel public areas looked past their best too.

We have often stopped at The Castle to have a light lunch or coffee in The Drawing Room. On our recent visit, The Drawing Room was empty. The decor has been refreshed and is now strangely cold and characterless. We had to go to reception to get any service. Two of our party ordered coffee and a pain au chocolat. The latter turned out to be the size of a pencil sharpener. It should have been called a 'mini pain au chocolat' on the menu. We therefore ordered a bacon roll which turned out to be generous and delicious. One of our party has dietary restrictions. In order to get a simple salad, she had to walk down to the dining room to negotiate with the waitress (reception had said the the waitress would talk with the chef) - in fact, there was no negotiation and no conversation with the chef: one of the starters would have been perfect, but we were simply told that there were salads on the menu to chose from. They agreed to not add dressing, and to provide olive oil. The salad turned out to be very good but we were already in a disappointed mood. To their credit, they offered excellent herb teas and the waitress kindly brought the boxes for us to read to ensure that there were no allergens. In many previous visits, we have been able to have a light lunch that suits everyone, in the Drawing Room which has always been well-patronised. But this time, we felt that customer orientation and smooth management in this part of the hotel had simply gone.

Took my mum and her friend for afternoon tea, courtesy of my brother, for my mum's birthday. Upon arrival, we were told we had to pay for parking via an app which took an age to do, with two elderly women waiting in the car on a hot day. An advisory notice on the website would be helpful so I could have downloaded the app and registered before we set off. Apologies if it is on the site and I missed it. When the breakfast tea arrived it was very weak and we had to let it stew for quite a while, although it was nice to have fresh-leaf tea and a strainer. My Americano was superb and knocked spots off Costa coffee, where I have only been once as I am a bit of a coffee snob! I could have happily sat and drank it all day and to have lovely golden sugar cubes to go with it as well was divine. When the afternoon tea arrived, it looked delightful and we couldn't wait to eat it. The egg sandwiches were delicious, as was the smoked salmon, although a little thick for the ladies, who had dentures and struggled to chew through it, and the bread on one sandwich was slightly stale. Next came the chicken sandwich which was ok but then the first disappointment, was the ham sandwich which had sliced gherkins in it. I took the gherkin out but still couldn't eat it because of the taste. That's 3 ham sandwiches wasted. I would also have liked to have been asked what type of bread we would have liked our sandwiches to come with. Scones were lovely, but again, a choice would have been nice as all of us would have preferred all plain rather than a mix of plain and fruit. We would have asked to change but seeing the reaction from the waiter when they asked to do this at the next table, made me decide not to. He did indeed change it but looked rather like the ground had swallowed him up and I thought maybe he might get it in the neck from the chef! He was doing such a great job that I didn't want to cause him any more grief. Next up, the desserts. The first one tried, was a dark chocolate mouse on a small crumble of biscuit. Thick, gloopy and bitter. Even though it was only probably two mouths full, one was enough to get through. Next was a little pastry tart with a red and white swirly meringue on the top. Maybe it's just us, but the case was rock solid and the meringue just tasted uncooked which I'm sure it is not meant to be, whatever it was, it was unpleasant and the fruit inside was unidentifiable, possibly rhubarb? Next was the macaroon. Well, the macaroon itself was okay but what was inside of it? Nothing pleasant, I can tell you. 9 desserts tasted but were not eaten. I know that I should have asked to see the menu again so that I could identify what was in these desserts but I was just beyond disappointed as was my mum, to the point that she just wanted to go home rather than have a look at the Norman Garden, which is so unlike her as she loves gardens. At £24.99 per head, I wished my brother had saved his money and brought her a bunch of flowers.

9 of us decided to take Afternoon Tea at the Castle to celebrate my significant birthday. Our welcome was stilted but we were eventually shown to our reserved tables in the lounge area. In brief, the food was delicious particularly the warm scones Our vegetarian and egg sensitive friends were both catered for. All good, however, for a bill that totalled £338, as we had a few bubbles in honour of the occasion I have two gripes. The first that the Breakfast tea was served 'stewed'. Their remedy was to top it up with more water! So, still stewed just weaker and still revolting. The second, for some reason the sandwich supply was short by a couple of egg fingers. My personal favourite. We pointed out the discrepancy to a seemingly bemused server. She did however reappear a few moments later with two thin fingers cut from half a round. Perfect. Well it might have been had we not been charged an extra £2. Not exorbitant I agree but having spend over £300 pounds and not been able to drink the tea, I felt it churlish. In summary, I can't say we were made to feel particularly valued as customers and I for one will not be repeating the experience. Shame.

We came for afternoon tea to celebrate a friends birthday. We were sat in a comfy room, lounge?, We ordered our tea and coffees, when the tea arrived it was well stewed. When this was mentioned to person serving she just offered more hot water, quite obviously not going to replace it!! They catered for vegetarian and egg free ladies. When the fizz arrived one glass had already been poured, out of already opened bottle in kitchen area, when this was queried the reply was it had been poured and cork replaced in the FULL bottle really. We had no egg sandwiches and asked for some we were begrudgingly given two very think fingers of sandwiches, less than 1/2 of a slice of bread at an extra price of £2. We had already paid over £330. A very poor service

We booked the castle for a cream tea. There were a group of us. On booking in we told reception that one of our party was not able to make it. we were seated and offered drinks. However, the 2 of the teacups were chipped and one was dirty. I asked the waitress to replace the chipped and dirty teacup. She apologised and replaced the two cups. One was clean the other one which was dirty had a large crack inside!!! The table opposite also had an issue where their cup of coffee had lipstick stains on it. The sandwiches and cakes were bought out. I have to say that the scones were delicious. However, one of our party found a chicken bone I. Her sandwich and a hair in her cake. This is just unacceptable when paying £25 per head. I feel that the staff are not trained to a high standard. No discount was offered so I had to suggest that we would only pay £20 per head, which was still over priced for a very disappointing cream tea! We expected the best cream tea experience booking the castle.

Quiet, solitude to enjoy a glass oaf top quality wine complemented by the very best menu for lunch. And reasonably priced. A favourite

I decided to take my family to the Castle restaurant for a meal. Unfortunately the experience was poor. Although the manager wrote me an email explaining that they were getting appropriate Champagne flutes to drink delicious champagne from this does not help our night out. The glasses were cheap and nasty. We drank two bottles of Bollinger out of plastic like glasses. I was offered no fish knife and fork. The manager wrote in his email that the Hotel was getting better glasses and that the hotel was short of fish knife and forks , that guests needed to ask for the correct cutlery. Extraordinary. I appreciate we had a price reduction for the cauliflower dish which is no longer on the menu but unfortunately this isn’t the point. I expect professional hospitality service when eating out and spending my hard earned money, I cannot believe that any of the points above are even questioned, The young lady who was our waitress was lovely.The receptionist was lovely and polite. The door staff was rude and had no etiquette whatsoever. As I mentioned. The manager has written me an email explaining that the points mentioned above are being rectified but when thinking of our night out it is not with praise but disappointment. Fine dining seemed to have gone out of the window that night at this hotel. Such a shame

I think our patience has been exhausted in giving the complacent Castle chances time and time again. Brazz is now closed for coffee and lunch thus sending people to the bar where non-residents have to mingle with hotel guests ordering toast and breakfast etc. The entire area needs a refurb and the experience does more to damage the Castle brand than remaining closed. Depressing!

The staff were lovely and the sandwiches were delicious, I could have ate more of them. But, soggy bottom on cheesecake. Scones, well who puts icing sugar on scones? They were underwhelming. No butter was offered. The clotted cream looked as though it had be decanted from a container so had lost the crusty top that comes with clotted cream. At first we thought it was butter and wondered where the cream was as we didn’t recognise it as clotted cream. The homemade strawberry jam was runny. The ladies toilet is so dated. The taps were old and there was a loose faucet. Nice Bramley products but hand wash was congealed. It looked as though it had been ‘topped up’. Was it even Bramley or a a cheap soap? As previous reviews have stated it’s all looking very tired. A mediocre experience.

On arriving we ordered gin& tonic and waited 20 mins to then be told they didn’t have any house Gin ! We ordered a bottle of house red wine which was disgusting at £20. Food was average. Would not recommend.

This is not a review but a warning: Castle Bow is no longer a restaurant, more a glorified tea-room. It seems that it now only serves afternoon tea. The reason for giving the warning is that when we called The Castle Hotel and booked a table, as we thought, in Castle Bow, no-one mentioned that the restaurant had closed a few weeks ago. They just booked us into Brazz, formerly The Castle's second, less ambitious brasserie-styled eating place, without telling us - we only found out when we turned up and the Caste Bow was in darkness. We had an OK-ish meal in Brazz, but it wasn't really what we wanted and, had we been told about the demise of Castle Bow, we would have chosen to go elsewhere. It's very sad that after being a haven of good eating for decades, taking the inspired risk of recruiting the young Gary Rhodes (RIP) in the 1980s and thereby being part of a revolution in attitudes to British cooking, The Castle now offers only the distinctly average and rather lacklustre Brazz.

This has always been a birthday treat between myself and my friend. It was her turn to treat me, Feb 27th and as usual the food was lovely but unfortunately the service wasn't. The waitress in charge was very abrupt when seating us(we arrived early but were happy to wait). She admonished a young waiter loudly in front of us. Embarrassing for us but awful for him. It was totally unnecessary. We have previously had afternoon tea at the Ritz, so we know we've had the best and don't expect that, but properly polished silver and individual tea pots not too much to ask? The big problem was the awful waitress. Unfortunately we will not be going again.

My girlfriend had found this as a special offer and organised it as a nice little treat for us both. As always she checked in advance that the could do a vegan version and they assured her they could. On arrival we were shown to our table, where there was indeed soya milk, but the cream was with dairy. In fairness the waitress was very concerned with this error. When the food arrived I can only say it was bland beyond belief - we would have been better off with a £3 supermarket meal deal (if they can get vegan right, why can't a premium hotel like yourselves?). No thought had gone into selecting some decent fillings over and above a bit of hummus! The scones were passable, but again, with the notice you had, some vegan cream could have easily been sourced, as could some better quality cakes/ biscuits. So overall, this was rather disappointing - a few years ago it was very much a case of 'put up and shut up' for vegans, and this harks back to those days. There is no reason why the food offered could not be of an equivalent standard to what is offered to those who are not vegan, given the abundant range of high-quality products now available. I've given a poor, rather than terrible review here - and the main reason for this is because the waitress was very good and took the time to genuinely listen to our concerns. I hope the management and those responsible for your menus will listen to her so that others may have a better experience in the future. As I said at the beginning we paid a discounted rate on an offer. Had we paid the full whack I would have been livid!

Before ordering a gift voucher I checked if the chefs cater for vegans and I was pleasantly surprised at the enthusiasm (vegans are often seen as awkward and mix ups with non-vegan food are ridiculously common). I called in advance to book a table for the afternoon tea and reiterated we were both vegan. I was advised they only had one table left at 4.30pm on Sunday; Saturday was fully booked. It was a later time than I hoped but glad it was popular. On arrival there were two tables taken and the rest empty. The ambiance was very lacking, like we had turned up at the end of a party when everyone was about to go home. We advised the waitress that we were vegan and she confirmed she had soya milk on the table. We were happy as many times we have given plenty of advance notice yet nothing is done with the information. I.e. butter and milk is provided rather than dairy free spread and soya or dairy alternative. I did see a lovely looking plate of jam and cream on our table and thought I would just reconfirm it was vegan (coconut cream or something similar for the scones) rather than assuming. Unfortunately it was dairy cream. Undeterred we ignored the little glitch and ordered our tea. It was not clear whether the afternoon tea was 'unlimited' or if one pot was the limit. I'd have liked more tea to go with the items served (some were very dry). The afternoon tea stand came along and although it looked okay it certainly ended up being a disappointment. The Castle Hotel prides itself on providing an esquisite dining experience in the county town of Taunton, yet the items provided were unimaginative, lacking in taste and quite frankly a complete fob off. I recommend all eating establishments not to offer vegan food if they don't have the time, inclination or desire to use culinary skills to make good vegan food. I had great hopes but on eating the sandwiches they were shockingly bad in terms of offering: Four little fingers of sandwiches with these fillings: Iceberg Lettuce and tomatoes, houmous, vegan cheese with some kind of chutney and a beetroot sandwich. I expected something much more flavoursome… and cleverly put together… also something I wouldn't have at home and would be a treat. Anyhow, the sandwiches were poor. Better off going to The Planet or The Mango Tree. So then we had a couple of biscuity things which were dry (but I had run out of tea by that point), a quarter of a chocolate orange mini tart, some kind of flap jack thing and scones. The biscuits were like Farley's rusks (from the 70s). The tart was okay but small, the flapjack was pleasant. The scones were disappointing as no coconut cream to eat as a typical cream tea. What was served was sadly lack lustre, mediocre and lacking in any creativity or enthusiasm. Please train your chefs in vegan cookery skills. Food is so important in the hospitality industry but if your vegan menu is second rate or cobbled together to make it vegan (by just removing meat) vegan customers will go somewhere else to an establishment who does embrace the lifestyle and treat them with the same enthusiasm as omnivores.The above rating is purely for the disappointing experience. We expressed our disappointment to the waitress (who was very considerate) and this review is not a reflection on her service. For any vegans considering afternoon tea at the Castle Hotel, I really would not bother - until such time they have a dedicated vegan menu. Vegan food is awesome if done right - The Castle has a lot of catching up to do as it is just not worth the money. Best to go to a dedicated vegan /veggie establishment.

Visited the Bow Bar for a morning coffee (and a bacon roll). It only has around 10 tables and comfortable sofa; which makes the setting more exclusive than your regular high street establishments. It is part of Castle Hotel and is used as their cocktail bar. Service is polite and professional as you would expect from Castle Hotel.We opted for cappuccino and a bacon roll. The coffee is only average quality. Devon Roast is slightly underwhelmed. On the other hand, bacon is rather good quality.

Staff work hard to try and provide a fine dinning experience in the restaurant. However the owners run the car park as a separate profit centre so even after spending a lot in the restaurant you are expected to pay for your parking.I kept thinking of the Inn Keeper in Les Miserables "here a little slice, there a little cut, three percent for sleeping with the window shut" etc. Bothered me after spending 500 pounds on a dinner but others may expect this layering of charges etc. Also the the Maitre D' didn't feel empowered to waive the parking - again makes it all a bit odd. There are plenty of other places to go and eat with parking included so I doubt we'll go back.

Very nice setting, staff excellent but the portions were minute. Although we ordered a la carte the portions were very small, perhaps we were given the portions of the tasting menu. The main course literally 2 bites and it was gone.

came here for an 80th birthday celebration afternoon tea. The sandwiches were nice and the little cakes delicious. The scones were a choice of plain or fruit and the jam tasted homemade

From a drink in the bar area to dessert, the food and service is top quality. Good choice on the menu for all taste and a nice wine selection. If there was one criticism i would personally say the dress of the waiting staff is far too casual and untidy looking for the standard of the place.

We came here on the occasion of my partner's 50th birthday, with our two daughters, one of whom is trying to be vegan. I booked online, noting the special date and her dietary preferences but didn't think much more about it. I showed her the vegetarian menu and although there was a lot of cheese, she said she would be ok with it.In the morning of our booking I had a call from the restaurant asking about her being vegan and I said she does prefer it but she was ok with some cheese. Again, didn't think much more about it.We arrived and were shown to the bar for drinks and to choose from the menu. The most beautiful canapes / amuse bouche arrived for us and they were delightfully presented and delicious. The Maitre D brought our menus and explained that he and the head chef had spent a good deal of time devising and cooking a vegan menu just for my daughter. He presented her with her special menu. We were all blown away and she was thrilled.All our meals were exceptional. Truly memorable dining. I adored their use of fresh herbs from their garden which made the flavours zing. Plus how wonderfully seasonal the dishes were. My other daughter ordered a rice pudding for dessert and it was literally a little bowl of Autumn with nuts, apple and blackberries. Fabulous.As for the vegan, she was so excited. It's common for vegan options to be an afterthought and not to be very flavoursome but nothing could be further from the truth. Her meals were as beautiful and delicious as ours. We were all very touched that they had gone to so much effort for her. The Maitre D seemed delighted with her feedback and was so happy with the outcome he said they thought they would keep the menu going forwards.The birthday was a fantastic success in no small part to our experience at Castle Bow, so we're very grateful. Thanks to all. Highly recommended.

The tasting menu was excellent. Really interesting food, varied, well presented and cooked to perfection. The food was accompanied by a bottle of Ch Langoa Barton. neither the food nor the wine was cheap, but it was well worthwhile for a special occasion.

Had a wonderful meal here last night, food was outstanding!! Service was very good with the exception of a young lady with s bad attitude and no understanding of wine- the manager was absent! But good was great and adventurous.

My wife and I had the most stunning meal here last Saturday evening 17th August. We both went for the tasting menu with was out of this world. We also had the wine flight which was perfect! Highly recommended with wonderful service

Took afternoon tea to celebrate a friend's birthday. Staff were welcoming and we explained we were early but we were still able to go to our table straight away on arrival. Staff were friendly and asked if it was a special occasion. Later they brought a Happy Birthday iced plate and sweet treat for my friend which was a very nice touch. Choice of tea good. The selection of cakes was rather below par from the previous visits but still fresh and high quality. Had, Macaroon, Fruit tart and a soaked pistachio cake. Warm Scones and cream. Sandwiches freshly made and the lemon meringue compote was delicious. Good price and value for money.

- Beautiful building in excellent town centre position

The family dined here on Saturday from arrival to leaving the service was impeccable.

What an absolute pleasure to dine here on Saturday.

Congratulations to all concerned. Pre dinner drinks served in the bar with the menu to peruse, plus fantastic canapés, what could be nicer. Through to the restaurant, where we were welcomed warmly by Rosey and staff and shown to our table where we were served with an amuse bouche topped with minuscule cheese straw. This tiny offering of soup, served in a small expresso cup was truly delicious. We were also presented with a basket with a selection of mini loaves in it, absolute heaven. My husband chose the lamb, which he said was true perfection, I had the starter portion of scallops plus a side dish of vegetables....most definitely the best scallops I have had for a very long time, and I do love scallops!!! They were cooked without fuss but beautifully served. We shared a a selection of cheeses.

We have been dining out in Taunton for 12+ years. We have had some good meals and some not so much so.

Zeer lekker menu gegeten, prima keuken. Aangepaste wijnen waren lekker. Spijtig dat we nooit de fles te zien kregen, wijn werd op een aparte tafel met maatbeker ingegoten. Bij navraag aan de bediening van welke druif de wijn gemaakt was kregen we als antwoord :The same grape as the Port. Dan volgt natuurlijk de vraag : van welke druif wordt Port gemaakt. Dan kwam het antwoord : "Pink"

I have been to many Michelin Starred

We recently had the taster meal at the Castle Bow restaurant. It was excellent. The staff were attentive and friendly. The food was delicious. It was top quality produce and cooked and prepared to an extremely high standard. All the dishes had a touch of Michelin star creativity and finesse to them. It is well worth a visit.

We have dined at the castle Bow a number of times and really enjoy. The service is impeccable, with very polite and pleasant servers. The food is extremely well presented and a delight to dine on. Highly, highly recommend.

My boyfriend and I enjoyed a wonderful evening at Castle Bow last night! We began in the bar, we were offered a drink while we perused the menu. We were then given some delicious canapés before being taken through to the restaurant! We both chose the tasting menu, I had the matching wines! Every dish was delicate and delicious and the wines matched perfectly! There are only 2 women running the whole floor during the evening and they did so with a professional but relaxed approach! The service is lovely, not too formal, and very attentive! Once the room was filled there was a great atmosphere. I would definitely recommend this restaurant for a special occasion!

We visited for an early Mother's Day Afternoon Tea and weren't disappointed.

Second visit to the Castle Bow in the Castle Hotel and were again very impressed with everything. We had a glass of prossecco in the bar and were served with delicious canapés while perusing the menu. The dining room was quite full and the service excellent, there are some reasonably priced wines on the list but the really impressive thing is the food which is something just a little bit better and special than any other in Taunton. I can’t praise it highly enough, the Chef has a real talent, everything we had had a real lightness of touch and a surprise of favour or texture, well done indeed. For what we had it was not overpriced and will definitely visit again. Thank you Castle Hotel and staff.

What a lovely hotel and restaurant. We had a 2 for 1 afternoon tea through yeo valley and it was fabulous. The restaurant is immaculate and the woman serving was very polite and helpful. Lots of choice re drinks and the food was delicious, we couldn't eat it all and I saw a number of people taking food home in a bag. Plenty of clotted cream and jam, sandwiches made to order (as I don't eat meat or poultry) and lovely little cakes/puddings. It felt very indulgent. Cost £18.50 each (without a voucher). We will definitely be going again and I will be recommending it, buying and asking for vouchers. A real treat, in a little gem. Taunton has some great places, they just aren't advertised enough. Well done The Castle, we will be back.

We went here for a family special birthday meal just after Christmas. They called before to check dietary requirements which was a lovely touch.

One of my best meals in Britain: refined, tasty, original. Few extras as well to enjoy waiting for our food, like the little curry pumpkin soup served in a coffee cup. I was not hungry enough for the tasting men, but really enjoyed both my starter (trout) and my main (cod with grilled octopus). A concentration and explosion of flavours. Even the bread was hard to resist. Good service.

We have eaten here many times and feel so blessed it is in our townAlways food is of the highest quality and service outstanding particularly Rosie and Kate who looked after us last night

The food was/is phenomenal......every single mouthful, The service is second to none, and nothing was too much trouble The ambience is great, the seating most comfortable...we consider ourselves so very lucky to have been able to eat there these last two days...

Taunton is losing it as the county town, however this restaurant brings class and fine dining to a top level that the town deserves. After being greeted warmly on arrival by all of the staff we knew this was going to be an enjoyable evening, and we were not proved wrong. Pre dinner drinks and canapes in the lounge bar with a professional overview of the evenings menu by our waitress prior to our order being taken. Led into the restaurant, although not busy, a nice ambience. The food we ordered was cooked and served with excellence and class, with leisurely timing between courses. Could not fault the food, staff or experience of the evening. Only comment that the menu could be extended slightly with more choices of dishes. Highly recommended for that 'special' evening out, we will be back!

At last - genuine fine dining in Taunton. Delicious meat- and carb-free meal for me with no compromise on taste or imagination. Cured trout (buttery soft and dill-infused, and seared cod (succulent as you like) were top notch. Husband’s meal (goats curd followed by pork five ways) was both pretty and satisfying. Ingredients were treated with respect and precision; plates fulfilled the delightful menu’s promise. The bill for this quality of cooking was extremely reasonable. I fully expect Liam and Hugh (the exec and head chefs) to earn their Michelin Star very soon.

What a lovely place, when i got there however it soon became obvious that I had to increase the time for the taxi then again when we went in for the food I thought I had better extend it again, thinking upon sitting down it would take any longer than 1 1/2 hours to eat 2 courses.

Beautiful food expertly cooked and presented do not miss out on this institution in central Taunton which is unrivalled. The ingredients used are all of the highest quality and locally sourced all of which is reflected in the food served by the very talented kitchen. The waiting staff are friendly and super efficient making sure everything is attended to, not once did you have to attract attention to order more wine, water or anything else. A superb overall experience which is worth the not unreasonable price. I can't recommend it highly enough.

I saw the review of Castle Bow in Delicious Magazine and took my elderly mother there on Saturday night. Apart from not realising that it was in the Castle Hotel and having some difficulty finding it, it was a wonderful experience. The food was delicious and the staff were extremely accommodating of my mother's limited appetite. The house champagne and white wine were fabulous and everything was extremely reasonably priced for such high quality. Most importantly, my mother thought it was amazing. Thank you.

we had starters, mains and shared a dessert! the steaks here are great cooked to how i like it median rare.

Really nice food, deserves 4.5/5, well cooked, good service, only dropped half a star, due the ham hock with crispy egg being hard boiled should have been runny. Braised beef shin, again very good favour, but the beef needed another 30mins to be more tender, don’t take this the wrong way, this place is good, but not perfect on this visit, if the above were correct, this place is 5/5 all day long. I would return and yes a little picky, want to score them 4.5 but no option........well done nice meal.

As it was a very wet and windy we were delighted that we had chosen to eat in as it were and the experience was all round outstanding. We began with drinks in the bar, great atmosphere although if you are going to have a range of gins prominently displayed on the bar it might be worth providing the bar-tender with a little crib sheet so he can make his recommendations with confidence. Once in the restaurant we found it enormously comfortable with sensible spacing between tables so nobody felt cramped or overlooked. Great waiting staff, there when you needed them and authoritative but not intrusive. Little treats to start, well presented and inventive and then the breads. Nice selection although the soda bread was just a touch on the sweet side given my tastes. Fabulous starters packed full of zing, my scallops and smoked pork belly was particularly intense. Great main courses too with a superb chunk of halibut and an excellently cooked portion of beef. Again probably just me but just a touch too much sweetness in some of the accompanying sauces and vegetables. Very good cheese board with local cheeses and an explanatory menu if you ask for it. Maybe six cheeses was a little over the top, perhaps four cheeses then the price of the cheese board could be brought a little closer to that of the desserts. Anyway all in all an impressive occasion and a great venue to enjoy fine dining.

We dined at Castle Bow as a birthday treat for my husband. Usually we’d go a little further afield than our own back yard but were so very glad we stayed closer to home for this one.

This is a fantastic night out, the service the food the ambiance, everything was just right. We made a booking for a birthday celebration, just 4 of us. The way we were greeted, the table service, the follow up, the explanation of the menu, was perfect, the waitresses were excellent.

If the Michelin guide had a Seniors division this would by straight in there. It has held a star in the past, and i guess time has moved on.

The restaurant rang to confirm the booking and asked if it was a special occasion, which I said it was, expecting some recognition of the fact. Nothing happened however so why bother asking?

The Castle Bow restaurant is an absolute gem and totally unexpected. Amazing staff and food bordering on a spiritual experience.

We were at Castle Bow to celebrate a friend’s special birthday and we were certainly not disappointed.

We celebrated my partner's birthday and as usual found both the service and food quality exceedingly good. We wish to thank the chef, waiters and even the reception staff for such great food, friendly and efficient service. We often frequent the Brazz restaurant for breakfast and use our Castle loyalty card which is the very best for generous returns compared to all our other cards. We are looking forward to our next visit in the near future. Thank you all again at the Castle Bow.

Visited the Castle Bow restaurant for an anniversary meal. Everything about the meal exceeded expectations.The whole experience was outstanding from start to finish.Thank you for making a special day even more memorable.

A truly wonderful evening. Fabulous food with fabulous service. Would save $ to go again. Ambience great, furnishings great. Overall a great evening.

Following 2 evenings in Brazz, Castlebow’s little sister, we upgraded to the tasting menu with wine pairings on 3rd night.

We decided not to go to Brazz as the music was too loud and were slightly reticent about plumping for the ‘fine dining’ experience. What a brilliant choice! The ambience was very relaxed and the food was truly excellent. We were very pleasantly surprised and glad we decided to go there. Topped with the excellent service from the female maitre d it was an excellent evening. We don’t normally leave reviews but the smiling service tonight demanded it! Thank you!

The menu caters for meat, fish and vegetarian eaters with a choice of each type. The food and wine were very tasteful and cooked as requested. The wine by the glass was excellent and the aroma and taste was exceptional The service was excellent and the team worked together to provide a meal in an unhurried way

Superb attentive staff. Fantastic food. I took my wife for a date night and wasn't disappointed.

One of the best meals my wife and I have had for some time, just exquisite. The staff were friendly, fun and made the meal and brilliant experience.

i was tempted to visit the restaurant by looking at the menu on line. we were not disappointed - the chef is really talented, the food combinations refreshing, superbly presented and topped off with exceptional service. The whole evening was faultless. I am lactose intolerant and every dish was carefully prepared for me to ensure that no dairy product was consumed. Rosie who led the service is super professional but combines this with a warm and very welcoming touch. Thank you Rosie for making it such a memorable evening

Exceedingly good restaurant in terms of cuisine, service and ambience. Prices are very realistic for the quality offered. The excellent tasting menu is particularly good value at £65.

We visited Castle Bow Restaurant to celebrate my 70th BIrthday. I am a huge fan of Michael Caines and chefs of his ilk such as Martin Hadden. Liam Finnegan is hitting the same high notes.I looked forward to the same style and texture of food and environment that the very best venues offer.

Passing by locally and stumbled across this place. Popped in for a light lunch, choice was good and well priced. The decor was smart and staff friendly, will probably go again

Absolutely fabulous. They accommodated the fact I wanted a vegan meal without any fuss. They called beforehand to check on the food. When I arrived with my friends I was handed a vegan menu with choices! Which made a very pleasant change. The atmosphere was beautiful and the service first class. Thank you

We stayed in taunton recently and dined at the castle bow restaurant,superb meal,lovely restaurant and staff ,if visiting taunton go to this restaurant you will not be dissapointed.

Decided to go somewhere different for a family gathering. The restaurant had a warm, friendly atmosphere and offers great service. The waiters were attentive and we thoroughly enjoyed our experience at The Castle Hotel! Divine afternoon tea with a delicious selection of sandwiches. The scones were beautiful ; crisp on the outside and beautifully fluffy on the inside. To finish we were presented with a great selection of pastries. Delicious and would definitely recommend. Thank you.

Crusty olde worlde hotel. Old fashioned unfashionable bar. But dinner surprised us in a very good way.

I booked ahead and informed the venue that it was our wedding anniversary. They could not have been nicer. We were greeted by Mark Mac Closkey the Manager, we were seated in the bar with Champagne and amuse Bouche while we chose our dishes. The staff went out of their way to look after us and make the evening very special. The food was excellent and we were very impressed. First time we have eaten here. It won’t be the last. Fantastic if you want something special!

Visited for my husband birthday. Excellent service and food although did feel a little bit on show as the lighting was a bit brighter than we would have liked, but did not detract from the service we received. Throughly enjoyed the experience and next time will try their taster menu.

We travelled a long way to eat at this restaurant and we had a superb meal. All the stops were pulled out with appetisers, amuse bouche as well as three delicious courses. Four of us dined together and we were all very happy with our meals. The service was friendly and efficient, we felt well looked after. The food was very special, exquisitely cooked to perfection. I had a crab tortellini, which was melt in the mouth with a generous portion of good quality crab meat. The fish was very fresh and meaty. The custard desert slipped down very easily it was so delicious. The whole experience was made very special for us by the ambience, friendly staff and exquisite food.

Sandwiches fresh and tasty. Scones light. Chocolate brownie yum yum. Ideal ambience for a celebration.

I wanted to find somewhere new to us and special, for my husbands birthday. And I succeeded! Wow - what...

Great menu with variety but uniform outstanding quality. Extensive and stimulating wine list with quality and a good price range.

The food is simply outstanding - beautifully cooked & presented. Lovely touch of canapés and an amuse bouche as complimentary...

Really beautiful food, tasty and well presented. Wonderful surprises with the canapes in the bar beforehand and the 'pre starter',...

Lovely restaurant, with a small dining room, this though enables there to be a lovely atmosphere in the room. We...

Good food, great service from the moment we arrived. The small dining room provides a special atmosphere.

Stay one nigh at the Castle and booked in for dinner at their Castle Bow restaurant, what a treat, food excellent, service first class and a great atmosphere in their stylish restaurant, and yes a superb wine list.

Was treated to a cream tea. However, two large scones was a bit too much for each of us so ordered two cream teas and two extra teas, which was no problem, and the young waitress who served us was very friendly.. Unfortunately one guest was allergic to strawberry and the only alternative they could offer was marmalade, which of course does not go well with thick cream. The tea was leaf and took a while to strengthen. Felt it was expensive for what we had and would not bother to go again. However the venue at The Castle, Taunton was interesting.

My husband and I ate at The Castle Bow tonight - a long awaited night out after our 2nd child was born and our wedding anniversary.

This was one of the best meals we have had for some time. We had drinks in the bar beforehand, accompanied by delightul amuse bouche and then through to the restaurant. The dining room is quiet and refined, without being overpowering. The service throughout was excellent and our Italian waiter (sorry, didn't get his name) was fantastic. It was such a pleasure to have old fashioned service delivered professionally and without fuss. The food was also excellent too, not chealp, but definitely worth it. I am sure this will not be our last visit.

Exceptional attention to detail - nothing left to chance! If you'd like an extra special dining experience then this is the place to choose - they really are bothered and genuinely care from Marc The General Manager to all of his lovely staff. Really great, thank you Marc

We recently enjoyed probably one of the best meals we'd had in this beautiful restaurant. We were staying in The Castle hotel and were looking forward to enjoying our meal. It surpassed all expectations.

We've now eaten at the Castle Bow restaurant twice and on both occasions the food has been excellent. Service is very good, staff are very welcoming and friendly. The dishes are beautifully prepared and simply delicious, we couldn't fault any of the courses. I had scallops to start with - just perfect, followed by beef, which melted in the mouth. The lemon tart was just amazing. Our favourite place to eat in Taunton.

As part of a birthday celebration 7 of us booked for afternoon tea. The quality of the food and drink was of a very high standard, fantastic selection. The service was excellent. Whilst we couldn't fault the service or food I was slightly disappointed being expected to pay for car parking on a Sunday in an empty car park.

My wife and I recently visited the Castle Bow Restaurant as we had been recommended to try Chef Liam Finnegan's tasting menu .What an experience !From the amuse bouche through to the divine dessert we enjoyed a tasting journey of excellent flavours , textures and exquisite presentation on every dish.We dine out regularly and have frequented Michelin starred restaurants for special occasions but have had to travel to get to them.No need to travel anymore for first class cuisine as it is right here on our doorstep !Couple the food with great front of house service and I have to say again . Where is the Michelin Star ?

Whilst staying for the weekend, we had booked tables for both evenings at the restaurant. The restaurant area itself is very small so feels really intimate & private. The food was great - the first night we chose from the a la carte menu & the second night we all had the tasting menu. Each course, over both nights, couldn't have been faulted. They were perfectly cooked, immaculately presented and tasted delicious! However, the service the first night was terrible - so much so we almost considered cancelling our table on the second evening. We think they might have been short staffed as the second night there were 2 extra waiters including one guy who was clearly a manager & hadn't been there the 1st night. We were so glad we hadn't cancelled the table on the 2nd night though as the service, that night, was impeccable. It was like being in a completely different restaurant! We were also extremely glad to end the weekend on a high, as if it had been the other way round then it would be likely that we'd never return; however, in the hope that it was just a glitch with staff on the Friday night, we would now definitely return & happily recommend to others. The only thing I would say needs improvement is the stocking of wine - we ordered multiple different bottles both nights & on 3-4 occassions we were told later that those particular bottles were out of stock. If this has happened once or twice it might have not been an issue but to have no stock of that many wines seems quite poor in regards to stock management. All-in-all, the food was well worth the visit but great service is equally, if not more important for return customers & if we had just been there for 1 night then this review would be wildly different along with our lasting memory of the place.

Came here for a meal to celebrate moving to Taunton and decided to go for the tasting menu. Service was outstanding: quick, friendly and knowledgeable. Food was excellent: superb hand dived scallops cooked to perfection, divine pigeon which just on its own would have been spectacular (in fact, for me the chef could lose a few of the other ingredients on this particular dish). Bottled water for the table was free which was a nice touch. Would highly recommend.

Greeted as old friends served amazing food from amuse Boucher starter main and desert food that stimulates all the taste buds beyond previous experienceWe will go back

Both the food and service were excellent. Two complimentary canapés and all three courses selected from the menu were of a very high standard and we look forward to returning again very soon. Our compliments to the chefs and waiting staff and thank you all for creating such a special evening for us.

Dined here for a celebration.The tasting menu was DIVINE! from amuse bouche to desserts, no complaints from me (apart from wanting more!!)Partner had a la carte, his only "complaint" was the pork a la 3 ways was too rare for his taste (we love rare meat, but for us it didn't do the organic pork any service).My niggles was that the vast wine list didn't have any tasting notes, we like to read for ourselves before choosing. Also the air con is the restaurant was Arctic, but the staff soon rectified that on request.I have raved on and on to my family and friends about the tasting menu, so if you are in the area and would appreciate delicious food, do go for it!

Could not fault the food or service, absolutely first class. The menu had good variety that satisfied each member of our small party.