The Carpenters Arms in Windsor and Maidenhead

OMG, this place is a hidden gem. Staff, service and quality is off the charts. The pub garden is a sun trap too! Can't recomend enough.

Everything was fantastic, ambiance, service and food!

Most excellent food and nice staff/service. Recently renovated.

This restaurant/pub came highly recommended to us, and we decided to give it a try for lunch. From the moment we arrived, we were impressed by the beautiful property, its charming décor, and the warm, welcoming atmosphere. The service was impeccable—attentive, friendly, and efficient. As for the food, it was absolutely delicious! We can highly recommend the lunch menu, especially the Brie, seabass, and Eton Mess, which were all exceptional. We enjoyed our experience so much that we immediately made reservations to return with our friends. If you're looking for a fantastic meal in a wonderful setting, this place is a must-visit. Highly recommend!

Food still great, amazing to have such an authentic french (food) experience

Not a great experience. The food quality has changed since our last visit about 6 months ago…new owners perhaps? Very slow service, hour and half before starters….but main issue was quality doesn’t match the price anymore.

Been coming here (not regularly) for years mostly for date nights. We’ve never been disappointed even through their changes. Had the delicious escargot starter last week and a rib eye steak. Keep trying out new places but always return to this reliable local for great quality food and friendly, attentive service.

Been for dinner twice and we love it. So nice to have an authentic French restaurant as not many in the area. They have a varied menu which is great value for the quality of food and service.

Overall a decent experience. Food was actually pretty good but the low rating goes to the wine service which really needs a heads to tail re-do. We dined there on a Friday night. We asked about some wines and the bar director couldn’t tell us about one bottle or another. Mind you, these are wines from between £45 and £300 so I would expect there to be some professional guidance. Furthermore, the staff had no clue about which wine glasses to use for whites or reds. At our table, whites were poured into red and white glasses, and reds into white glasses. Staff couldn’t (literally) discern the difference in glasses. Worse, most of the patrons didn’t seem to notice or care. Take that for what you will. In sum, if an English pub rolls out a French cuisine experience and mucks up the wine service you might consider whether the restaurant or its head of food and beverage knows what it is doing.

Bit of a shame this as it’s a nice restaurant. The substantial slow-roasted lamb shoulder tasted quite incredible, but the dish lacked the green peas which were on the menu. Accepted an offer of a broccoli side as recompense, but they didn’t have any in stock: “One of those weeks!” Staff were pleasant and apologetic but the mere 10% reduction (£2.70) on the price of the item for the debacle seemed rather stingy. Should be overly generous for the sake of a few quid more on these rare occasions.

Fabulous meal and some good beers on tap. Shared the escargot to start, and had slow cooked lamb shoulder for main. Huge portion could easily have been shared with the addition of an extra side. Meat was beautifully done.

Oh my, Good Lord, is a modern day song lyric that’s been taken out of context to mean ‘Good things’ but it’s too American for this little corner of France. ‘Magnifique’ would better suit. We had wandered in to La Cloche at the Carpenters in Sunninghill, Ascot ( via the bar entrance so were invited behind the bar to walk to the restaurant which has its own entrance - clearly not the first couple to have done that) Actually we had been given a nod a wink to it by friends who live close by, and goodness me, they know good food. France is all about you in this quaint and charming gastro-pub. And maybe that title does it a disservice. The food was full of flavour, served with proficiency and all well priced. I went for the Soupe de Poisson to start, my partner the roasted goat cheese tartlet. Neither of us were disappointed and there was plenty more to choose from too. Cracking. Full of the palates of France and hitting the taste buds in all the right places the food was wonderful. We’d chosen to pair a chateau de la Mirande with the meal, we like white, but the red wine and pepper jus that soaked my main dish,Daube de Beouf stew, was splendid and spot on. There was a sweet chicory flavour to my mains too which others, better versed in cooking than I, would be able to name, but again, it was simply gorgeous. Can you have too much of a good dinner? We had entered hungry but by the end of our first two courses were happily ‘milk drunk like a new born babe’. Full and satisfied we struggled to opt for a sweet - but I did manage a likewise generous Monbazillac. This was one of the best meals we’ve had out for some time - somewhat disparaging when I tell you we’ve eaten in London for twice the price and half the value. Well done Le Cloche. A real jewel in back streets we would otherwise not have found. Venture we did, and it was worth every penny. Great.

Fabulous and extremely delicious food, wonderful service and lovely atmosphere. Large family meal to celebrate a Birthday and everything was wonderful from start to finish. Brilliant, welcoming staff and nothing was too much trouble.

I was excited to visit this pub after reading positive reviews and seeing an interesting sample menu. The food was a mixed bag overall, fairly good quality - but perhaps not quite good enough to justify the lofty prices. The fish pie came with a few leaves of Tesco salad, and the rack of lamb was missing key components of the dish (this was not made clear at ordering). Not suitable for vegetarians or vegans. As a large party booking, we expected slower service, but it was over 70 minutes after arrival before we received starters. The service staff were great, but clearly they were massively under resourced to deal with a restaurant close to capacity.

What a fabulous find. My cousin is a local ans this was my first visit. I can not have about the service and quality of the food enough. All so reasonably priced. My porcetta roast was so flavoursome, tendy and juicy. Did not need the extra gravy boat. My cousins turkey was so moist. I had the salmon starter and she had the soup of the day. Both excellent. As it was her birthday we then had an apple and banana crumble. I only wish I did not live 2 hours away! ££ reasonably priced.

Great birthday lunch for my Mothers 85th Birthday. Food and service were great.

Great French restaurant. The food was amazing, the service was wonderful. The crumble wasn’t quite as expected, but everything was delicious. The decaf coffee was a bit watery as well.

Steak tartar was absolutely delicious

First time back at the Carpenter's Arms since it changed hands. Seems like an improvement; the menu is more varied than before, everything we had was great. I asked to dim the lights a little as it was super bright which gave the atmosphere of a shopping centre; the change was made which I really appreciated. We'll definitely be back.

Food was excellent.. friendly relaxed atmosphere..

Lovely place to eat and catch up with friends. The Carpenters Steak Sandwich highly recommend! Lovely produce, beautifully out together with a side of pickles.😋

Lovely service, friendly staff. Set menu is very good value. Would visit again.

We had dined here before and wondering if anything had changed in the quality of food and service since new ownership and recent decorations. Wonderful, we were a table of five, booked in for 2:30 and though busy we were welcomed, and took advantage of having drinks in the bar before coming through to the restaurant. We all chose something different from the Sunday menu, starters and mains. But all were very impressed by the level of service and the quality of the food. Highly recommended.

Had dinner here after the reopening and the food was outstanding. Absolutely delicious! Can't wait to visit again - thank you!

Great range of food, great quality. Staff were lovely. Bar was a bit noisy, so went into the restaurant.

Couples date night Restaurant food superb Great atmosphere Some refurbished areas with the look & feel of the pub as before just refreshed

Simply outstanding! Fresh ingredients, well executed rustic French cuisine with impeccable friendly service. The Carpenters has also just been tastefully refurbished so there is a larger outdoor terrace and garden area with outdoor heaters, comfortable chairs and blankets. The interior is welcoming and comfortable and aside from the main restaurant, the pub side of the venue is dog friendly. Whether you live locally or further afield, this pub/restaurant is a MUST visit. So happy the refurb completed on time as we’ve missed the pub!

A little 'hidden' gem, the food is delicious and the service is excellent. Have never been disappointed when I've eaten there. Highly recommend.

This used to be a great local, but has majorly gone downhill. They were showing the euros last Sunday, and not only was the place filled with underage people drinking (no staff attempted I'D them) but also drug paraphenalia everywhere (bathrooms and underage individuals taking it at the table). Amongst these 20+ youths that had taken over the whole of the outside was an older bloke who was threatening violence towards other patrons and when the manager came out, he didn't even care and sided with the man who was screaming 'come on, outside and ill fight you'. I can see why this place is popular with underage people, druggies and violent disorder - because the manager just turns a blind eye.

Busy, bustly restaurant with great atmosphere. The food was excellent and there was a good choice. Definitely something for everyone. The staff and service were all excellent. I would recommend.

Great pub with some nice seating areas outside. Dog friendly.. bowls of water and dog biscuits are available for out 4 legged friends.. some parking available outside and around the village within easy walking distance. Staff friendly. Good food, only eaten here once but what I had I would recommend, as I would from what I saw of other plates coming out. Friendly village pub, highly recommended

Last visited La Cloche over ten years ago and for some reason never returned. Today was the day! Firstly I have to commend the team on accommodating my request for a particular table. Being somewhat immobile, ordinary chairs are not for me so I had asked for, and got, banquette seating. Very friendly and helpful service and fabulous artichoke. Despite three of us opting for roast main courses, there was something rather French about it - perhaps the vegetables? All the food was quite beautifully presented and tasted as good as it looked. Did I mention the artichoke?!

Friendly pub with great service, relaxed atmosphere and Restaurant was amazing.

Waited 1h30 to have a main. Totally forgotten and rude. Acoustic bad and you cant hear each other. Food average. Will never go again.

Terrific lunch with family. Well balanced menu and delicious to boot. Very friendly host team. Wine list was good and we had lovely bottle of Pomerol and a decent half of something else rather good. Only thought is there’s a bit of a limited selection between mid and top of list. Overall we loved it.

Excellent French food and wine.

Pleasant popular place, good food, friendly staff, nice atmosphere

Very nice restaurant. As a french person really appreciated some good french food that reminded me of home!

Outstanding food quality and friendly, attentive service. I'll be back, 5 out of 5 stars from me

Superb pub with a first class restaurant. French menu with plenty of choice. Staff were very welcoming and attentive. Please give it a go.

Mother's day lunch amazing I couldn't fault a thing to food drinks service price atmosphere friendly and the extra mothers Day goodie bag was an excellent touch would recommend would definitely go back and take friends for the experience

Well done Well cooked and presented French food Super service at all hours See you soon...

I would say this place is only 4 stars. The good food is not exceptional. The prices are a little high to be great value. However, the staff are good. My beer didn’t feel fresh like it should, my roast lamb was pretty ok. I just wasn’t wowed, although I’d likely come here again to give another chance at impressing me and my family.

Always an excellent venue for a pleasant French lunch, good food and service.

Lovely food, lots of choice, pleasant atmosphere, plenty of room not too noisy. Very enjoyable lunch

Christmas lunch... Fabulous experience. Wonderful food, superb service and a great host. Plus options for the children.

Buzzing atmosphere, superb fish pie and really helpful staff- what more could one want!! 5 stars 👍

We had a fantastic evening out at The carpenters arms. The chicken and chips is amazing and plentiful, everything about our dining experience was perfect !!

Lovely pub with delicious food, charming service and the weekday lunch menu is a bargain for the quality.

Been in several times recently and always welcoming and friendly. Good beer and bar food. Like the covered outside area with TV screen too. One point however, the bar area is so noisy it is hard to hear the others talking as sound reverberates around, this has been repeated by others too. Some soft furnishings to help absorb the noise would help immensely.

Another excellent meal today, service much improved from last time, efficient and friendly. Looking forward to our next visit next year

12 of us went to the French restaurant in The Carpenters Arms, each of our group thought the food was fantastic!

French pub. A hidden gem that I always wish if there is one in my area. Delicious dishes and wide selections. Warm foie gras was great! Will come back again!

I went here as I’d heard great things about it and my expectations were exceeded. All of the waiters and waitresses were amazing at making me feel welcome and even though it was packed (the rugby was on) they never seemed stressed and always made sure to check back on me and make sure everything was perfect. I ordered the rib-eye steak and it was without a doubt the best one I’ve ever had. It was cooked perfectly and the peppercorn sauce that came with it tasted amazing. The fries were made beautifully and the wine that was suggested by Ashleigh and Seb to pair without I cannot fault. Thank you to everyone there but especially Ashleigh, Seb, Micheal, Dave, Robyn, Mitch, Heidi and Keira as they made my experience one to remember. I will definitely be returning asap.

Amazing Sunday lunch, Roast Beef was perfectly cooked and plenty of veg, potatoes and gravy. Yorkshire pudding was enormous and delicious. Lovely service and nice to have our special occasion recognised xx thank you.

Been here a couple of times in the past, this time is for my Birthday and Wedding Anniversary. Wow, just amazing, still here and about to order dessert. I have been lucky to have been to many lovely restaurants around the world, but this place is just awesome . Sunday lunch is an absolute must!!

Found by accident and glad we did. They have a wonderful beer garden at the back which was perfect for a sunny Sunday afternoon. The staff are super friendly and really know the menu. We had the 2 course roast, one beef and other lamb. Cooked to perfection. The Sticky toffee pudding is to die for. Highly recommend

Food was very poor compared with a year ago. Had the set menu and choose the chicken and fries which was a very small chicken leg covered in what tasted like a shop bought gravy and pub chips. Very disappointing

Un típico pub inglés, comimos bien con la super compania de nuestros amigos

We randomly came to visit this bar in our local area for a drink in the sun. We were welcomed at the bar with friendly warmth. All the bar staff were amazing Georgia, Ashleigh, Constance, Becca and especially Mike and George were exceptional. The staff were really helpful and knowledgeable to help us decide what to drink, this is truly worth a visit. The staff had a wide range of knowledge, of the variety of drinks available, recommended for us to try. The ambience was amazing along with the food. The outside garden area had tv screens if you wished to watch sport. Alternatively they had a quiet area in garden as well. Exquisite pub/restaurant and will definitely be back! Highly recommend! 😀

Absolutely superb meal from start to finish. Piping hot food, polite and professional staff, excellent size portions. Well worth a visit. Highly recommended.

Went in on Sunday Evening and restaurant was quite quiet. Server right from the word go was horribly miserable. She is in the wrong job. Foot was very good but she spoiled a nice evening

Amazing food, service and atmosphere… the food choices are superb and often times hard to find elsewhere. The staff is amazing friendly and know their menu, perfect for a date night family night or just some friends. Highly recommend. Now to be clear I ordered some more expensive items but I was very impressed about the presentation and the quality was more than enough for two…

Nowhere near the best meal we've had there! The French onion soup wouild not satisfy any French person - it was tasty but didn't really taste of onions. The duck rillettes were okay, but bland. The Eggs Calatane were underdone with raw whites which I sent back and they were returned after another couple of minutes under the grill making the dish a bit overdone and dry, but the eggs were then cooked. The pepper sauce with my wife's steak was nice, but runny and not really tasting of pepper. Overall it was disappointng, especially as they had no Calvados or apple sorbet which was always our way of finishing the meal in the past. We checked and the head chef was not working that day (Monday) which would hopefully, but sadly, explain the poor food. We'll try again sometime on a Friday!

Based on the pricing my expectations were higher than what the kitchen delivered. The floor staff on the other hand were spot on maintaining a relaxed atmosphere, however it’s not the job to carry the kitchen.

A nice gastro pub, well designed - certainly delivers the vibe of a French restaurant. I’ve ordered from the specials menu, a steak and foie gras for £45, I’ve asked for medium rare and it was medium at best - it wasn’t worth the money. The chips were also disappointing, very much just a pub chips. My friend had the chicken from the regular menu and was quite happy with her portion so maybe I was just unlucky

A nice gastro pub, well designed - certainly delivers the vibe of a French restaurant. I’ve ordered from the specials menu, a steak and foie gras for £45, I’ve asked for medium rare and it was medium at best - it wasn’t worth the money. The chips were also disappointing, very much just a pub chips. My friend had the chicken from the regular menu and was quite happy with her portion so maybe I was just unlucky

Lunch today with two long lost school friends. The food was excellent and the service quietly efficient. We are looking forward to our next visit

We had a wonderful time here today. We came just before the kitchen closed and they happily seated us. We were a really big table and everyone was very happy! One of our new favourites

Great, authentic French cuisine. Excellent winelist and service!

Fab find in Sunningdale. Great food, obliging and experienced staff. Village location. The landlord (Nick) and staff (Heidi & Charlotte ? - Ms BA) together with bar and an array of others provided a first class experience both yesterday (Tue 20th June) and today 21st for a small group of visiting Chauffeurs - thank you. #GarytheChauffeur

Visited with friends whilst staying in the area. We had a combination of standard menu items and “specials”. The standard menu food was well received by those diners. The specials were disappointing, particularly a meat dish masquerading as a chateaubriand, yet cooked with a much lesser cut of meat. It was average, except for the price which, at £85 for two, seemed far too high even for this well-heeled area of Berkshire. Also, the wine was disappointing. It wasn’t “off” so we didn’t reject it but the quality was poor, even at “only” c. £35…. Our host was efficient but, maybe unsurprisingly, didn’t ask about the meal or wine satisfaction. Overall it was average hence the rating.

What wonderful service! Fabulous staff food was delish. Loved the inside decor and vibe. I will def be back

Wonderful meal at the carpenters. The crab and avocado starter and the fish of the day main course were excellent.

Amazing service lovely terrace We spent a couple of hours enjoying a fantastic sunset in the nice balcony/terrace outdoor. The wine is great, the rose ‘ Bastille is worth the trip! Michael had every attention for my friend and I to get the best memory of a night out celebrating friendship. Thanks to him ! Will be back soon! Thanks!

What a lovely pub in a lovely village! The food was delicious and service with a smile. Can't wait to visit again.

Very pleasant lunch time experience

Nice for lunch. Pricey for dinner !

Fantastic meal can’t recommend this place enough. Service excellent (Katrina) A must if you like Italian food x

If you're in the mood for authentic French cuisine that will transport you straight to the streets of Paris, look no further than this hidden gem of a restaurant. I've had the pleasure of dining here six times since moving to the area, and each visit has been an absolute delight. One dish that truly stands out is the fondue. It's a rare find in most restaurants, but this place has truly mastered the art of preparing it. The smooth and creamy texture of the melted cheese, paired with the perfectly toasted bread and array of dipping options, make for a truly memorable culinary experience. But the fondue is just the tip of the iceberg here. The menu features a wide range of classic French dishes that are sure to tantalize your taste buds. The atmosphere of the restaurant is equally charming, with a cozy and intimate ambiance that makes you feel right at home. The staff are incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, always happy to make recommendations or offer wine pairings to complement your meal. Overall, if you're looking for a true taste of France this restaurant is an absolute must-visit. Whether you're a seasoned foodie or just looking for a romantic date spot, you won't be disappointed.

Great pub with lovely food and a warm welcome also.

What a pub! Such a good atmosphere! Ben is such a good manager! Really happy with the service and music was good!

Everything we had was delicious. Lovely staff and friendly atmosphere. The three course lunch menu is excellent value. I can’t wait to go back.

Staff very helpful and pleasant,the atmosphere was great.The food was outstanding 👌

Dined in La Cloche. Really good

Best french bistro in town!! AMAZING food and super pleasant service. I was looking for a good foundue in Windsor area and found this lovely option. Really recommend the foundue, oysters and merengue for little desert. They sent it together with the bill and my desire was to be there eating forever :) looking forward to visiting this place again!

This is place is good and has the ability to be really great. Overall a good experience . Getting there is not for the faint of heart. Narrow and somewhat busy roads lead you to a very nice looking pub with an amazing 5 star French theme (decor). If you can, walk or take an Uber. The front of house met us with a great sense of hospitality and sent us to our reserved table through the bar. Seats were comfy and spacious. The Menu offering, which is a mainly French bistro style, does not disappoint and the lunch menu is a great deal. Maybe too many menu items which forces Chef to have a lot of pre-made prep. We had 6 people ordering a good variety of food. The hits were the tartiflette, Brie salad and the escargot. Wine list looked great but it was lunch so we mainly had water. There were some disappointments around the half chicken and the duck confit. The gravlax was hit and miss, not my taste but some loved it. Ultimately the things made fresh were 👍 the dishes who had some pre-prep not so great. I think this place is good and if you are missing France, come by and have a drink and a starter. The staff and ambience make the place.

Went for an evening meal on Sunday.. not been since the new management has taken over ..lovely welcome at the door..food amazing!! BUT I'm a bit fussy with cold food just wasnt hot enough for me hence the 4* instead of 5..

Lovely restaurant and great French food. Service was very good and parking was easy at lunch time. Nice for a special occasion. I had the Foie gras followed by Confit du Canard both were delicious.

Top class food and wine (French classics - my favourite), and welcoming service. Very well chosen Touraine Sauvignon Blanc. We love going here for lunch. Thanks.

Delicious food but a little noisy, as we couldn't hear people on our table, but an all round enjoyable dining experience 😀

Excellent set menu in a very comfortable and attractive restaurant. A friendly welcome, highly efficient service by professional and personable waiting staff. Remarkable value and a wide selection of French dishes. Highly recommended.

My friends and I visited as part of a belated birthday celebration and we all loved it. The menu was full of enticing dishes and they were all delicious. The wine list included plenty of decent bottles at reasonable prices and the staff were friendly...

The menu is great and the preparation of the food is very good but the staff who served us this midweek were not at all welcoming. Given the price, I had a good mind to remove the 12.5% service charge and only didn’t as I know times are hard - but we wont be returning or recommending.

Having read some "not so good reviews" I decided the proof is in the eating!! So we visited, 4 people for lunch and chat, on a thursday, the restaurant was not particularly busy, but still had a nice atmosphere, enhanced by the freindly welcome from...

Repeat visit. Good french style food. Traditional french soupe des poissons was a little bland and lacked the usual punch you expect from it. Duck was tasty. Good wine. Good service.

Oh my days.. what a place. They accommodated us as a group of 16 at short notice. Service was amazing with attentive staff. Would visit again.

Friendly pub with a good selection of drinks and a lovely outside area. Staff were attentive and very friendly. Definatley worth 5 stars....

A lunchtime visit as a couple for a celebratory birthday occasion. Went well until the bill. We had been there several times before and enjoyed the meals. We had been concerned as to reported changes of ownership etc but wanted to give it another try....

Nice pub with a good menu. Mostly French style cooking. A little pricey with entrees at £24 plus. Chicken & chips even in a cute casserole is a bit expensive. We had 7 at the table. The lamb was well cooked with a good flavor....