La Chouette in Aylesbury Vale

A mini escape to France (où peut-être la Belgique?) on a chilly winter's evening in the UK. Frédéric's beautiful restaurant had a log fire burning in the snug / bar to welcome us in, and he was a delightful and entertaining host. Delicious, authentic food and wine in a cosy dining room with just a few candle-lit tables. We were served a whole loaf of freshly-baked bread with butter to the table but still managed to clean our plates. Such a treat and thank you for your hospitality.

So we've been told by Freddy that we must state that he's amazing looking, very well spoken ( with a very, sexy accent) , extremely funny & talented !!! Seriously , fabulous food ... wine and laughs - see you soon

This was our third visit to La Chouette, so felt about time we detailed how much we enjoy visiting this, wonderful, establishment. The owner is not only wonderfully attentive, humorous but extremely well mannered and entertained our 9 yr old throughout our visit. The food is of course exceptional, with the most amazing, freshly baked, bread. If you ever have the chance to dine here. I would recommend taking the opportunity.

As my wife and I had missed going out on Valentine's Day we went to La Chouette as a substitute. What a good idea! Food was consistently excellent; service was excellent and the host was excellent company. Would strongly recommend and we will be back!

Excellent meal by chef Frederic! Scallops, cooked to perfection…. Very warm welcome, friendly setting with very beautiful photos. Taken by the chef, I recommend.

We have been going to La Chouette for a couple of years now and are never disappointed. The food is always delicious! Every now and then the chef does a smoked salmon/mussels/creme brulee menu and the mussels were the best I've ever had.

Great food... but only people in there all evening..

We enjoyed a fantastic anniversary evening at La Chouette. From the warm welcome to exquisite Belgium chocolate soufflé the evening was outstanding and the best food we’ve tasted in the area. The wine was paired perfectly and the warm crusty bread was ideal for soaking up the flavours of each course. Perfect for a special occasion.

Another absolutely fantastic meal at La Chouette; exceptionally delicious flavours. And always fun to share views with Frederic on the world in general! Today we had the set lunchtime Prix d'ami which was perfect. Already booking our next visit! Couldn't recommend this exceptional restaurant more.

A fantastic evening, the food is fine dinning at its best, hosted and cooked by Frederick ( also know as an Adonis...) the owner who happily engaged with us and made our evening even more fun. The wine recommendations are worth a mention as they have a great selection and not too pricey. Cannot wait to go back.

A fantastic lunch with great friends ... Brilliant host with amazing food and the best belly laughs .... thank you Fred...............

My wife and I visited La Chouette for the first time recently and all I can say is wow. La Chouette is a rarity in todays world. Fred was charming and welcoming upon arrival and chatted extensively with us. Fred is a fabulous host and the experience is not just the food but him! Food was excellent and should be Michelin star! Agree with all comments about Fred being a adonis!

La Chouette is a rarity in these days of generic menus and copycat atmospheres. Every course was without fault, the scallops were quite as good as Frederic claimed they would be, the Turbot superb, the wine a great accompaniment. A fantastic time had by all, and a return booking made before leaving. Thank you for a great evening!

This is definitely a gem! The food was really tasty and the portions generous, the place is lovely and the owner makes the atmosphere even better! 100% recommend going if you did not yet!

This place is a must if you’re around the area. Photos do not do the food and the atmosphere justice. Everything was fantastic, from the venue to the food to the charming owner. I only wished we lived closer to become regulars.

Absolutely superb, the food was outstanding, everything we ate we would order again - if we’d had more room we might have ordered even more (that is if we didn’t just decide to finish the bread!). Even the company was outstanding, and the owner and chef was just a pleasure to be served by and get to know. We know where we will be coming back to regularly, such a delight!

I was taken here for a birthday lunch. Set lunch menu. Leek and potato soup reinterpreted for summer. Light with the leek finely accentuating and supporting the flavour of the potato. Real free range chicken that tasted of childhood chicken. Amazing fine green beans with a twist I won't share here, but is my standard treatment for green beans from now on. Shallot and red wine reduction which you definitely mop off the plate with the fresh crusty bread. And of course, he absolutely nailed the CremeBrulee. The Patron-chef is a character of note, and the most excellent Flemish ambassador. Oops, nearly forgot, the Belgian chocolate drops with the rich smooth coffee.

Great lunch and meal put thank you

Superb great food. Fred, the chef patron, is an absolute hoot. Fine dining.

Fantastic food, seasonal, cooked by talented chef. Very comfortable restaurant.

So welcoming, the food is amazing, should be on everyone's bucket list.

Another great evening of food, wine & entertainment. Frederic as always a fabulous host. We had the menu d'hote, brown shrimp salad, scallops, duck breast & creme brulee washed down with lovely wines. Will be back. Frederic is a adonis!!!!!!

My first experience of this wonderful place was on the evening of my brothers wedding day some 23 years ago and I’ve never forgotten the warm welcome to La Chouette along with the fresh bread and impeccable food served, Frederick the owner and chef is one of a kind an Adonis with a wonderful Belgian accent, he is very attentive, and has great humour, he is still serving the freshly baked bread, great wine and food that is cooked to perfection, a memorable visit each time,

Excellent dîner, chef très serviable et sympathique !!!

Excellent hood and very interesting host!

Love it! What amazing food right at my back door? Can't wait to go back again.

Exceptional food, a truly warm welcome and great atmosphere. Our new favourite restaurant in the area!

Dined here for our wedding anniversary and enjoyed the experience. Excellent brilliantly cooked food served in warm comfortable surroundings. The owner Frederick is a real character of firm opinions and we enjoyed talking to him. Not the cheapest restaurant in the area at approx £75/80 per head but in our opinion worth every penny. A fairly short menu but all first class. Will certainly dine here again.

Dropped in for lunch (first visit for us) as my partner is from Belgium so thought it would be a nice place to try. Frederic is clearly a passionate and interesting chap who made us feel very welcome. As well as a very tasty 3 course meal he provided a great opportunity for me to practice my French - yes Frederic I need to try harder...! - over a lovely Belgian blonde beer. We will definitely come back, hopefully for dinner as the menu looks great. See you again soon Frederic!

Fabulous food and great service 👌

Quirky owner, great service, lovely food. Worth a visit

Visit here every time we are in the area. Excellent food and wine list definitely plan to indulge yourself when you dine here.

As before our meal was excellent but sadly, for the second time, Frederic and his views ruined our evening and embarrassed us in front of our guests. We have absolutely no complaints about the food. However, its unfortunate that Frederic hovers over you and continually and forcefully expounds his views on Europe and the lack of quality of British produce. On our previous visit and after our son asked that the mushrooms be left off his meal, Frederic decided that he would still serve them in the sauce over the meat - what if there was an allergy - would he ignore that? Sorry but despite how much we enjoyed the food we will not be coming again

Love this place. Ambiance, food, wine & owner all fantastic. Our son treated us to dinner. Warm welcome, very covid safe. We had a marvellous meal and were entertained by the owner, great evening and will be back

First time visit to this restaurant. Would highly recommend the food. Everything was just perfect a little Gem of a restaurant to find will definitely return.

Incredibly affable host, brilliant food and an overall fantastic night, I'd definitely go again as you can book out the whole place. He's got some great photos for sale too.

Fantastic place to wine and dine

Good food. Awful & rude service

Quirky decor and comical host. Excellent food.

This was a very scary outing for us not having been to a restaurant since an unhappy experience in July. We need not have worried. We were greeted at the door and not allowed in until face masks and anti-bacterial hand gel used. We were informed that while at the table we could take our face masks off, but if requiring to move around the restaurant (toilet) then we would again be required to wear face masks. Covid-19 was being taken seriously here, which meant we were able to relax – which we did and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.Frederick was a very thoughtful and entertaining host – it was like dining at a friends’ home.The food was superb, we had the full table d’hote, making real pigs of ourselves and especially enjoyed the red deer in a peppercorn sauce.Ok, it is not the cheapest meal, and the wine is quite expensive – but every now and again indulgence makes you feel so good. Give it a try – you will not be disappointed.

Exceptional food and Frederic made, what could have been a quiet evening, memorable and fun with his enthusiasm. Definitely a return visit is in order.

Our meal was absolutely excellent. We were the only diners but still the owner/chef made our evening entertaining - we did not mention Brexit!The scallops were the best we have ever tasted and the red deer simply perfectWe thoroughly enjoyed our evening and will go again

This is a wonderful restaurant. The chef/owner greets you and from there in the evening is a delight. Such good food cooked to perfection, excellent choices of wine and a serious giggle. If you fancy to try somewhere new...here is the place to go!

Fantastic high quality food, served by an entertaining host.

A visit here is more than simply a meal out. It's an excellent and entertaining dining experience prepared by a gentleman who really loves putting good food, good wines, good liqueurs and good company together. Just let him guide you and you won't be disappointed.

This was our first visit to La Chouette, having heard good things about the food and stories of the owner Frederic. We were not disappointed. Frederic welcomed us into his quaint and cosy restaurant, mask on at all times. The tables are well spaced and clean and Frederic definitely respects the current Covid situation. My wife and I were celebrating her birthday and enjoying a rare break from the kids. We both chose the scallops and really enjoyed them. They were big and cooked to perfection, accompanied by our own fresh out of the oven loaf of bread. I mopped up the sauce with the bread but had to exercise some restraint to keep room for our mains and dessert! For mains we had the turbot and duck. Both were delicious, the turbot had a rich, creamy sauce and delicate flavour. For pudding we went for the surprise and Frederic whipped up a quick chocolate mousse with salted butter after asking my wife what she loves. Frederic was an excellent host, providing entertainment and conversation which put smiles on our faces and reflected my sense of humour. Be warned, he doesn't mess his words, but if you're up for some conversation and banter with the host Frederic will give you some stories to tell and put a smile on your face

First time we've been out since lock-down, and we had a simply delicious lunch today. Scallops were out of this world - our favourite when we go there. Followed by turbot which was delicious, and then a wonderful chocolate mousse. Both the scallops and turbot were perfectly cooked. Such a treat after months of eating at home. We've always had excellent food at La Chouette, and today didn't disappoint. Freddie in very good form, and looked after us extremely well. The restaurant is set up to conform with social distancing regulations , which Freddie takes very seriously. We've been going to La Chouette for nearly 20 years and he never disappoints.

Delightful evening out with my sister and brother in law. Absolutely fabulous meal, attentive staff. Memorable scallops for starters and turbot for main.

Quirky but great seasonal cooking

Visited with friends for dinner. Very quaint building and surroundings. Warmly welcomed by mine host and what a host he is!!! Drinks in the cosy bar area with a warming fire. Nice menu, not large but lovely options We went for the table d'hote: salmon salad, scallops, duck and a surprise All the food was beautifully cooked and presented. Frederic suggested a white and red, both were excellent and great value. Ambiance, host, food and wine all first class. Will be back.

Fabulous food, fabulous Frederic, fabulous everything!We went for dinner to celebrate my Mum’s 75 birthday and the experience was sublime!The bread is to die for and the scallops- quite possibly the best I have ever eaten!However, the “surprise” dessert was out of this world! Frederic you are a genius!Will definitely be back.

The food at La Chouette is fantastic! In my opinion the best restaurant within this area. The chef is fantastic too and all adds to the experience

Amazing lunch! Highly recommend! Warm welcome from the chef himself, cosy interior, diverse menu and seasonal products, great food and wine suggestions from the chef!! Despite a 1h20 drive from London we’ll be back soon!!

Frederick is a wonderful host. The food was delicious. A thoroughly pleasant experience. It feels as if you are a guest in his home.

Love this place for quality food.

We loved La Chouette. It feels very intimate, food outstanding and we found the chef/proprietor funny and charming. Re booking this month for a return visit.

Unique atmosphere, fabulous food

Frederic is an unashamed force majeur, and Bon vivant. The food is simply amazing and the location and ambience are beyond parallel. Cannot believe that this place is such a closely guarded secret. Had to buy a wildlife artwork too as the guy has such talent in that direction. Faultless.

Just a quick review to really echo all that has already been said. Was taken here by friends who live locally. We had a lovely meal accompanied by excellent wine which for what we had I feel was competitively priced.Frederic certainly brings a different approach to the dining experience don't go if you are of the snowflake persuasion !!Well worth seeking out a real gem.

We have visited this restaurant once before and loved it. We loved it again this time. It's the most quirky 'Coming Mr Faulty' kind of place to visit but the food is wonderful. We went to celebrate moving to the village and our 36th wedding anniversary. An immediate welcome to the bar with a quick drink and an amuse bouche of 'Tomato Soup' which was delicious. WE chose from the small but finely tuned menu, hubby chose Gravalax & Lamb and I chose scallops and turbot. A warm loaf of bread was brought to the table with a pound of butter my kind of place and our meal was absolutely faultless. We were served by a lovely young girl who was polite and attentive. The special desert 'Mandarin Soufflé was exquisite. I cannot recommend this restaurant highly enough, I just wanted to add the wine was yummy. You are paying London prices here but the food is fresh 'you can tell' and beautifully executed. We shall return and Frederic is hilarious.

Gorgeous food and fantastic service from the main chef himself. Very attentive and likes a good chat to make you feel welcome. Yes it is expensive if your on a budget but the food speaks for itself.

This is an extraordinary restaurant but be warned, it is imperative that you book in advance! The proprietor and chef, Frederique, greets customers and will always inform you about your choices. Rest assured they will be cooked to perfection. Don't expect a cheap meal but do expect a great one; dining here is an experience. A bonus is that Frederique is also an expert wildlife photographer and has decorated his walls with just a few of his amazing photographs. A visit is a must!

Went to celebrate a special birthday, and were looked after and entertained all evening by Frederic, the owner/chef. The food was wonderful, every course, and we will certainly be visiting again.

From the little soup amuse bouche on arrival to the the deliciously strong coffee at the end of the meal, there was not one part of the evening that was not absolutely perfect.My wife and I were cordially welcomed at the door by the proprietor and had aperitifs and a perusal of the menu in the cosy bar area. There was not one thing on the menu that either of us would not have ordered. A little bowl of soup as we made our very difficult decisions was a nice touch.In the end we settled for Grilled scallops with a saffron beurre blanc and Asparagus mousseline to start with and both chose the Duck breast in a morels sauce for our main course. A small loaf of homemade crusty bread was served to mop up the delicious sauce and the plates went back to the kitchen well cleaned!The duck was cooked to perfection and melted in the mouth. The morels sauce was one of the tastiest thing I have ever eaten and caused another flurry of activity with the crusty bread. It was served with whole green beans, baby carrots, dauphinoise potatoes and braised chicory. Frederic came to our table to quiz us about the latter's identity and I got it right. My wife thought it was celery. It doesn't happen often but it's nice when I'm right. Throughout the meal Frederic breezed in to top us up with excellent wines and amusing conversation which made the evening go with a swing. I finished the meal with a Normandy crepe with a delicious blend of diced apples and a very generous splashing of calvados. The lovely decor of the restaurant is complemented by large framed prints of Frederic's wildlife photography, which show him to be a very gifted lens man as well as raconteur and chef.We will be returning soon, next time with friends, as a restaurant this good needs to be shared with as many people as possible.

If you want brilliantly cooked food, now a bit more expensive than it was, in a cosy off the beaten track village where you think you are lost before you come upon the restaurant, the give away are the cars or the owners van with Belgian number plates still then you won't be disappointed. The restaurant serves good hearty clever food, based on Belgian and dare I say it, French staples, great taste, great portions and served by someone who's ethos is serving the customer, although he doesn't suffer fools gladly, and many of the village apparently don't make the grade to enter his domain. Friendly, perfect for that special meal, with great wines pairing the food, go, don't miss! Just not on the days I want to go

We have eaten a La Chouette a number of times and never been disappointed. We went for lunch on Christmas day. As usual the food, wine and service were excellent. Frederic made it a very enjoyably day.

A neighbour recommended La Chouette as they knew that we are ‘Foodies’

Lovely restaurant. Must have good sense of humor. Ask about the surprise dessert. Visiting from US, and this was the best food and first place we made a visit to. Thank you for wonderful evening.

My boyfriend brought me here for my 21st birthday based on recommendations. It certainly didn’t disappoint. We were the only customers when we arrived and had a lovely conversation with the owner/chef/server/barman, as he gave us food and wine recommendations. We went with one of the set menus and each course was better than the last.

This will be a very short review because previous five star reviews have used up all the praise worthy adjectives.So I will simply say WOW.Food ,presentation,cooking,cosy setting,wine list,host/owner/chef are brilliant We cannot believe we did not know about this restaurant until recently.What more can I say ? .We will return.

Wonderful meal.....the menu was seasonally focussed and had great options. The scallops were so tasty and the deer was delicious. Dessert was Dame Blanche and a delight. Great wines and above all a really nice dining experience with a fantastic host/chef.

The best restaurant in the area! End of. Lovely atmosphere, great wine, fantastic food and a passionate host. What more could one want?! Thank you for a wonderful evening. My mother and I thoroughly enjoyed our evening. We will be back! A bientot!

Perfect meal. From atmosphere to menu choices and execution- easily the best restaurant I've been to in 3 years.

Went to this restaurant last. What an amazing experience. Superb food, unbelievable wine list and Fredderic is a great host and chef. Best restaurant I've been to in ages!!

Had a lovely evening at La Chouette. The food was superb! Everything was cooked to perfection. Service flowed well, and we were made too feel very welcome. Will definitely be coming back in the near future.

We had heard that this was a restaurant worth visiting, so decided to take our friends as a treat for their wedding anniversary. We had one of the best evenings. The food was excellent and Frederic was an amazing host, who enjoys a good debate..

haven't been for several years, but delighted to find that very little had changed. Top notch food, cooked and served by the irrepresible M.Desmette. lovely evening, very entertaining. Can't add too much to the other reviews.We will be back

I'm embarrassed to say that it's been just over 3 years since we last went to La Chouette and my review from 2015 was full of praise for the chef/proprietor; Frederic with his restaurant being one of my favourite and most memorable dining experiences.

It's probably been just over 2 years since we last visited La Chouette and I really don't know why we left it so long to revisit this amazing restaurant. The food was simply stunning and if you visit midweek (as we did) it's likely that you'll get Frederic all to yourself. The food is simply amazing, quality ingredients, flavoured and cooked to perfection. After 3 courses we certainly felt like we had eaten well and had some great conversations with our host. We've already booked to return for mussel and chip night in October and we'll make sure that we return a lot more frequently. Thank you for a great evening Frederic.

The restaurant was nearly empty as it was a Monday night, but it didn't matter as Frederic made us so welcome and was very chatty. The building is just beautiful and the food and wine of a high standard. Everything about the place is friendly and personal: cooking, service and conversation.

Amazing food, brilliant atmosphere and excellent service. Frederic is a great host. The filet of beef was perfect and you must try the chocolate soufflé

I was in Aylesbury few days ago and I was looking for a good restaurant around...Found this one on Tripadvisor, called and booked...

Good menu with excellent cooking. The chef/patron is an entertaining host. Greatly recommended.

Wow, we have just enjoyed the most wonderful lunch at this beautiful establishment.

This was my second visit and I managed to get over the transition from Winter to Spring menus fairly quickly. My sole, veal kidney, apple crepe courses were all delicious, wine was spot on, host was his usual gregarious, opinionated and entertaining self.

Was very impressed, the atmosphere was very welcoming! The food was great quality and very well cooked! I had an enjoyable evening! will certainly be going back!

15 of us arrived promptly at 7 after being instructed not to be late or the food would be ruined !

Frederic asks my Husband why he is still with me every time we eat there, but he still produces the best wild mushrooms I've ever had! Damn and blast you Frederic! Until the next time....

We have had the sublime tasting menu in the past and have been wowed by Frederic's inventiveness. Once a year in the Autumn he does a fixed menu of smoked salmon, Moules Frîtes with a mystery pudding (creme brulee this year) by demand from the locals. He suspends his usual reservations about frying for one weekend only and you have to book ahead!

Really excellent food and extensive wine list. The real experience is the sharp and combative wit of the owner that makes this such a memorable experience. Think Basil Fawlty with roguish charm

Frederic's first question on arrival; "what do you think of Brexit?" Wrong answer and you are invited to leave....NOW! Our response was as above; our Belgian host agreed totally. Our fixed price meal (Menu d'Hotes) for 3 was a delight as ever. 4 courses of increasing pleasure through "crevettes grises" to a filet of salmon followed by magret de canard. Morgon (Beaujolais) was off the list, but the Fleurie fitted the bill admirably. The "surprise" dessert was a "death by chocolate" which was a killer!! Frederic's cuisine remains amazingly good value (though not cheap) and the conversation does not lack for stimulation. Never more than a dozen or so for dinner this permits for an agreeable atmosphere with no pressure, sufficient space and time to savour your meal. As others have frequently remarked...it's all a bit different, but special for that very reason. Easy to find? Hardly! but absolutely worth it. Oh! before I forget; veggies definitely not welcome.

Outstanding food and stunning wine, with eccentric yet faultless service. What's more to say. Very high quality ingredients cooked seriously well. Great recommends from Frederic for both wine and food. Well worth finding this hidden gem. Do not be put off by the slightly dated interior ............ you will not regret.

Had an exceptional meal , the food was simply stunning

We went to the restaurant last night and had a lovely meal.

Obscure location but what a find! May need to set the satnav but the food will make it worthwhile. Ohh and there's the chef / proprietor too!!!

What a very special place to spend the day

Cena en la Chouette. Entramos en el encantador restaurante rústico en una noche muy caliente (18 de junio sábado), y saludó con un amable "Frederic hola, qué una velada encantadora. "Él respondió con "No si has estado trabajando en la cocina! ".

Ha sido un tiempo desde que he estado en este hermoso restaurante poco escondido en el corazón de Dinton. Siempre una preocupación cuando tienes tan buenos recuerdos de un lugar que no será tan buena. NO HAY NECESIDAD; la comida era sublime tuve la lubina, filete y chef sorpresa para el postre - todo magnífica. No tienen envidia principales sobre la comida de arranque que sole mi otra mitad, parecía y olía increíble. Yo no podria decir que sabía como - No se permitió a probarlo! ! Si no han sido hacer pruébalo, no te decepcionará.

Qué lindo lugar para visitar para cenar, Fred, el dueño y Chef es una persona muy amable. Buenos vinos y tienes lo que pagas. Tienes que probar este lugar.

We had a very nice dinner with Frederick. The fresh seasonal food is a delight, the wine list comprehensive and the surprise desert is the definitive choice but please do not ask what it is!!