Southernhay House Restaurant in Exeter

Booked here for a dog-friendly breakfast. Really great food & even better service. Had the full English & salmon & scrambled eggs. The breakfast starter of building your own yoghurt with granola, compote etc was super nice too. We sat inside as it was a little chilly but there was a very cute outside area for dining which would be lovely too. Would recommend.

We popped in for a drink as we had passed it many times on our way home. We have not stayed in the rooms but from the pictures they look nice. The staff were warm, welcoming and happy to answer any questions we had, nothing was to much trouble. The atmosphere was lovely. Lovely garden to look at and it felt quiet and peaceful. Food menus change every month. Will definitely go back.

Excellent venue, amazing experience, the staff were very helpful and professional....the hotel is unique in every way in my opinion....Thanks again for an amazing experience, regards Richard

Brilliant place, very authentic inside. Staff were excellent quick and efficient. Food was as you may expect a tad pricey and too much of some and very little of the the more expensive item on the plates. But overall it was a place to say we've been to.

Extremely rude customer service staff and receptionist that seemed to be an issue when asking for help on queries.

Just ate at the restaurant but it was delicious and we were well attended too. Cozy atmosphere

We went for dinner with friends and the starter was good, but the mains were disappointing. We told the waiter who informed the duty manager. who said there was nothing they could do but remove the tip from the bill, which didn’t seem fair to the waiter who had done his job! We were told to come back again and they would make sure next time everything would be excellent, I don’t think we will. There are much better options in this price bracket in Exeter. For the money we were expecting a lot more.

We were staying at the hotel before one of the famous lockdowns but there was no sense of pervading gloom. The dining room has a lovely feel with the character of the designer shining through. The one meal we took in the evening was well presented and served and just hit the spot after a day visiting the town. Breakfast was excellent and summed up a great visit.

Have visited a number of times in the past but left disappointed by the lack of choice on the menu,.Ordered a steak that was very small and unevenly cooked, rare one end and medium well the other, chips tasted “oven ready” and massively over salted. Service ok but we were the only ones in the restaurant so difficult to gauge.

Si quieres un hotel en Exeter, busca en otro lado. Si, por otro lado, desea sentirse como los huéspedes de la casa extremadamente privilegiados en lo que debe ser una de las propiedades más atractivas en Exeter, tanto por dentro como por fuera, no busque más. Una absoluta delicia.

Reservamos el Southernhay para una fiesta de recepción. Fue un placer hacer negocios con el hotel. El gerente y el personal fueron serviciales y atentos a nuestras necesidades. El lugar, el personal y el ambiente fueron excelentes: uso del bar, una excelente sala de actos y, con clima cálido y soleado, el jardín trasero también. Las bebidas y canapés estaban bien. Tiempo muy agradable!

Lovely hotel, staff friendly, nice bar. Rooms overlook a cut through from city centre to quays so terribly noisy with drinks all night into the Saturday we stayed. Dinner was minute and hugely expensive. Cauliflower soup was gorgeous but about an egg cup ful fof £8 a go which seems mad. I had an egg mayo sandwich with freezing cold bread. When I scraped off and ate contents because the bread was cold was told that it was because they keep the bread in the fridge!! Breakfast in morning was nice but toast comes out 3 mins after breakfasts which again are tiny so food going cold. Receptionist said hotel was normally very quiet but this was not our experience. Nothing knocked off bill for uneaten and cold food or disturbed night. Would not stay again. All style over substance in the end.

We're new residents of Exeter and this was our first visit to this venue. The place is gorgeous, so beautifully decorated and designed. We had our welcome cocktail in the bar and were received very warmly by the staff, who were all very friendly, attentive and professional. We enjoyed all the courses, some more than others, (the mushroom soufflé was delicious), but that's the nature of a tasting menu. Good quality produce, cooked and presented to a high standard. It was what we were hoping for, and we weren't disappointed. Thank you to all for a lovely time and it really helped to make up for our horrible experience the previous day at the Hotel du Vin Bistro.

I was part of a family group that visited this restaurant a couple of weeks ago. As we were a party of 12 we booked the function room which is attractive with a wood effect gas fire. We understood that the £100 deposit would come off the final bill. We thought the set menu uninspiring for the prices but decided to go ahead as it had been recommended and the venue looked appealing. We had pre ordered our food and decided on 2 courses for £30 although there was a supplement of £6 for the steak. The portion sizes were minute. Although veg were supposedly included it was barely a tablespoonful and extra were ordered and came at the end of the meal and again very small portions.. at £5 at shot! My steak was served well done, (inpite of the claim that steak is served medium rare; really?) indeed it appeared as though it had been microwaved, with a thick rim of white fat and a few pale soggy chips. I was stunned and struggled to eat this barely edible food. My fellow diners fared less well and the fish was half a plaice fillet and the duck breast appeared to have been shared between 3 diners, again with soggy pale fat. The mousse with so small and tasted of cheap chocolate and eaten in 3 teaspoonfuls! The wine was fine but the waitresses were scarce and we had to hunt for a corkscrew to open one bottle. When I mentioned my meal was cold the girl nodded and said she would pass it on. I have since read other reviews and clearly others have had either similar or widely varying experiences. Very strange. I am intrigued as to the cryptic response my review will receive from the "owner" who clearly just doesn't understand that he needs to get his kitchen and staff in order when catering for more than a couple of diners. He insults other customers who write their honest opinions. Finally to cap it all, the £100 deposit was added at the bottom of the bill for room hire! I had been with my cousin when she called a few days beforehand to confirm it was a deposit and would come off the final bill! When queried the following day the manager said the charge stood. I have never given a 'terrible' review, but this really was the worst dining experience ever.

Southernhay House Hotel at the centre of Exeter is a Georgian gem, indeed a miracle to have survived the blitz. A simply elegant interior in design and decor, one is offered a stylish bar, a Club room and for alfresco dining, the terrace. Also on offer, a Private Dining Room for special celebrations when dining with friends. However, it fails to mention a charge of £100 is levied for the use of this dining room. The advertised a la Carter menu was a far cry from that which was served to our party of 12 when we dined there. There was an additional charge of £6 if one preferred a steak and also for cheese and biscuits in place of a dessert. The paucity of the portions and quality of cooking did not reflect the best quality of food for which Devon likes to be renowned. Dining here is audacious robbery. Steer clear.

If you get a chance to stay at Southernhay House Hotel, do. Or, for a quick fix of their hospitality, go for a meal. Bonus, the adjacent bar is stylish, relaxed and well-stocked. Their bartender introduced my boyfriend to a wonderful local gin that we promptly sought out at the local market. The bartender also expanded my rum brand options for the first time since high school.This 18th-century country house just feels good to hang out in and homage to its provenance can be seen in delightful touches throughout, like quotes from the original owner and his East Indian bestie in the bar. The staff are all incredibly gracious and welcoming. These are people who care about the details and seem to truly enjoy creating a great experience for their guests.

Stumbled across Southenhay house restaurant while shopping around town. Lovely restaurant with a great roast dinner. Could have been slightly more efficient with table service, however it was thoroughly enjoyed.

A couple of years ago following the devastating fire at the Royal Clarence we sought out a replacement quality restaurant for our occasional Saturday lunch visits to Exeter. We were delighted with the ambience, great food and service at Southern hay. Sadly a visit yesterday revealed a change for the worse. There was no atmosphere, we were the only ones dining! The food offering was minimal and not particularly good. To be fair the service was not at fault at all.

Had a lovely roast dinner Which was cooked to perfection Also the servicewas excellent The beef was well done and tender Will definitely be back.

Carefully presented food that tastes as good as it looks. I had seared mackerel, belly pork and pear tart tatin with ice cream. Slight wait but this is to be expected when food is cooked to order. Lovely room in a very smart house.

Sadly gone down hill since our last visit, almost non existence service, flavourless starter, uncooked pasta ( stuck together ) complete lack of interest from staff when issues were raised, wrote to the hotel, response was very very poor. I would want to hear as a business owner not just the positives but also the negatives. Not so here, such a shame as it used to be great venue for something different - walk past don’t stop and don’t waste your money in a restaurant that isn’t interested.

My husband organised a family meal for my birthday. I have been to this Hotel Restaurant on two previous occasions and was therefore looking forward to this treat. My daughter has not only eaten here but stayed here too. We were all filled with anticipation. When we arrived we noticed that the front of house who always greeted us, was not about, sadly it would appear she is no longer there. When I went through to the bar, there was no greeting and my mother and I just took a seat. On previous visits, the front of house would bring us through to the bar and offer us menus for cocktails and wine and indicate where we could sit. This service is what made the experience so special and welcoming, what you would expect from a Boutique Hotel.

To angry to put into words. Will just vote with my feet/ companies credit card and never return. Sometimes you just left shell shocked by how inept a companies approach and attitude can be towards its returning clients. It’s the Southgate hotel across the road...

We ate dinner at the restaurant on the ground floor of the Southernhay House Hotel while staying there. It is also where breakfast is served. Our meal was very good, featuring local farm ingredients and prepared well. There was a good selection of wines by the glass and bottle to accompany our meal. We thought it was a nice touch for the chef to come out near the end of our dinner to check on his creations. The restaurant is small but there was only one other group at dinner the night we were there.

My colleagues and I have often visited Southernhay House for pre-night out cocktails. One time we had booked for about 30 of us for a 3 course meal. We met here before the meal for cocktails. The cocktails are lovely but lethal. We all got absolutely hammered. The food (from what I remember) was really tasty but the portions are quite small - probably didn't help with the state we all ended up in! There is a long wait for cocktails and to get a drink........

I have eaten here before and enjoyed the food immensely, but this Tuesday I was let down. I had an important guest which was especially disappointing. We both ordered the linguine with wild mushrooms etc. Service was fine, the usual high standard, but the linguine were broken into short lengths, which made them impossible to eat with a fork: they couldn't be twirled. We were offered spoons, which I rejected, as the equivalent of drinking tea out of a saucer. The mushrooms were button mushrooms with no wild mushrooms to be seen. The cheese sauce was gloopy, and the whole concoction reminded me of a sloppy 1950s macaroni cheese. Carluccio's do this better for half the price.

On Saturday Oct 21st my friends & I received the worst service any of us have experienced from the Southen Hay Hotel staff. We are all seasoned travellers and tonight found ourselves left on the wet streets of Exeter with no dinner options and no transport, having arrived at the hotel by taxi, as the hotel refused to honour a dinner reservation made due to the chef being on paternity leave. Whilst I can understand there was no chef what was awful was the complete lack of empathy & help from the staff on finding us alternative dinner arrangements - I would not recommend this hotel at all based on our experience

Cenamos a deux. Un excelente almuerzo de chuletas de cordero, patatas, ajo y verduras. Todo esto seguido de un parfait ligera servida en una base de sandía junto a un sabroso sorbete.

La sala tiene una capacidad de hasta 16 personas, que era el tamaño de nuestro grupo. La organización y el asesoramiento antes del evento fue excelente, y en el transcurso de la noche nos sirvieron comida maravillosa y encantadores vinos por personal eficiente, atento y amable, que parecía estar satisfecho de trabajar allí y para los que nada era demasiado problema. La sala ayudó a crear un gran ambiente. El servicio en el bar antes y después de la cena también era ejemplar. Tuvimos la suerte de tener un día cálido y soleado para disfrutar de la terraza del jardín. No podría haber sido mejor.

As I stated in my previous review lovely hotel but as the room was classed Luxury it should of had a small fridge and to have no milk was disappointing .we asked at reception and was told they don't have milk in rooms there was just tea and coffee so this should be sorted out

Vivimos en Torquay y visita Exeter mucho y decidimos pasar una noche en este hotel encantador. La habitación que nos dieron era una habitación de lujo era precioso. El baño era increíble. Fuimos a Exeter, ya no hay mucha variedad en el menú. Tomamos el desayuno que era muy agradable y la camarera era muy eficiente.

Excellent service, meal was fabulous very tasty, My daughter said mum this is very tasty, :) Very delicious, we both enjoy our night, Everything about are meal and service was excellent Very very happy:)

Organicé para reunirse con algunos viejos amigos en este restaurante muy recomendado para cenar una noche de sábado. La comida sólo era simplemente decente, nada especial, pero mi bondad las raciones eran insignificantes. Y de postre, en arranque tan pequeñas. Es una especie de "cosa" en la que hay que pagar en dólares por un plato grande con sólo una porción de comida en la cata.

Gran entorno y ambiente relajado. La comida era genial y el vino aún mejor. Fui con mi marido y dos amigos que igualmente disfrutaron de su tiempo. Los cócteles en el bar eran buenas y el barman, incluso fuimos fuera de pista y de hecho...

Yo organicé un grupo de cuatro para comer el jueves. La ubicación y el ambiente es acorde con la zona y aunque no vi un dormitorio, supongo que es un buen hotel para la profesión legal que puede alojarse mientras tratar casos en el cercano County Court. La comida en nuestro caso fue una decepción. No desean comer del menú dos opciones (sólo pigeon o ensalada) comimos en el menú principal. Nos pareció que los calamares era demasiado demasiado salada y los pasteles de pescado eran principalmente de patatas con sólo una pequeña cantidad de pescado. El comedor es muy atractivo y tal vez elegimos el mal, pero no elementos animaron a ir de nuevo. (una copa de jerez cuesta £12. 00! ! Por cierto)

SHOCKING MEAL,SHOCKING SERVICE, Never again. When you walk in ask yourself why is this place empty on a Friday night. Answer SHOCKING £25 for a steak that I would expect to see in a baguette In a French restaurant..... I saw the receivers like vultures circling outside.

Very pleasant evening dinning in our private room. Lovely cocktails to kick things off and the pre ordered meal was what I expected.I found the staff polite and attentive from the minute we arrived.It's quite a quirky venue in a positive way. Go on try it !!

We hadn't been here for years. Memories of last time were good and very positive. Well, it is still a pleasant place really, but the menu choice has gone downhill and is very limited. We booked for Sunday lunch and were a group of 3. Only one other couple were there and they ate in the bar. We opted for the restaurant and the proper tables. Food and service were good but the place lacked soul. A disappointing return really, I can see why the TA rating is as it is.

My friend and I went here for lunch. We both chose from the fixed price menu which although had a limited choice there was enough variety, the bar menu looked nice and the wine list was good at a very wide range of prices.We both chose the same, of starter we have crispy ham hock with a tangy piccalili - both very tasty (only observation was could have done with slightly less turmeric powder).The pork and red onion cassoulet was a moderate portion of unctuousness and the dessert chocolate and orange cheesecake (with a cornflake base - unusual) was lovely as was my friends rhubarb trifle. All this was washed down by a fruity Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon. Service was friendly and well paced.

This is a very good venue to hold a function, but the group menus lack variety, and the Chef over does the salt content, the bar does not stock Alcohol free beers, however the staff are very friendly and attentive, and the rooms are very spacious and the meal was served professionally.

Excellent breakfast! It makes such a difference especially for a vegan person to find a chef who is flexible and even creative when it comes to altering their regular English breakfast into a tasty and good looking vegan version!

Tasty food in perfect portions. Catered for my vegetarian diet easily. Rhubarb Crumble gorgeous. Beautiful service.

Having wanted to go into this lovely looking hotel for some time, I took the opportunity recently when out with my wife and friends. I was very disappointed, there was no atmosphere whatsoever but this wasn't the main problem. The main disappointment and the reason I will not be going back and would recommend you don't either was the rudeness of the staff. The barman hardly spoke to us, another member of staff walking around who was extremely rude and just stared at us making us feel very uncomfortable, as if we had dared to come into the hotel. The drinks were very expensive but we felt so unwelcome we finished them quickly and left.Do not waste your money to feel insulted go to the wine bar down the road which was lovely.

No atmosphere. Felt as if we were going into a solicitor's office.Had one cocktail and left for somewhere with a bit of atmosphere.

the food was tasty, well presented and the portions were just right. would definitely recommend this restaurant even if you are not staying at the hotel

Smart and sophisticated 'Superb food although the menu is small but exclusive. Local produce presented and beautifully served. We were in the Library opposite the front door so it was quite draughty and noise echoed from the other rooms.

Very disappointed, no atmosphere, almost library likeFood average at best, far better value at Cote or rendezvous if visiting ExeterShame as the hotel itself is beautiful inside.

eat here probably three or four times a year, staff are always good, menu with extensive choice and the food is invariable good as well and of course a nice location right on Cathedral Green, long may they maintain standards

I took my parents for lunch when they were visiting us and they were truly delighted. Definitely not cheap, but the food and the wine were absolutely excellent. The place really adds to the dining experience. Would definitely recommend.

We had a meal in the private dining room. For 13 people with a pre ordered menu sitting down at ten past seven it shouldn't take til gone half past eight for the main courses to come out and for desserts another hour after that. Much too slow.

My girlfirend and I stopped here for a cocktail on the way out for dinner in Exeter and enjoyed the most relaxing hour. Great service, lovely cocktails and pleasant surroundings.

We had cocktails here on a Friday night. It was relaxed but classy. Enjoyed the ambiance. The cocktails are quite pricy but we did buy one get one free so it was actually great value!

We booked this restaurant for a milestone birthday and big family get together and were very excited about the event. Communication was very good pre event, including when we raised questions about the menu and the chef was helpful.Then dining room was beautifully laid out and the staff friendly and accommodating. The impression was of a beautiful boutique hotel and a superb looking dining room. We were excited.I could detail all the dishes, however the underlying issue was lack of seasoning and taste. We were convinced by the chef that the lamb breast main course was well worth eating, however were very disappointed with the dry and tasteless lamb. The fish was overcooked and very eighties style. The restaurant advertises that the menu is delicious food simply cooked. I would suggest they reverse that and try simple food, deliciously cooked. It felt like it was trying too hard. Food should be honest and this felt far from it.We contacted the hotel by e mail to give constructive feedback, however the response was defensive, arrogant and demonstrated a poor level of customer service. If the response had been constructive.

We always want to love this place, but we always end up feeling that we have payed over the odds for a meal here. The location on Southerhay is lovely, the decor is good, but is just lacks ambience. The staff are nice and friendly and are obviously longing for you to enjoy your meal. The food is always delicious and well presented, more gastro pub than fine dining. However, you do pay fine dining prices, and as result expect much more than you usually get.

Good evening had by all and the food was most enjoyable, little mistake of being given wrong menu at first so had to reorder but got complimentary drinks for the trouble and was near to out hotel so not far to walk afterwards

Went for a 60th birthday meal with a group in a private dining room and was really nice. Food was good but can't comment on the value for money as out hosts were paying the bill.Drinks were 'very' expensive though and a bit of a shock to the purse!! :-OOur only criticism is we think the chef should re think the use of strips of semi crispy flat bread!! (only half toasted) instead of a biscuit selection for the cheese course as it was doughy and did not suit the cheeses served.

My sister had her birthday supper there, the food was terribly over priced for what it was. Michelin star prices for normal gastro pub food. The only good course was the desert! Also the service was poor and slow. All in all I would not recommend there are much better places in Exeter at considerably less prices!

We came upon this restaurant by chance and luckily they were able to accommodate us later in the evening. They do not have many tables so I would say it's important to book.This restaurant is a real mix of styles but the staff were very attentive and the food was beautiful. The menu wasn't extensive (chose of only 4 mains) but everything we had was lovely.

Food:We have held dinner parties at a number of restaurants around Exeter and this was amongst the best. The menu offers excellent quality meals and value at about £34. The food was well cooked and presented. Drink:The bar offers a wide variety of drinks and cocktails. The selection of spirits is good with a wide array of Gin's and Whisky's. The wine list has something for any taste and everything was reasonably priced.Service:The staff are all very friendly and offer an excellent knowledge of their food and drink options. They were very nice to deal with. Overall:A lovely experience with excellent service and a very well presented private dining room. I'm sure we will return in the future.

We visited in February for my friend's hen party which was a pre ordered meal for 17. Unfortunately the experience was terrible. Food was served cold, bread rolls were rock hard, the pasta and duck were over-cooked. We sent food back and it still came back cold. We couldn't eat together as food didn't come out together. We complained on the night. The hotel said it would contact us on the monday and offered us a cream - tea for 4 guests only. We weren't happy with this as majority of guests weren't happy with their food and so the manager Darran sent us a very snotty email. Won't be going here ever again! Never written a complaint before but can't believe how rude they were! They don't handle complaints well unfortunately.

Very disappointing meal, rock hard bread rolls and lukewarm soggy pasta was not what we expected to be served here. Unfortunately I can't personally recommend eating here despite the nice surroundings and good cocktails. Meals were slow to be served too and because some were sent back we didn't all eat together.

Southerhay House just got better, new Chef, new menu and better all round standardsImproved standards and food befitting the ambition of seeking awards, better quality than before , very impressed

An absolutely amazing dining experience. Food was excellent and very good value. Staff were very attentive and nothing was too much trouble.

My partner and I went to this restaurant over the Valentine's weekend. The service from start to finish was excellent: attentive without being intrusive. I liked the understated quirkiness of the rooms, and the log fire was a real bonus on such a chilly night.The tables were nicely spaced, and the furniture was beautiful. It was a very comfortable space.All three courses were beautifully presented, and were clearly made from good quality ingredients. The vegetarian main course of risotto was absolutely delicious and the addition of turnips added extra variety, texture and flavour.Portions were slightly more generous than I was expecting, and I found the menu to be well-priced for what we got. The wine was heavily marked up but unfortunately this is par for the course in all restaurants and certainly wouldn't put me off returning very soon.Thank you for making our meal so memorable.

Enjoyed my little sojourn down in Exeter whilst it was still summer! With decent food and polite staff to boot, was a cosy experience, made easier by a NEW car park just opened next door in Southernhay Gardens, EX1 1UN. Recommend the CHEAP parking and the hotel/restaurant!

We visited here on 18/07/15 and always do so on the rare occasions we are in Exeter. Really fantastic service from the two polite dudes behind the bar. Wonderful cocktails, beautiful surroundings. Go here now!

Booked a table here from our wedding anniversary, we have been before and liked it so decided to go back, sadly this was to be our last time. The waitress did not understand much and did not seem to know about the drinks and kept going off to ask other staff. Our food came and my husband asked be tomato sauce with his fish & chips after about 10min waiting she came back with a tomato salsa and was told if we wanted tomato sauce we should of asked for ketchup, We did not feel as relaxed and looked after well as before,it was not busy so was not as if she was rushed off her feet. They do not deal with complaints very well I had a very rude email back from them, telling me they are not sure what I want them to do about it and that this was not 'earth shattering events'.they never replied back to me after that , I would not be dinning there again.

we have always enjoyed lunching here previously but this time it was a little disappointing. The waitress did not recognise the drink 'lime and lemonade' and served a very strange and un drinkable concoction. This was instantly changed by the regular waitress with many apologies. The lunch we had was rather ordinary and, as we had a Foodie guest with us, disappointing as we had walked her past many good lunch venues to take her to Southernhay..I think that we will probably go elsewhere next time.

Enjoyed our lunch here as it was away from the madding crowd of the Exeter Town Centre. A small menu but providing enough choice to suit most tastes. We had the ciabatta with crisps and a choice of fillings. The crisps were wonderfully crispy and a visual treat of sweet potato, beetroot and parsnip. A lovely contrast in texture to the ciabatta with salmon and salad accompanied by a horseradish vinaigrette. Prices are quite reasonable too so that is a bonus. Highly recommended if you want to escape the crowds in the Town Centre.

The menu is small but considerable thought has gone into the specials dishes which were superbly cooked and presented. Service was attentive but unobtrusive, which is a skill in itself. Portions were not overly large, which suited me fine. We drank a bottle of the most delicious Fiano Lunate from Sicily.

Even as we arrived a few minutes late, rather than being rushed to our table, we were asked if we'd like a drink at the bar. Polite and friendly, the staff greeted us and introduced us to the various menus we needed.The food was outstanding. Mussels, Pork Belly, Bangers and Mash and a STAGGERINGLY delicious Chocolate Fondant. The lighting was just soft enough and the music a perfect volume.We'll definitely be back, highly recommended.

A beautiful building and pleasant welcome was a good start. The bar is very smart and a lovely relaxing place for aperitifs. Drinks ARE rather expensive but the ambiance makes up for this. The dining room is a handsome, hung with old portraits but the brown/cream decor with glass chandeliers as the only light source makes the room dull and flat.The menu is, as described, made up of simple dishes, which is not in itself a problem - we knew what to expect, but they are simply not well enough prepared for the price - over £15 for fish and chips which was a small and unexceptional is too much. My bresaola starter was very nice but again too small a portion. So I would sum up - average pub food in grand surroundings and too pricey to want to return. Sorry.

After a busy afternoon Christmas shopping we decided to head for the elegant Southernhay House. The art deco atmosphere is elegantly restrained lending a lovely relaxed atmosphere to the bar. Cosily snuggled into a corner of the large black sofa the only choice of drink was a glass of golden bubbles. Chilled to perfection and sparkling in a tall flute it was delicious and as we 'clinked' our glasses we certainly felt relaxed.

third time visit to this hotel restaurant, elegant art deco surroundings give a welcoming entrance and promise to give a quality meal.Booked a table for 1.30pm as this was the earliest available although on arrival there was only two people in the bar and one other table in the restaurant occupied.We noticed that the menu had changed again and as we had not experienced a good meal on the other two times of our visits we were hopeful of a good meal. We discussed the menu with the waiter who recommended the Catalan Fish Stew which we ordered as a main course.Far from being as described a shellfish and fresh fish stew it turned out to be a sort of Mulligatawny Soup with a lonely mussel floating in it and at £16 per person was just not worth it.None of the waiting staff asked if we were happy with the meal not even when clearing the plates.I complained that the meal was not as described and would not even pass as a starter.The waitress later returned and apologised and offered a complimentary dessert and coffee, we refused and declined to pay for the fish stew and a bill for the wine was produced which I paid and we left.This will be our last visit to the Southernhay Restaurant Hotel and would advise anybody else to avoid the place

Obviously you expect to pay a premium when you dine somewhere that has nice surroundings and is in a city rather than the country, but I still came away feeling somewhat ripped off.Myself and 14 friends met up for a meal at Southernhay last night. We were first given a glass of mulled wine which was nice. We were then seated in an attractive room (though lacking much atmosphere). We were seated around 4 tables pushed together. The tables would normally comfortbaly seat two each, but all 15 of us were sat around the outside of the 4 tables meaning most of us had 4 to a table. My friend next to me complained it was somewhat crampt and I agreed. Feeling like I was set up to have a meal on a plane, I asked one of the staff if it would be possible to add some extra tables. They told me that a previous party had been happy with the seating (I'm not sure why I should be concerned about that after clearly declaring I wasn't comfortable!), but she said she would be happy to accomodate us. She was pleasant and polite. All of us moved back to the bar whilst they added some tables. It didn't take long and we had a little extra space which everyone appreciated.First we had some canapes arrive which were minute!! Delicious, but the size of a £1 coin! We had one each! Our starters then arrived; I had a very large bowl with a very small amount of fish soup in it. The soup smelt fresh and was delicious, but the portion was meagre.Next came the main. I had a turkey Christmas meal. The plate arrived with just the turkey and cranberry sauce. Shortly afterwards came some rather small dishes of vegetables which were to share. This gave us a very small portion each. As it had already costed me £25 for two courses (and the mulled wine) I hadn't bothered to have desert too - £5. A few people had opted for "Cholcolate pots." This in reality consisted of a very small metal dish the width of an egg cup with some chocolate pudding, with a firm surface to it. It looked appetising to me, but one person said it wasn't very nice and was a bit bitter (each to their own - perhaps it had a high cocoa content). What was odd however is that rather than the correct use of the plural word "pots" being used, there was also a white gelatonous mouse type affair the other end of the slate dish. It did contain gelatine so unfortunately the two vegetarians had to reject it, but I thought it odd they were included in the name "Chocolate Pots."Near the end we were served coffee, tea and mince pies. I was thankful the coffee was included given the already high cost. The mince pies however were micro mince pies, half the size of normal ones!I find it bizarre that the less money you spend, the bigger the portions and the more money you spend, the smaller the portions. Ok I'm being slightly unfair as good food costs more, but this was taking the mickey somewhat. Extra veg, a larger canape starter, and a regular sized mince pie would not have broke the bank and I thought Southernhay were being downright stingy. Either that or they treat their food like some pretentious art form!Not recommended, there are much better places to go with more atmosphere and more for your money with just as nice food.

This small restaurant offers a limited but excellent menu served by an attentive staff. The atmosphere is a little quiet, but all the staff went out of their way to make our meal special. The cocktails were pretty good also. I will certainly visit again, there was more on the menu that I could sample at one attempt!

Booked the private dining room for a family birthday dinner. All the pre-planning worked well, with tables reserved in the bar, name cards and menu choices set out for us on the table, and faultless, attentive service throughout the meal. We found the staff helpful in adjusting the original menu options - when we found the first set menu (£34) somewhat dull, back came a much more appealing revised menu. The room is elegant, beautifully decorated and seats 12 or so people easily. The only slight disappointment was that the flowers were a kind of inconspicuous white-greenish arrangement, rather than a more eye-catching or colourful display that we'd hoped for. The dinner overall wasn't cheap, but the quality and presentation made it a classy affair, enjoyed by all our guests.

My husband and I chose this restaurant on a recommendation of my in-laws. Upon arrival we were greeted at a cocktail bar by a very friendly staff members. We had cocktail each from their menu and although pricey, 8-9 pounds they were delicious and very strong. After making choices from their dinner menu we were invited to a dining room, which was not huge, but big enough to have a comfortable conversation. I was worried from other people's reviews that the food will not be as good as you would expect from a place like this, but thankfully I had nothing to worry about. Firstly, we were given complimentary bread, presumably made on premises, cause it was absolutely delicious and aromatic with herbs. Then, for a starter I had asparagus with a poached egg and hollandese sauce, which was really tasty. As for mains, my choice of duck leg with mashed potatoes and braised cabbage with blackberries proved to be excellent. My husband had burger with chips and although he is not usually enthusiastic about burgers, he said it was one of the best burgers he's ever had. I was also surprised with the generous portions, because I was worried that we would get tiny portions, but that was not the case. My desert was an Earl Grey creme brulee, which was fantastic. At all times, the staff seemed very kind and attentive, but not overbearing. We'll be definitely coming back there!

Lunch on a Thursday to celebrate 50th birthday - 4 ladies.Had booked because we went there 2 years before for the same reason, and had lovely memories, (though it was then a Saturday lunchtime).Sat outside under the tree on the back lawn in dappled shade, where we moved, as we were initially put on the verandah, which was rather a squash for 4 - the 2 people on the outside edge would have been afraid of falling off the edge - not far to fall, just somewhat disconcerting.I enjoyed mushroom gnocchi, and another of us mushroom risotto. My gnocchi dish was very tasty, but rather a small portion - would have preferred a bit more, and less generous with the truffle shavings. The other 2 both ordered steak, and one of these was sent back as it was rather chewy. She was offered an alternative choice from the menu, which she accepted. The second steak was also apparently chewy, and half of it was left, although the other items on the dish were all complimented. Overall, I would say the choice on the menu was somewhat disappointing, especially compared with 2 years ago. The place seemed very quiet, and the outside area was a bit run-down - grass tufts growing out of the verandah floor, and parts of the shrubbery rather more full of weeds than flowers. No set menu was on offer, which was a shame, as these are often very good value for money, and choice. Portion sizes a bit on the small side for the price. Our waitress was very friendly and attentive, and dealt with the 'poor' steak dish very pleasantly. Similarly pleasant booking experience. Overall, the meal did not live up to my expectations, and I would think twice about going again. I think I probably will, but will be sure to go on a Friday or Saturday for a busier atmosphere, and check the menu on-line first. Perhaps I should say that I am mainly vegetarian, but do eat fish, but I felt the menu rather limited.

I dined here when it opened - it had a great menu then and we had a fantastic time. Roll on 18 months and the menu has changed and is now bland and overpriced. Drinks before in the cocktail bar were good but the restaurant was very quiet (one other couple) for a Friday night. Service was good but the food is underwhelming.

We stopped at this restaurant for cocktails on our way into town. The house has a beautiful garden area to sit, relax and enjoy the evening sun.

Having enjoyed well made cocktails in the bar previously I thought it time to try the food. This was a mistake. The scallops were not as fresh as they could be, though admittedly and thankfully not yet off. The beef was largely fat. Both dishes were presented well but had far too many elements and flavours. My girlfriend had marginally better luck with her meal but it was still disappointing.The restaurant is clearly aiming high but falling short. If they focused instead on decent ingredients cooked properly they would soon improve. The cocktails however were pretty good and the staff are helpful and friendly. Stay in the bar and eat elsewhere.

Excellent staff good tasty food the portion size was a bit small but at least I could walk after and it was very nice .

Feels like eating in a friend's dining room - very elegant and cosy. Equally charming bar area, where we sat sipping Prosecco and selecting our food and wine. Quality excellent, with very warm and lively service from our delightful waitress - she certainly made the evening special for us.To be repeated.

Oh dear this was not the birthday dinning experience either my husband or I was looking for! Visited on the 15th February 2014.Having been to Southernhay House last year for dinner with friends and experienced great service and superb food my husband had booked with confidence. If only he had checked the new menu first... We are not sure what the chef is trying to achieve with this menu which appears to be fine dining with some dishes; then throws in some 'gastro pub' fare like fat cut chips and steak; just to confuse the issue. But at fine dining prices this leaves you with the expectation that the 'left over pie' is going to be something really spectacular delivering a fine dining experience. It didn't it was shepherds pie with carrots and peas... I ordered wild mushroom, poached egg and truffles to start. It was fine if you want a poached egg and some mushrooms. Not fine if you are expecting truffles which were missing completely. Not even a sniff of truffle oil. I am a truffle fan so was very excited about this starter. NO TRUFFLES. But a large hens egg... I was kind of expecting a) the truffles b) actual wild mushrooms (not micro-mushrooms) and c) a delicately poached quails egg (they did not say quails egg on the menu please note but expectations and all that). When I mentioned the lack of truffle to the rather lovely lady in the dining room she asked whether truffles were mentioned in the menu. They were in the menu just not in the dish... For main my husband really did end up with Shepherds pie. He ate it he was hungry. It was okay. So is my mums and I believe Findus also do a great shepherds pie... He thought that it was going to be some amazing new take on a pie with some amazing taste sensations and a twist.It wasn't; it was shepherds pie with mash, peas and carrots. I ordered the belly pork with apple and star aniseed sauce accompanied by butter beans. Mine came to the table looking fantastic with these delightful crackling spears laid across the top. Good job I ordered a side of broccoli and new potatoes. The sauce was so over powering that the pork was almost inedible. It was just to much. I left it and they took it of the bill. We didn't bother with a dessert, the menu was uninspiring and I didn't want to be further disappointed. The bill came it was £94! They had charged for drinks we had not had. They corrected this, however £80 + for a G&T, a bottle of wine, starter and main was excessive for quite frankly passable food.The staff in the restaurant were lovely, particularly the young lady who was delightful (we felt bad complaining), service was great our complaints were handled nicely.However I would have not charged for the meal at all.The service in the bar was just okay. A more surly, smirking barman you could not hope to meet or maybe he couldn't help it; perhaps that's just his face. Perhaps he can't help gossiping with other staff, shrugging and smiling tightly as if your order is the last thing he wants to take. The gentleman that came into the bar took our table order and wine selection was however delightful.My husband was quite put out as he had wanted to make it a special night for me. We won't be going back which is sad. But is was pretty dire.

We took my parents here for Saturday lunch as one of several trial runs for their Diamond Wedding anniversary meal. The dining room is lovely with a welcome fire on a dismal day, we were welcomed warmly by the staff too. There was music playing but it was not overloud, a pet hate of our family. The food was beautifully presented and absolutely delicious. My Dad was still raving about the cinnamon rice pudding a week later and plans to return when it is back on the menu. Needless to say we booked for the Diamond Wedding lunch the next day and that was even more fantastic, thank you.

Went here last minute when everywhere else in Exeter seemed to be booked up. It's a nice hotel and the ambience was pleasant, but the food was only ok and felt quite overpriced because if this (though on paper it's actually very reasonable). Maybe just going to the bar for drinks is better.

I dined here just before Christmas and was very disappointed with the quality of the food and the poor value. it simply didn't pass muster with my boeuf bourguignon being dry to the point it was inedible. It is a shame that the restaurant does not live up to the high standards that the bar manages to achieve.

Thank you to everyone at Southernhay House for making our family Christmas Day an absolute triumph! This was our very first Christmas dinner outside of the family home and naturally we were nervous - totally unnecessarily as it became quickly apparent! We ate in the beautiful private dining room with 11 members of the family ranging between 9 and 89 years old yet despite the potential for 'complaints' from such a diverse range of tastes, every single one of us left with a wonderful memory and a very high opinion of the most fabulous food, the wonderful staff and the beautiful environment. Each of the courses was first class (the parfait was a bit on the large side), and seemed to get better and better as the afternoon went on. The main course dishes of turkey and venison for the less traditional, were stunning and it was plainly obvious that all employees the hotel wanted to ensure each of the guests went home happy. There was no sign of any complaint from any of our family and we will all be recommending Southernhay House at every opportunity. Thanks again for a wonderful day and beautiful meal - we will most definitely be back very soon!

Visited recently with a friend for our Christmas meal. The hotel itself is lovely. Perfect for Christmas. The staff were very attentive. The menu is varied and well priced. I had the burger and chips which was fantastic. My friend had toad in the hole- lovely. Would definitely visit again.

Not a place to call into for lunch if your out and about shopping in casual attire!! After being looked up and down by an inexperienced waiter I was made to feel unwelcome and was told lunch had just finished when it was blatantly obvious they were still serving lunch at 1.30 pm ,and was told by the lady on reception "yes certainly sir, just go straight through" !!! After eating there and introducing friends previously I feel greatly angered by the attitude I received today . If your looking for a warm welcome and are an Afro/carribean doctor then this is most certainly not the place for you !!! Southernhay , I hope you make the waiter concerned aware of how uncomfortable he made me feel , his attitude will not encourage your business to flourish - great food and welcome at Michael Caines !!

I had heard mixed reviews but must say I couldn't fault the restaurant. The bar was a lovely area to sit with a great choice of cocktails, the menu was very good. I had scallops to start and pork belly for main and both were beautifully presented and tasted wonderful, there was no problem when I asked for dauphinois instead of boiled potatoes, couldn't manage a dessert.Lovely décor with a real fire, only thing I could criticise is the ambiance in the restaurant but will definitely visit again.

Had a very good meal in a large group in a historic building with an interesting collection of colonial Indian memorabilia. Excellent service and nice ambience.

Had two evening meals here during stay at Southernhay. Both of a high standard and with very good service.Very pleasant restaurant - looks as if sititng outside could be very pleasant weather permitting.Chose to eat at restaurant twice - always a good sign.

This isn't the first time visiting this upmarket boutique hotel restaurant, but at long last they have got the food right, the food is well conceived, full of flavour and looks amazing, beautiful little touches show thoughtfulness and theatre, tapas done in a real British fashion, beef stew with dauphinoise potato, sublime, chocolate tart to die for with a caramac sauce. All amazing

We called in to Southernhay House for dinks with friends a while back, the decor & atmosphere were really nice, but the bar prices were crazy! On our return visit a few months later, we were expeecting it to be expensive but, accordingly, had high expectations of the food. We could not have been more wrong it was horrible. We didn't fancy taking out a second mortgage and wernt that hungry so we didn't order starters... Our main courses came out and I knew straight away that there was something wrong with my fish (I had ordered cod and chips) I could smell a weird smell as soon as my plate was put down. I'm not sure how to describe it really, it had a sort of overly fishy but yet chemical smell and taste to it (i tried two mouthfulls). It was a really weird strong taste which was just horrible and turned my stomach. Our waitress came over and asked if everything was ok with our food and I politely said that I couldn't eat the fish because of the taste/smell and she apologised and picked up my plate. She agreed that it had a funny smell and said she would take it to the chef. On her return, the waitress said that the chef had said that the smell and taste were becuse the cod was from Brixham??!!!?? What a load of RUBBISH!! I have eaten cod loads of times, it is not exactly uncommon.. and yes even Brixham cod (we are in Devon, Brixham is the obvious choice for locally sourced cod) and it has never ever tasted like that before! I said this to the waitress and she said "I know, I don't understand, all our fish is fresh and was only delivered on Friday"... But this was the following Monday night so is fish that was delivered four days ago really that fresh?? I wouldn't have thought so, but I'm not a food storage expert, perhaps this is perfectly acceptable. I certainly wouldn't keep fresh fish that long at home, I buy it and eat that day or the next day... If anyone reading knows about this could they message me and let me know?The waitress was great, she did her best in an awkward situation and kept smiling. She offered to get me something else, but I didnt want anything. In the end she did talk me into ordering some chips which arrived quickly and tasted ok when I ate a few.My husband said his meal was ok, nothing special, just ok, But of course the whole experience was ruined really. We ordered puddings, my husband ordered cheeses which he thought were good but over priced and I had summer pudding which tasted sharp and was again over priced.The bill came and the waitress pointed out that I had not been charged for my chips.... Err what?? I wasn't expecting to pay for them after the smelly fish horror!Dissapointed is not the word, service was good, but then we were the only diners, and the environment is nice, But.... well I've said it all above - needless to say we will not be back.Walk past Southernhay House towards the Southgate Hotel and look for Rendezvous wine bar on the left for a much better dinner. Or keep going to Cosy Club further down on the left, totally different experience (much much more casual) but its more than edible. Failing that, Go to the end of the road and turn left and the Magdalen Chapter is the big old building on your right another really nice place. See my seperate reviews of all three.

I had been wanting to visit Southernhay House since it opened after reading many fab write ups in magazines. So when I was given the choice for a romantic anniversary indulgent meal this is where we went - what a disappointment and far from our expectations.Firstly we hadn't even passed the door of the bar when a waiter virtually shielded us and said there wasn't room sit in the recption. So we did this and felt very out on a limb and the decor in the reception area is not so great. We were given a set menu which I thought was limiting so I asked for an a la carte menu. We were given this and to be honest the set menu was taken from this with the exception of a few specials. Interestingly it was cheaper to buy off the a la carte menu! Anyway, we saw a waitress take some olives through to the bar area so I asked if there were bar snacks in there as we weren't permitted to see! The waitress gave us the option of cheese straws or cashews, we received 6 cheese straws which were yummy but later we found we had been charged £3 for them! I was also VERY disappointed with the cocktails. I had a bellini and let's just say it might as well have been given to me in a mug for the lack of care. I don't necessarily want a tacky cocktail umbrella but a chilled flute or sugar rim or even a strawberry could have added interest to this poorly presented £9 cocktail!Eventually after a long wait (we didn't sit at our table until 9pm despite booking a table for 8pm and arriving early) we had our meal. The food was very good quality and well presented but then we had the bill and they'd double charged us but were quick to rectify the problem.So in conclusion, save your money and go somewhere else as this place does not have a USP other than the decor.

Had dinner here to celebrate my partner's birthday. We had a glass of wine in the bar first - really contemporary and stylish, with a great cocktail selection too! We had the fish and chips for main, really good portion size - big bit of fish with really lovely homemade chips and tartar sauce! For dessert we had iced vanilla parfait, they decorated my partner's plate and added a candle for her birthday which was a really nice touch! All in all a really delicious meal that was excellently priced too - main and dessert with two glasses of wine each came to just over £50! The only thing lacking was a bit more atmosphere - there was only one other table dining with us which made the room feel a little cold (nothing to do with the restaurant itself though). The staff could have maybe been a little more attentive too, as we were kept waiting for a bit longer than we would have liked between courses.I would definitely recommend Southernhay House for great value and tasty food, a beautiful Georgian-style location, and an overall great experience. We shall be returning again soon to indulge in some more food and cocktails!

Lovely restaurant. Ideal for a couple of pre-dinner cocktails and the food is excellent. It is still getting a name for itself so it is rarely at capacity and lacks a bit of atmosphere, but highly recommended!

Stopped by for lunch today as our original choice was shut. Lovely building and fitted out very nicely, however as the only people in there it was a bit lacking in atmosphere.The set lunch menu had good choices and I thought the food was excellent with an inspired combination of duck breast with rhubarb salad.Not the cheapest but I was happy to pay for the quality of food.Service was very good and the staff attentive.I'd recommend and look forward to trying the dinner menu.