St Michael’s Restaurant in Stroud

We found ourselves in Painswick on Sunday lunchtime and were lucky enough to get the only remaining table at this beautiful and spotlessly clean restaurant opposite the place we had parked our car. The welcome was warm, service efficient and the restaurant and facilities were spotlessly clean. The chef even visited every table to check everyone was enjoying the food he had lovingly prepared for them. We loved our roast beef Sunday Lunch with plenty of beautifully cooked vegetables and lots of gravy. We can’t wait to return. Oh yes and make sure you visit the facilities ( a lovely, unusual and historic surprise awaits you!) A delightful visit! Thank you so much! PS. The coffee was fabulous too!

Everything was wonderful The food was delicious and very comfortable. The owners were delightful. We even went back a second time.

It was almost as if we were part of the owners family, they were so lovely. Excellent food and attentive service. I imagined I was with an Italian family, enjoying the warmth of a happy family. Oh, and I love bread and butter pudding and theirs was excellent.

We were in the Painswick area visiting the unique and beautiful Rococo Gardens and sought out this cute little downtown restaurant thereafter for a three course quality sit-down table service lunch on a Wednesday. It is part of a 5-room B&B by the same name near the church. The hard-working couple that runs it is originally from Rumania, and the menu included a couple Rumanian wines and dishes. But what we had was the hearty cheese/garlic toast as a starter, then the "Puppy Dog Pie" as a main (tender beef and vegetables in a delicious gravy baked into a pie) with fries, and the pork medallions in apricot sauce. Dessert was a sticky toffee, with excellent strong and flavorful accompanying coffee. Portions are sizable. The wine selection was good, and affordable (20-30 lb range) -- we had an Argentinian malbec. The seating was very comfortable (soft lightly cushioned chairs without any annoying protruding wood), the background music was mellow and not overpowering, and the service was prompt and friendly. There was only one other couple dining when we were there around 1 - 2PM, and they were as delighted with their food as we were. The only difficulty was the parking (it is very hard to park in Painswick), but we got lucky with a spot in the car park a short walk away.

This place is special it feels like you have gone abroad only 6 tables all food home cooked Very attentive service husband cooks wife is front of house we had church bells Serenade for two hours it was super lovely def to the atmosphere we will definitely go back we stayed in the suite next door we had starters of scallops and prawns and chili smoked duck Rack of lamb and sirloin steak Followed by shots whisky and brandy Very reasonable prices very friendly service

The menu states that beef stroganoff is the chef's specialty, and it was fantastic. Really good beef, perfectly cooked, in a wonderful sauce. The Romaian pinot noir was very good too.

Outstanding food and service. We’re walking the Cotswold Way from Chipping Campden to Bath, and were recommended this restaurant at the halfway point. It was exceptional

What a cozy place to enjoy a delicious meal. The waitstaff were very very good, quite friendly, and explained the dishes very well. Seating was comfortable. My wife and I enjoyed our meals which were plentiful. My wife has food allergies, but they prepared a delicious dish for her. Get this: we were waited on almost immediately and it did NOT take forever for the food to arrive.😃

Very friendly service and the food was delicious. Good wine selection too. I was there for a birthday celebration and was made to feel very special.

We visited the St. Michael's Bistro Restaurant on our way home from Bath. The Restaurant is owned and run by a couple originally from Romania. We received a warm welcome upon arrival and were seated at a table, before selecting our food and drink from the Menu respectively Specials Board. The food and drink were served in good time. The food was well prepared and it was delicious. All in all we had a very enjoyable dining experience. We have no hesitation in recommending St. Michael's Bistro Restaurant to family members and/or friends.

Badly cooked school dinners. Rude staff. Avoid. Chaotic service. If you like slow service, an arrogant chef who clearly needs a career break then this the place. For the same prices eat much better at The Falcon nearby.

Absolutely wonderful and charismatic hosts and the food was simply wonderful. Warm and cosy with a great wine selection and varied menu.

I've been to Painswick a few times recently, and I usually stay at the Falcon. But this time I'm staying at St Michael's Bistro, which is also an upmarket b&b. I've got the Art Deco room, which has many fine features, including a bare stone wall (with a niche for the kettle), a walk-in shower, farmhouse wooden doors, a view over the churchyard, and a megacomfy bed. I'll be honest, and say that my first impression was that it was really meant to be a single room, into which they had shoehorned a double bed. But the place has grown on me now, and I'm settling in. It was probably the low ceiling that made me feel claustrophobic. The continental breakfast I just had was probably the best I've ever eaten in my 66 years, and I was served by Ali(cia) and her two delightful, shy young sons, Reuben and Kohan, (who wants to be a chef when he grows up). Dr Paul Harris

Good choice of dishes. Good food. Good value for money. Excellent service. Relaxed atmosphere. Will definitely visit again.

We had a lovely lunch . Fresh , home cooked food- I had some very tender duck and salad and we shared a delicious fresh fruit tart with coffee .Very attentive service - great.

Excellent home cooked food, everything was cooked fresh….1st class. Can’t fault anything - even the hosts are lovely. Thank you Marin and Catalina

A friendly welcome and good service. Excellent dinner. Great dishes, beautifully cooked with quality ingredients. Good value too. Recommended.

Myself and my family of 10 tonight had the most exceptionally beautifully made meal. The staff were lovely and food 10/10

We didn’t eat here as the restaurant wasn’t open on a Monday, however, our room was spotless and lovely. Each room had a different theme. The breakfast was incredible. So much food but catered per couple so we had a variety of everything. Any left overs could be taken away. Staff were really lovely too. Would stay in Painswick again but there isn’t much to do there. Good as a base location to explore the area. 😍😍😍😍

We go to Painswick quite often and I have always wanted to try this restaurant. I finally made it for lunch, and was surprised to only see two other diners there when we arrived. The dining room is quaint, and quite charming although the seating wasn’t particularly comfortable. The standard menu isn’t that varied (there were a number of ‘specials’ presented on a large blackboard) and the lack of substantial/interesting starters is a shame. It is quite pricey all things considered, not least when the food I ate was mediocre. I opted for the pork medallions in a creamy apricot sauce with Cajun potatoes and salad. At £19.95, I had high expectations. Firstly, the salad took up half the plate and was soaked in a very oily dressing. The potatoes were tasty, but sadly scarce on the plate. The sauce had a good flavour but was over-reduced. The real let-down was the pork which was very tough, to the point that I almost couldn’t chew through some of the pieces of meat. I mentioned this to the owner, who was quite dismissive. I had been asked if my food was ok shortly after it came out and I didn’t have an issue. Had I eaten more by that point, I would have complained and asked for an alternative meal. I was charged full price; I think it’s likely that their business is mainly from tourists and not locals/repeat customers. Saying that, my experience seems to be the exception to the rule. Whilst St Michael’s wasn’t for me, anyone can have a bad day but sadly we won’t be in a rush to return.

A lovely , small, quiet restaurant. Excellent food and service. The food choices were unusual and absolutely delicious.

Two of us ate here on the first night of a two night stay in Painswick while walking the Cotswold Way. Thought the whole experience was excellent. The food was a bit different and was beautifully cooked and served very well. Given the quality of the food, we thought the prices were very reasonable and would certainly return if in the area again.. If you want to eat here make sure you book early as the tables do go quickly, always a good sign.

We were staying here in the Art Deco room which is lovely. The dinner in the evening was excellent along with the lovely atmosphere and friendly staff. Also what a wonderful breakfast we had the following morning

In the brilliant weather we were able to sit outside and had a really lovely meal. I rarely have fish but the halibut was cooked to perfection. And the apricot and plum tart (together with some help from the odd raspberry and strawberry) was to die for. If we are ever in this vicinity again it would likely be our first choice of restaurant. Thoroughly recommended.

Recommended without hesitation. Food is exceptional. Quality of a very high standard from the amazing chef Marin and his team. Catalina is front of house and is attentive and friendly. Looking forward to returning to this wonderful restaurant soon and enjoying the company of Marin and Catalina who are passionate about their food and restaurant

I phoned for a table and was told they were busy but could fit us in around an hours time. That worked for us and thought being busy on a Friday night was a good sign. We arrived and it was clear they were busy because they are seriously understaffed as it is just the husband and wife. We eventually placed our order but it took 80mins to get our starters. It became clear there were marital issues and other diners complaining. One couple left their meal saying it was too tough. Another questioned the cooking of their food and both times the chef came out to remonstrate. This took time away from the actual cooking! Our starter was horrible. Overcooked and rubbery with a horrible sauce. We discussed ditching out early but were spotted by the waitress and she quickly came to tell us the mains was on its way. 20mins after the starter our mains arrived and was covered in their ‘fruit sauce’. Disgusting. Sauces clearly hide a multitude of sins. Avoid this restaurant. We will never come back. BUT it gave us huge entertainment value watching other diners complain about their food and the marital arguments with the the door to the kitchen being pushed shut to ensure the volume was not too loud. Cross between a Victoria Wood, Fawlty Towers and a Two Ronnies sketch!

Nice little Bistro, very cosy. Owner & wife very friendly & helpful. Food excellent & reasonably priced. Will definitely return next year. fully recommend

The restaurant was full but they had tables available outside. Was a lovely 19 that night so was pleasant sitting out there. The food and service were excellent. Had the Duck Breast and the Boar with a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand.

Very nice bistro in centre of painswick Good menu selection food was good but could bd better We stayed one night in art Deco , great value and comfy , excellent bathroom

We booked a table for 4 for a Friday evening, the lady serving was so friendly and helpful. The food was delicious and all home made. It is only a small place so would recommend booking.

4 of us went this week to this delightful little restaurant. We were warmly welcomed by the owner and his wife who seemed to run it by themselves. It is a pretty, homely restaurant and there was a good and varied menu. The food was...

We received a wonderful welcome from the owners and a roaring fire made for a cosy atmosphere. A small and relaxing restaurant with excellent, home made, reasonably priced food. We would definitely recommend visiting here and hope to return.

We were in England for 10 days, touring various areas. Hands down this was our favorite restaurant. The food is AMAZING and the man and wife who run the place are incredibly kind and sincere. The atmosphere is very romantic and relaxing and there was...

We had lunch there midweek and were made very welcome. The table was very clean and tablecloths and cloth napkins were pristine. Our order was taken fairly quickly, as we were coming to a decision and we just had time to sip at the water...

Had a lovely birthday dinner. Welcoming hosts, friendly atmosphere - and the food was perfect. We both thoroughly enjoyed our meals.

Delicious reasonably priced food delightfully presented. We had rack of lamb and fillet steak with brandy croutons followed by pecan toffee roulade and salted caramel ice cream.

Had the most delicious Sunday Roast here today. The meat was lovely, and the vegetables were cooked to perfection. The hosts were wonderful, so welcoming and friendly. We highly recommend and will definitely be returning.

We visited this bistro for Sunday lunch for the first time. We received an amazing warm welcome. The owners really go out of their way to look after their customers. The food was absolutely brilliant and I would highly recommend

We recently visited the restaurant for a valentines dinner, the food was amazing, we had a very warm welcome from the Owner/ Chef and his Wife who joined us for a drink at the end of the evening, thank you both for a fabulous evening...

Amazing food and a nice place. Chef made delicious meals and waitresses very pleasant as well. The only small criticism I would make is that salad is the same for starters and mains. I had scallops for starter and duck breast as main and both...

If you're in the area, and looking to dine, look no further. The quality is superb and amazingly, every dish on the menu was tempting thus making choosing a pleasant but difficult task. Prices are very reasonable Our best restaurant visit for a long time....

We were recommended this restaurant by staf at our B&B and we're so glad we took their advice. A quaint little restaurant which,at first glance, you might dismiss as a cafe but its so much better than that. We hadn't booked and were lucky that...

What a little treasure of a Bistro. We booked and glad we did as it got busy after our arrival. An extremely warm welcome from the lady of the house, personal but not intrusive service. Menu and specials board are perfect for a bistro, focused...

The food was excellent - between us we had the haddock and rack of lamb. Marin also brought out a Romanian sausage for my husband to try as he had asked about it - he said he loved it! The Romanian red wine was very...

We booked here as a last minute getaway, staying in the b&b attached. We booked ahead a table for two, as it was a Friday night. The meals were deliciously cooked, and the lady was helpful and attentive, My husband had the rack of lamb...

What a surprise excellent food, very friendly service and acceptable prices. Cannot wait to revisit. Must book as small but very popular.

This is a family restaurant run by Romanians with the husband in the kitchen and the wife as waitress. Just 20 covers so booking advisable on the weekend. The wife never stopped working and has a good memory for the orders. I selected the pan...

Small restaurant run by a couple. All selections were unique and excellent. The place was full and you should make a reservation. A truly enjoyable meal and dining experience.

This restaurant is absolutely one out of the bag - par excellence. The husband and wife team choose produce from ocean and field to create exquisite cuisine. The ambience is convivial, the food is outstanding, the couple's personability really enjoyable. Justifiably, 10 out of 10.   Such a memorable evening....

We dined here after several days of walking on the Cotswold Way and what a treat. A true chef and an appealing menu of food and wine. I had venison and fondly recall my great enjoyment of this dish even weeks later as I now...

Excellent starter of scallops then filet steak medallions, each with a glass of good Rumanian wine 99 100

What a fantastic little restaurant. Great setting, really welcoming and run by two lovely people. Good timing was nice and relaxed. Had 3 wonderful courses and some great wine. Highly recommend.

We stayed at this cute B&B while doing a 9 day walking tour of the Cotswolds. Unfortunately we though that the restaurant was closed so we didn’t have dinner there but had an absolutely amazing breakfast the next day. 3 different kinds of fresh baked...

Working in the area I found this place for a stay over. Seeing it had a little restaurant it made sense to pre book. On arrival I was warmly greeted and shown to my table, the menu was a nice choose as was the specials...

What can I say, if I could give it lower than one star I would. Booked in for 7.30 Sunday evening, the lady at front of house was running around like a headless chicken. Took her 15mins to give us menus, then another 10mins before...

Lovely little restaurant run by a Romanian couple. Very busy so booking essential. The rack of lamb was the best I’ve ever eaten, tender and freshly cooked to order. Deserts were top quality. Service takes a while because one charming lady is dealing with 30...

Wonderful chateaubriand (a nice surprise to see this on a menu not as a sharing portion) cooked to perfection. A fantastic bernaise sauce and great service. A very good value meal

Distinctive European restaurant with Romanian themes. Rustic style with embroidered table linen. Many gluten free options. Good selection of meat, fish and vegetable dishes on the menu plus long list of specials. We tried mains of Romanian beef, pork and lamb sausages with chips and...

Beautiful for Al Fresco dining, historic building and view of the church - lovely! Service excellent, very attentive and friendly staff, both the lady serving and the chef. The food was good but certainly not fine dining and a little pricey for what it was....

We were staying in the attached B&B and thought it would be rude not to try the restaurant too. Really friendly couple run the restaurant - wife front of house and the husband the chef. We had a great meal (my wife the sirloin and...

We had a very good meal at St Michael’s Bistro, a lovely ambience, attentive bit not rushed service. Would recommend.

We were staying overnight at St Michael’s on our way down to Cornwall, so decided to book a table at the restaurant. This was a good choice - the food was excellent. Even more amazing when you consider the whole restaurant and kitchen are run...

Very nice ambience. The quality & presentation of the food was excellent and the service was also very good. My partner is vegetarian and ordered the goats cheese parcel which was superb.

This is a cracking located restaurant. The staff are very friendly. The food is good homely fayre however the menu is dated. Decently cooked but seemingly based on a theme of meat, sauted potatoes and veg/salad. There is a laminated menu however the 'specials' seem...

Excellent food, home made with fresh ingredients. We spent three hours enjoying the food and people watching. Very small, book early!

We were a group of 12 who ordered a variety of entrees and drinks. Our host was attentive, funny and customer focussed. I would highly recommend this place for the quality of the food and service.

We enjoyed the freshly prepared and local food from a good range of options, the venison steak and rack of lamb both being delicious. The puds of bread and butter pudding and plum tart with custard were excellent. On a quiet night the hosts were...

Staying at the B&B, this was an obvious choice. A good menu and lovely setting - the goats cheesed spinach tart was excellent and the chips perfection! Great dessert board - almost too hard to choose! Good wine list and nice coffee - all reasonably...

We were staying at Michael’s hotel above the restaurant. The menu was both inviting and priced well. Merin and Catalina and their young son are the stars as well as the food. Food is sourced as local as possible and very fresh. Great wine and...

We had a 2 night stay at the nearby Court House Manor and dined at St Michael's on the first evening. Delightful owners who take pride in what they serve and the prices are very reasonable. We enjoyed our meal so much that we booked...

We were staying for two nights for a Wedding and booked into the rooms above the bistro though our room (Art Deco) had fabulous views of the lovely church surrounded by Yew trees. The restaurant is run by different people but is closely associated with...

Beef bourguignon was exceptional! We're going back tomorrow; that good! It's very rare that we do that

The bistro is lovely. Great atmosphere great menu choice. All meals cooked fresh by the owner. Service is excellent . Wines are high quality as is the food. Mushroom starter is delicious. Try the Beef stroganoff it melts in your mouth. We just had room...

we were here 3 years ago, pre covid. a lot has changed in those 3 years and while some places we visited on our last trip are gone, i am pleased to report st michael's is better than ever. fabulous menu, reasonable prices, and everything...

Looking at other reviews I cannot fathom out the difference between our experience to the wonderful food etc of others ? The two are so opposite Shockingly awful infact we could only laugh through it. The shiny polyester tablecloths and equally shiny napkins were a...

A lovely bistro in a charming old Cotswold village house and opposite the beautiful Painswick church. We visited on a Saturday lunchtime and received a very friendly welcome. The bistro was interesting inside. There was a regular menu and then a list of specials on...

Fairly narrow a la carte menu with limited, but reasonably priced, wine selection (£15-30). Good specials board to complement printed menu with wide range of meats in dishes. The chateaubriand was unusual, and unfortunately rather past 'medium' but other dishes went down better, but didn't...

Booked a room here for New Years Eve (2021). But found it was a 'managed' room where the key was left in a safe and basically we had to find our own way to it. Didn't see another person or member of staff for the...

Well we booked in here upon recommedations, we were not dissapointed. Upon walking in we were made to feel welcome, it was like walking into someones house. There was a large party of owners friends and it was a great atmosphere. Food was amazing with...

Arrived on a rainy and cold Sunday evening, and walking into the restaurant was like walking into someone’s living room. It was welcoming, cosy, and we were warmly greeted by the owners. Service was attentive, friendly, and we wanted for nothing. Food was tasty with...

Thank you Catalina and Marin for a most enjoyable evening. Beautiful food cooked and served by a couple who are clearly passionate about cooking and service. Great fun to chat to as well. Highly recommended for anyone looking to dine in Painswick. Rooms are also...

Excellent friendly service and great food. Very good selection of main course specials - I had Wild Boar which superb. Highly recommended.

We parked in the main Painswick village car park and walked up the road beside the church. On entering the restaurant, we were welcomed by our hostess and were seated at a table with a French-style table cloth and fabric napkins. The French background music...

Seriously, not sure where the bloke below went to but I doubt very much if he went here. The service was friendly & informative, with dishes being all home made they know exactly what’s in each dish & are more than happy to discuss &...

Everything was awful- the service, the food and the prices. The waitress was noisy and shouted at us. We had - sirloin steak, fried duck, scallops and risotto. Apart from the risotto that was OK, it was almost non-edible. The beef and duck dishes were...

The quality of food here is outstanding. The menu's a very good one with a wide choice of mains to suit all tastes. Nothing is spared on quality and quantity. And desserts to die for! You will not leave feeling undernourished! And very fair prices...

On a scorcher of an evening it was delightful to eat outside. The hosts went out their way to make us feel welcome despite a last minute booking of a very full restaurant. The food was great and we were given plenty of time after...

We had the most fantastic meal and service we have had for a very long time. We came across St Michaels by chance, we were staying in a nearby by hotel where the food was very average so decided to eat here. Both my wife's...

This restaurant is a gem. We are a family of four, two adults and two older children ate dinner here on the last night of our stay at Painswick The chef Marin and his wife prepared wonderful high quality fresh tasting food for us catering...

A very small back in time bistro but with excellent food, good service and value for money. Not to be missed

Well prepared and cooked food. Great front of house . We ate at this restaurant for the two nights we were staying at Painswick. Highly recommend

Beautiful warm characterful restaurant with superb food, the best meal out we’ve had in a long time. Every course tasted amazing and the staff were so lovely. The chef even came out to see everyone and he was so passionate about his work. Couldn’t recommend enough. Bring some cash to tip though as you can’t tip on cards.

An unplanned lunch stop to escape the rain was an hour well spent - food was excellent and service too plus a glass of wine and coffee to finish. Highly recommended.

We visited here as we were passing through Painswick around lunchtime on our way back from holiday. What a wonderful place - the best meal of our holiday! It had a pretty European feel to it, in terms of the owners, the decor and the menu. It is run by a lovely couple and its popularity was clear from the number of people phoning or popping in to make bookings. At lunchtime there was an excellent variety on the menu ranging from lighter lunches like baguettes and jacket potatoes to proper meals. We decided to splash out on a pork dish and a salmon dish. Both were wonderfully cooked and presented. There is inside and outside seating both out the front and in the back garden. I wish we lived closer!

Small, intermediate and very special. The food was amazing especially the duck on the specials board. Don’t walk past, walk in and enjoy the food and drinks. The owners are lovely and the night will be as special as you want to make it..

Great to visit this Romanian couples new venture. In my opinion a nicer bistro than the old one. It is in a wonderful position facing the famous churchyard and has parking nearby.I had the mushroom starter which was as I should have anticipated was a little different and great taste. I dared to have the fillet steak medallions. Two and quite wonderful. The flavor. The red Havie de Paix was perfect. and texture. Magnificent

We had dinner at St Michael's Bistro while staying at St Michael's hotel for one night and could not be happier. The restaurant is managed by a lovely and friendly couple, who run it all by themselves and make you feel welcome like old friends - they clearly love their job and put a lot of efforts into it. The menu offers plenty of options and some house specialities plus daily specials so you are spoilt with choices. The atmosphere is warm, engaging and relaxed, like in a real bistro in our native Italy. We had beed fillet medallion with seasonal vegetables and wild boar steak with hand cut chips - they were both delicious and perfectly cooked by chef Marin. We will definitely be back when again in the area.

Having just moved to the area this was our first visit and it exceeded our expectations. It really felt like we were in a bistro on holiday in rural France or Italy. Not only was the food excellent the friendly service made us feel welcome like old friends. The Beef Stroganoff is the house speciality and highly recommended! With so many fantastic choices on the menu we will definitely be back time and again.

A very nice village bistro, with hearty and homemade food. The lovely Romanian couple who run it, are just brilliant. Great service, and very nice food cooked with heart. Definitely worth a visit! 😀

The food was delicious. My husband was particularly happy with the bread and butter pudding. If he could have, he would have had a second helping! Overall it was a good evening with great service and nice pace, ie. not rushed as you get so often these days. If we were in the area again, we would not hesitate to return.