The Fat Duck in Windsor and Maidenhead

Il y a des moments où il est parfois difficile d’exprimer ces émotions . Ce fut le cas pour moi dans ce restaurant où j’ai voulu passer il y a plus de 15 ans et enfin j’ai réussi à pouvoir y aller. Souvent dans ce cas les attentes peuvent être trop importante et suivie d’une déception . Cela n’a clairement pas été le cas pour moi . Alors oui il faut avoir l’esprit un peu ouvert car ce chef n’est pas conventionnel, mais avec moi cela a fonctionné à merveille. C’est juste en tous points , effectivement il y a des « artifices » rajoutés et étonnants , mais cela n’est pas du show pour du show . Cela amplifie les émotions procurées par les plats ! Et non l’inverse . La cuisine et la technique, les saveurs sont bien présentent et le reste est la pour encore amplifier le ressenti. Alors oui c’est une de mes plus belles expériences gastronomiques qu’il m’ai été possible de faire . Ce chef est fou ou un génie , il ne laisse pas insensible et pour ma part j’en suis fan et j’ai adhéré à sa folie . Vins parfaitement en accords et service parfait . Juste sublime de la première seconde à la dernière . Merci pour ce moment !

The Fat Duck is truly an iconic dining experience. We arrived with exceptionally high expectations, and for the most part, they were met. Each dish was meticulously crafted and thoughtfully presented. The breakfast course, in particular, was absolutely mind-blowing—playful, inventive, and unlike anything we’ve ever tasted. While a few flavors didn’t quite deliver the wow factor, and some of the service felt a bit flat and disengaged, the overall experience was still unforgettable and unlike anything else.

An Unforgettable Experience at The Fat Duck - 10/10 We recently had the absolute pleasure of dining at The Fat Duck in Bray, experiencing The Journey menu — and it was nothing short of spectacular. From start to finish, the creativity and storytelling behind each dish were simply outstanding. Every course was a work of art, but particular highlights for us were the lamb course with its exquisite caviar gravy, and the "Counting Sheep" dessert, which stole the show with its theatrical flair and playful imagination. We were lucky enough to explore the wine cellar experience, which we would highly recommend to anyone visiting. My partner opted for the wine pairing, while I enjoyed a few glasses of champagne — the Krug by the glass is a must-try! Every detail was thoughtfully curated to enhance the experience. The atmosphere in the restaurant was lively and buzzing, yet it never detracted from the intimacy or specialness of the evening. The service was exceptional. The sommelier was impressively knowledgeable, sharing the background and stories of each bottle he presented, which added another layer of depth to the meal. A special mention must go to our main waiter, Danny. His storytelling ability, fantastic sense of humour, and genuine passion for the experience really made the evening unforgettable. Thank you, Danny, for bringing even more magic to an already incredible night! We would highly recommend The Fat Duck to anyone looking for an extraordinary dining experience — the creativity, food, wine, and service are all truly world-class.

Has the reputation for a reason. Excellent from the moment you arrive at the door to the the car park when you're leaving. Worth every penny.

The best gastronomical experience of my life. I’ve dined at many 3-star restaurants, but The Fat Duck stands out as truly exceptional. The staff are outstanding, and the bonus of being in Bray — such a charming British gem — made it even more unforgettable.

Nothing to say except wow. Look at my photos. Once in a lifetime experience. The food is amazing the service exceptional but the theatre is what makes this stand out. You really go on an adventure. The location is warm and cosy. Took us about 2 hours to get to the restaurant during peak traffic so plan accordingly.

Left very disappointed with the whole experience - I've been a fan of Heston and his experimental approach to cooking for years and finally got round to trying the Journey testing menu for a celebration. Quickly got bored of the 'lets turn this into ice cream' elements and cold food. The menu needs serious updating to fun, modern cookery and not cheap gimmicks. Service was lack lustre, booking notes missed and overall it felt like an average meal instead of an experience. I would not recommend in it's current form.

This was my second visit to the fat duck, this time with a friend to celebrate a landmark birthday. My first visit was everything I had expected so it pains me to say that this visit was a big disappointment. - most of the dishes were cold except for the main, to the detriment of flavour on occasions, the dessert didn’t taste of anything supposedly had flavours of malt and tonka bean. Some dishes were good but mostly forgettable. - the main was underwhelming, under seasoned measly portion of lamb that was still tough to cut (compared to other diner’s photos here which seem to be thicker sliced), that didn’t taste of anything. The super cold jelly served with it didn’t add anything - sound of the sea didn’t taste of much, the faux sand texture was unpleasant to the point I thought it was as annoying as sand, and whether that was the point. - the storytelling which is a key part of the experience was lacking. Our main host was going through the motions and giving out bits and pieces but it wasn’t coherent, nor complete. Some dishes weren’t even explained what was in them (even after the surprise element had passed) and we had to ask. I still don’t know what was in the sandwiches as part of the mad hatters team party. The added updates like coloured lights, a beautiful animatronic model house, wasn’t enough to cover for the lacking key part of the meal. - finally they made no efforts to mark the fact it was a birthday celebration, despite telling them on booking and having witnessed other birthday celebrators receive acknowledgement. My friend had to ask as we were leaving if we should have received anything. They came back apologising that it hadn’t been noted down from their side. - the service was there to a point, but I felt that because we were clearly a table that hadn’t opted for wine tasting or a bottle etc that the amount of attention we received was the bare minimum. The feeling I got was I assume if you have £££ to spend on the drinks you’ll have a great time. Maybe we were unlucky, maybe because it was lunch time or we had a cover staff or they had a supply problem. Nonetheless at a price point of £300+ per head, 3 stars, a consistent experience for all customers matters. You’re paying for the full experience as well as memorable food. What we received was a ghost of a once exciting culinary location.

Sn absolute delight. The ambiance and service magical

For an experience of a lifetime, book a table at The Fat Duck. Taste, sound, light, impeccable service in an informal way. Really top 👍

Absolutely a once in a lifetime experience. Food was out of this world, staff were incredible! The team were attentive and caring, and a great laugh. The food left us with an ear to ear smile!

A wonderful surprise of tastes, flavours and textures. The Fat Duck team takes pride in ensuring you have a fantastic experience.

One of the fastest restaurants to ascend to three-star status, and once voted Best Restaurant by the World's 50 Best, The Fat Duck is legendary for its

Pretty mid. Very patchy wait times between courses. Sometimes explanation on what you’re eating is given, sometimes you need to ask for it. Aloooooooot of cold dishes, only thing warm was really the main and the bread. Maybe like 6 “ice cream” like things throughout the menu. Very meh gimmicky experience.

All round incredible experience

Blown away. Huge Heston's fan here, so I may be regarded as biased. But bear with me! The Hind's Head left us somehow puzzled. I mean, the food was very well executed from a technical standpoint and very good overall, yet it kinda lacked the "wow" factor for its price tag. Admittedly, perhaps my expectations were too high (comparing to 1 star Michelin restaurants in Italy). With the Fat Duck, however, everything was perfect start to finish. And that's despite the main course featuring cucumber and caraway, since I'm no big fan of either. Really, there's not much to add other than say "perfection". Many restaurants dwelve into molecular gastronomy nowadays, but to reach these heights of flavour, texture, balance and even playfulness is no easy task. What an experience! Too bad I'm not nearly wealthy enough to dine there as often as I'd like to. I wish to thank the terrific guys and girls of the stuff there, and the Man himself to have made this possible.

It was simply perfect, the food was outstanding bringing lots of emotions and nostalgia and the service was beyond what we could have expected. Thank you to all of The Fat Duck team for making our anniversary so memorable.

Dear Team at The Fat Duck, If I could give 10 stars to your feedback options, I would! A huge thanks to Karl (Head Chef) & The Cuisine Team (and of course, Heston Blumenthal for making this restaurant happen!). Huge honourable mentions to the Storytellers who all played a part in bringing the magic to life: Peter, Antonio, Alex, Kostas, Melania, Fanny, Sheena and Karl! I'm truly blessed to have been able to spend my 37th birthday with you all (on 8th April 2025) and you made it so magical! I have wanted to come here since seeing Heston's Feasts (2009) and it did not disappoint! Thank you also for adding the famous egg & bacon ice cream - it was well worth the wait! I would definitely recommend a friend or family to come with and visit again. I have made a little vlog and I was wondering if I could share it with you? What would be the best way of going about doing this? I look forward to hearing from you and I can't wait to visit again! Best wishes, Emma

We were lucky enough to be gifted some vouchers for the fat duck as it’s always been on my husband’s bucket list. When you book online you have to pay in full before letting them know details of vouchers! On paying the FULL amount we were then subjected to what I would only describe as embarrassingly loud criticism from a French waitress, then a loud conversation from the manager. As we were in credit for £63 on our service charge and drinks bill, they would not deduct the amount from the food bill! When you have paid almost £800 for lunch I don’t expect to be embarrassed. We were told we could have a bottle of wine or £50 voucher back - why? We didn’t want the wine (we were flying afterwards on holiday), why would we want the voucher back, we wanted to use it! Very misleading and upsetting and spoiled the whole experience. We eventually, under sufferance, received a refund of £63. Won’t go again, wouldn’t recommend and please don’t purchase vouchers! The meal was ok but not the best I’ve had. My husband had an upset stomach we think because of the snails which he ate & I didn’t. I have received an email from them with lots of excuses and am not expecting a response to my review as it looks like they don’t reply to any. They also deleted my comments on Instagram 🤷‍♀️. Extremely disappointed in their conduct.

Overall, an excellent experience - but having paid £1300+ the review is relative. Food - delicious, creative and theatrical. Paying for The Journey is 100% recommended! Service - exceptional, but also lacking (I will save the negatives for below). The staff are very attentive, not a pretentious place, we had a good laugh. Thoughtful touches at every turn. The restaurant - classy pub feel, very busy atmosphere with there being so many staff attending the tables (not a criticism), loos are upstairs, and are also fancy! Why I have marked down a star: - If you have done tasting menus before, it's arguable that overhearing the same spiel from the waiters as they wait other tables takes away from the charm of the explanations when given to you. For some reason, half of our courses were placed down with next to no explanation, even though the tables around us were being given the full works. I ended up asking a question about the snail porridge only after the waiter brought and explained the NEXT course. - whilst the visit to the "cellar" showcases a pretty room full of lovely wine, I found the interlude almost laugh-out-loud silly. I won't spoil it, but not for me, and it is an optional extra. - another optional extra is the pairings with the sweets.... Did not enjoy these at all. Personal preference I guess, but when the menu said digestifs I thought it would be tasty pairings, not shots of harsh, straight spirits! I won't comment on the pricing in a negative light as everything on the receipt was chosen by us, but you could have a brilliant meal at the fat duck and not spend as much as we did. Still and sparkling water is (quite rightly!) free of charge. Overall, it's a recommendation from me and my wife :)

The most amazing experience, as you’d imagine. It was whimsical, fun and delicious!

Dining at The Fat Duck was pure magic - nothing is as it seems✨. We chose The Journey and from the very first bite, we were transported into a world of creativity, surprise, and joy. Every course was a story, every flavor perfectly thought out, and every detail—from presentation to pacing—was just spot on. The service was exceptional, as expected at this level, but what truly stood out was the food. This is what a true three Michelin star experience feels like. Every bite was not only delicious but also sparked curiosity and wonder. It’s rare to say this, but everything was memorable. It’s easily on the same level as Disfrutar in Barcelona or Hajime in Osaka—an experience that reminds you why you love food in the first place. You lose track of time because you’re just so immersed in the moment. If you’re celebrating something special or simply want to experience something unforgettable, you have to book The Fat Duck. It’s joyful, imaginative, and absolutely worth it.

I’ve wanted to come here for as long as I was aware it existed and yesterday we were lucky enough to experience lunch and an added trip into the wine cellar for a sensory experience. The whole thing was nothing short of extraordinary. The food, the service, the magic were all exemplary. I was so worried it wouldn’t live up to what I envisioned and I’d be disappointed but it was everything and more. If you ever get the opportunity to visit, you absolutely should.

Celebrating a 50th birthday with the A La Carte menu. First time I heard of Fat Duck was the Snail Porridge and it was a delight to experience it more than 20 years later. The whole experience was excellent,

Amazing experience, amazing staff, worth the 3 star review, definitely worth the trip and price. The wine they offer is superb 👌

Best experience had in a restaurant

Loved the experience. The food was incredible! Well worth a visit!

Definitely one to visit and tick off the bucket list.

I had always planned for this to be a 55th birthday wish list for the wife - but we don't know what's around the corner so booked for her 54th birthday instead - live is too short unfortunately. We were not disappointed - simply stunning from start to finish - just experience it

The Fat Duck delivered an exceptional, theatrical dining experience. The staff were fantastic, with Dan being a particularly warm and knowledgeable highlight. They made my girlfriend Jessica's birthday truly special with a personalized birthday card. Every course was a delicious, innovative masterpiece. Highly recommended for a unique and memorable celebration.

Named as the best restaurant in the world! It was amazing especially the story behind and the details which were provided during every round. The food was very good! The restaurant has the flair of a proper pub which makes it so authentic!

This had been on my husbands bucket list since we met 12 years ago, so seemed right to take him for his 40th birthday. He got a birthday card from the team when we arrived which was a cute touch. It is how some reviews state, plainly decorated - but I believe this is so your focus is purely on the food experience and that’s it which I believe is a clever thing to be done. Each table has a light above that changes colour dependant on the course … you have several courses with numerous courses with various different sensory experiences attached, one with head phones, one with a spray above you while eating, a crab ice cream, a cocktail that smells like vinegar but taste wonderfully sweet/sour and nothing like vinegar. Some things are more gimmicky but all in all the food is yummy, and fun with some curious elements which you can’t deny have all had an unbelievable amount of attention and detail put into them. Half t Way through I wasn’t sure if I’d leave feeling not very full but that was NOT the case at all, we left not being able to finish the final petite fours and had to take them home (which was great as they were all very cute and a nice thing to keep) We had the wine flight which was great, one tip for non sake lovers - one of the courses come with the sake rather than a wine and I very much dislike it but felt it was too late to ask for a swap, maybe ask upon arrival to swap if this is the case for you. I/we are very glad we have been, it’s not an experience I feel you “need” to do twice but would happily return if the menu is changed or for the Christmas menu to celebrate another mile stone another time. The staff are very knowledgable and professional and felt in the know the entire time If you’re going to book, I highly recommend the monkey island for a night stay (book direct and get some perks)

Amazing welcoming and adorable staff

Key takeaway: never grow up! This is probably the best way to describe the experience of a visit to the Fat Duck. This is not about eating; it is a culinary theatre play. The entire setup at the restaurant is designed to keep you focused on what will happen at your table, and the staff makes you feel very welcome. Amazement and delight is the mindset with which you should embark on a visit to the Fat Duck. Would I do it again? Absolutely, but to be fair, the Fat Duck comes at a price (and everyone knows that). Again, the staff is fantastic: From the first contact to the very last moment. To summarise our visit to the Fat Duck: High quality, low attitude! We came from London to Maidenhead with the Elizabeth Line and took the Green Way to Bray. We arrived after a short 20/30 minute walk in Bray, and we can recommend this walk as it simply disconnects you a bit from big city vibes and opens you up to something extraordinary but somehow down-to-earth. Dear Fat Duck Team, thank you for having us for our silver anniversary!

A great experience for foodies. The menu was outstanding and the service was impeccable.

Magical. My expectations were high, and I was more worried that it wouldn't live upto them like a lot of 'meet your hero' or 'bucket list' things. The staff were immediately welcoming, polite, funny and calming. All at the same time. The food and drinks really don't need any explanation, although everything in absolute detail is explained. I have to say the staff interactions and their addition to the food just elevated this meal beyond what I would expect. From funny travel stories, intricate knowledge of the food and menu to talking about the wine and answering all my random questions. I just loved it. It is expensive but worth every since penny and more.

A sensational experience that captivates, confuses, and delights all the senses. Truly mind-boggling. Every dish was brilliantly crafted and incredibly creative. It’s so easy to see why this is Michelin-standard - the care and attention to detail in plating and the attentive service from the waitstaff. Nothing disappointed. Exceptional.

I visited The Fat Duck on Saturday 8th February with my son and his girlfriend. I have never experienced anything like this before. The amazing staff were attentive to our every need. The food was inventive delicious and creative. The attention to detail this restaurant provides is just over and above what anyone could expect. This truly is Willy Wonka meets Alice in Wonderland in a totally positive way. It’s worth every penny to experience this amazingly creative place to eat. My advice to anyone is experience this at least once in your lifetime. Simply incredible.

Jeg har haft et stort ønske i rigtig mange år og det var at besøge The fat duck. Jeg fik den bedste gave af min kone da jeg blev 60 og det var selvfølgelig en aften på denne restaurant. Vi ankom noget for tidligt til restauranten så vi besøgte en lille pub 50 meter derfra til et lille glas vin,mens vi drak vores fantastiske vin steg vores forventninger. På et tidspunkt blev forventningerne så store at kun kunne gå galt men det gjorde det ikke. Det er super svært at beskrive denne aften, det skal opleves, dette tætteste jeg kan komme det er at det var stor oplevelse både med maden og med lys, lyde og ikke mindst dufte. Betjeningen var som man kunne forvente sublim. Måske ikke alle forstår denne verden men vi gjorde. Tak for en helt fantastisk aften som jeg aldrig vi glemme.

Our experience at this three-Michelin-star restaurant was nothing short of extraordinary. We indulged in the Journey Menu, and from the moment we arrived, every detail was flawlessly executed. The service was impeccable. Every need was anticipated, and nothing was too much trouble. Being personally escorted in and out of the restaurant added an extra touch of exclusivity and care. In typical Heston Blumenthal fashion, our minds were completely blown. The food was absolutely mind-blowing—each dish was a masterpiece, unlike anything we’ve ever experienced. We had a fully immersive experience, eating things we would never have tried before, all presented in the most creative and unexpected ways. The creativity, precision, and flavors were simply out of this world. It truly felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for my husband and me, and we savored every moment. A special highlight was being invited to look inside the kitchen, a thoughtful gesture by our waiter, who noticed my husband’s keen interest in the culinary process. The restaurant itself is immaculate, comfortable, and beautifully designed, making the entire evening even more special. Every second of this experience was unforgettable, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. If you have the chance, this is a dining experience you must try at least once in your lifetime!

Next level food an service an absolute dream!! Can't wait to come again Willy wonka has nothing compared to Heston,s staff Can't wait to come back for my birthday Truly special place 🥰

Wonderful!! One of the best experiences in my life. The food is incredible; there is a story behind every dish, which really does add to the experience. Service is just perfect, very friendly, not a single question was unanswered. Even asking how much liquid nitrogen the restaurant uses per day was answered with an interesting story.

Amazing experience!!!! Great attention to detail on top of fun theatricals and very delicious and cleverly manipulated food. Highly recommend the experience!!!

Probably the best dining experience of my life. Thank you to the chefs and front of house team for making my 40th so special. We will be back!

An exercise in dining on old reputation. A pantomime that feels repeatedly repeated. Not the class or sophistication a 3* should have. Disappointed

An eye opening experience with their mysterious menu

This is a brilliant food experience like no other.

Really a miraculous place with awesome food and service. Worth the wait for reservation and experience it.

Had some one message me asking for fake reviews

The food was delicious 5***** for me

The food was outstanding and beautifully well presented it made you eat with your eyes first.The tastes were sensational and the staff were absolutely brilliant. The Atmosphere was great. The evening was mind blowing and worth the visit and the financial outlay. Heston you are with outdoubt the Willy Wonker of the restaurant world.❤️👍

Perfect birthday lunch. The attention to detail at The Fat Duck is unrivalled. Thank you!

Impressive Food but overkill for me and I ended up being sick.

Our trip to The Fat Duck was a 30th birthday surprise for me from my fiancé and parents. In this review, I have broken down the sections that may interest you, as well as adding as many photos to show you the fabulous meals we enjoyed on this Friday evening 12th of July 2024. I did not capture any images of Nitroaperitif (course 1) and Like a Kid in a Sweet Shop (course 11). Arrival The restaurant doesn't look like a restaurant from the outside, although at this point I wasn't sure where we were going. We were greeted by a woman outside the front door who took our names and escorted us in to our table. Our table We were sat in a quiet corner, there may have only been circa 10 tables in total so the atmosphere was small, intimate, and homely. We have been to another Michelin restaurant which felt very high end, almost uncomfortable whereas this experience felt very relaxed. Drinks We opted to do the Curiosity wine pairing at £310 per person. These drinks included were: 1) TFD Martini (The Fat Duck Coctail) 2) Junmai Daiginjo Sake, *Chardonnay, Paul Lato, Le Souvenir, Santa Maria Valley, US, 2018 3) St-Julien, Chateau Leoville Barton 2eme Cru Classe, Bordeaux, France, 2010 4) Vin de Constance, Klein Constantia, Coastal Region, South Africa, 2019 5) Vintage Port, Niepoort, Douro Valley, Portugal, 2017 Food - The Journey, Sensorium #1 Nitroaperitif - A trolley is wheeled over to our table where we were asked to select one of three flavours, in our case I chose French Martini and my partner chose Vodka Sour. A foam is then squirted onto a spoon and submerged in liquid nitrogen for roughly 1 minute and served to you on a spoon dusted in an accompanying dusted powder sprinkled on top. This had a crunchy texture with the flavours light and refreshing. #2 Aerated Beetroot - Now I'm not a fan of beetroot, however this was delightful. to look at it's small, round and porous. Once you pop this into your mouth, it melts away, and leaves punchy flavours behind. #3 Tonic Botanicals - Our first Curiosity drinks pairing accompanied this dish, called TFD Martini. It was sharp and floral which complimented the green herbs, Jerusalem Artichoke ice cream, smoked cumin royale, and edible flowers. #4 Sound of the Sea - Personally, this was my least favourite dish, although I still enjoyed the experience. When the dish arrives, you can smell and taste the sea. The kind of memories you have when accidentally swallowing sea water when swimming! Visually it was stunning, and truly captured the look of sea foam on a beach - very clever. #5 Snail Porridge - Wow. This dish really was a lot more appetising that it looks. Warm and inviting, with interesting textures. #6 Bread and Butter - This was so good, we were offered more and they brought out the same round again! The bread was soft as a cloud with a slightly crusty outer bread, however this had nothing on the butter. The colour was an intense gold colour, so smooth, and had the right balance with a hint of salt. #7 Mock Turtle Soup - Firstly you are presented a glass tea cup which houses a tea pot on top. The tea cup has a what looks like an egg in the centre, surrounded by little cubes of meat. The tea pot has hot water in, and we were given a something resembling a tea bag covered in gold leaf to put into the hot water. We then swished the tea pot around, dissolving this and poured into our tea cup creating a a soup. This was delicious and accompanied with some sandwiches plated on Alice and Wonderland themed plates. #8 Beef Royale - Beef is one of my favourite meats and this did not disappoint. The mushroom ketchup and the reduced beef sauce were superb. #9 Breakfast in a Bowl - You're able to pick from six small boxed cereal, much like you may have had as a child. All boxes contain the same ingredients, however the outer boxes have been designed to resemble popular brands. We kept these as keep sakes of our experience. You are also given a small glass of hot and cold tea. I was expecting something tepid, but what I actually drank blew my mind. One side of the drink is very cold, and the other side was very warm. When I drank this, each half went into each half of my mouth which was the most bizarre experience. After we'd finished with our cereal, we tried the nitro-scrambled egg and bacon. This was a mixture of sweat, salty, warm and cold. A great fusion for a cooked breakfast. #10 Black Forest Gateaux - I can't remember how many layers and types of chocolate are used to make this gratifying cube of rich heaven - but it's a lot! I remember at this point, I was feeling quite gluttonous and full, but wanted to keep going. #11 Like a Kid in a Sweet Shop - I'm gutted that I didn't video or take photos of this. What can only be described as a doll house on a trolley is wheeled over to our table. A crank is then turned, churning the mechanisms which open the hand made sweet shop open, revealing 48 draws. You deposit a coin given to you earlier in the courses and pick a draw. The draw holds sweets inside, including hand made chocolates, and an edible chocolate card. The Kitchen After explaining that we've worked in the service industry ourselves, that's how my fiancé and I met, we were invited to view the kitchen later on in the evening. My fiancé was so excited, two courses after we were told this, he said "I can't stop thinking about the kitchen". He is a health and safety advisor and visits kitchens regularly and obsesses over cooking having been a chef himself. This was truly a magical touch to end a perfect evening.

we visited the fat duck today and we were so looking forward to it as this was a once in a lifetime experience. The staff were amazing but the 10 courses were so strange and not enjoyable apart from the puddings and the bread. I cannot explain how disappointed I am after wanting to go here for years. I always thought I would love to experience this type of food but it has opened my eyes that I must not know anything about food. I'm so disappointed but the weekend with our best friends has made up for it.

Had an amazing time for my birthday… only thing I’d say, maybe too much nitrogen theatre. Other than that outstanding

The Fat Duck exceeded all my expectations! From the moment we walked in, the service was exceptional. The staff were incredibly friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable, making us feel welcome and well cared for throughout the entire evening. We were lucky enough to try the special Christmas menu, and it was pure magic! Every dish brought back the wonder and joy of being a child on Christmas morning. The flavors, presentation, and creativity were unlike anything I’ve ever experienced – a true celebration of the season. The attention to detail, combined with the team’s ability to tell the story behind each dish, made the entire meal feel like an enchanting journey. The ambiance was warm and inviting, perfectly complementing the festive spirit and culinary artistry. It’s rare to find a place where both the food and service are equally outstanding, but The Fat Duck delivered on all fronts. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a world-class dining experience. I can’t wait to return!

Our kids treated us to an unforgettable evening at The Fat Duck, and it truly lived up to its reputation as one of the best restaurants in the world. The service was impeccable, more like an artful performance than just a meal. Experiencing this during the Christmas festive season added an extra layer of magic, making the evening even more special. We felt truly spoiled and will treasure this experience forever.

Incredible, magical experience. Amazing staff and food.

Really great experience overall with the food presentation and the waiters. However felt like the sommelier was having a bad day and not really want to explain when asking about specific wines.

One undoubtedly would call a visit to the fat duck an occasion, far from day to day treats. We were in strong belief this would be the case. We arrived to a warm welcome and a dining room relatively bustling. The staff were polite in welcome, but simple things in service were missed. Coats were taken after we sat down (confusing?) and the room itself looked like it had seen better days. Still, we wondered on what the evening would entail. Throughout the evening the food was accompanied by some thought provoking ideas. Techniques refined in ways you'd never expect, perception tested on ideas you'd never think, yet an overarching problem existed - the food just wasn't that good. Aerated (and nitrogen poached, I believe) cocktails that, whilst fun, did nothing because the wait between courses was so long that our taste buds had reset. Tiny sandwiches that evoked emotion but were gone in a bite of mediocrity. There were stars amongst the aims, but those stars were overshadowed by food that just wasn't up to standard. Service was average. Our group, squeezed into a corner, seemed to have waiters with arms all over us. At one point we were even requested to pass a dish to another member as the waiter couldn't reach (a clear indication of a logistical problem with the restaurant). Not ideal and certainly not the standards of a restaurant with such prestige. That all being said, the waiters were energetic and fun. The fat duck is definitely different. In some ways good, and in many ways not. It seems that whilst Heston was focused on marvel and spectacle, he left behind a trail of misses. It is certainly one to remember, but spectacle should never come at a cost of the most important thing in dining - what's on the plate. I hope I can come back in a few years and see a different outlook, but for now it isn't worth the investment. Lots of tricks, not so many treats.

A lover of haute cuisine, we dined at ‘The Fat Duck’ in Bray, crowned with three Michelin stars. The setting is cozy, though nothing extraordinary, and the restaurant demonstrates a great deal of creativity with a multi-sensory experience and successful animations that make the moment very enjoyable. However, the level of gastronomy is far from that of a three-star restaurant, particularly in France. The presentation is generally very well done, but finesse and originality are unfortunately not often present, especially for menus that boast record costs exceeding 450 pounds, not including wine, with tea and coffee as extras. The service, moreover, is often in need of improvement. An experience to try, but perhaps not to repeat.

Amazing food and the staff are amazing very friendly, professional and care. The picture is a short rib mince pie the glass is carrot and sherry consume a hard choice to pick a favourite.

🤡The bill was 2700GBP for four people, and all four of them ordered wine pairing. The sake pairing that 2 people drank said it was average and not worth it. Both of us felt numb after drinking the non-alcoholic pairing. . A single order is good. Food: Very average. Portions are very small. Three of the dishes are all desserts, and there is no rice or pasta dish... The girls are only 70% full after finishing the meal, while the boys are only 50% full. Fat Duck's menu doesn't have "duck"... It's because it's Christmas. But I will eat venison. Others: The presentation is beautiful, the formality is sufficient, and the service is super good. The little gifts are quite interesting. The lighting and the small venue are not suitable for taking pictures. PS time budget: Enter the venue at 12 and eat until 4:50pm. It takes almost 1 hour to get to the restaurant from London (train + uber) Summary: ⚠️Have an experience but will not come to this three-star restaurant again. Too Overrated. The main food is just enough to keep me occupied, the wine list is mediocre, the pairing is not well-chosen... and the price is high. Christmas menu Chawuduo 500pp plus pairing 125pp... I personally would prefer to go to ledbury with the same core...

It’s one of the best dining experience I’ve ever had! Love the dining journey and how each plate is created, with loads of surprises!

Disappointing experience service and to end it we were sick after eating here. Definitely not the food service or standard expected. No one has even responded back to our messages.

I had the mystery menu today with cellar experience and it was a very enjoyable culinary experience. However, service lacked attentiveness, and the place was crowded and noise level was high.

Wow! What can i say, but Wooow! From being greated at the door and in the airlock! Cocktails,Moctails, Wines, flavours, textures, story telling, Our TRIP was incredible! I only Wish we could give it a 10! So so special, thank you so much, all 5 of us, absolutely loved it!! xxx

The Fat Duck is not large - if you arrive early, as we did, you can wait in the Hinds Head pub nearby or just stand on the pavement. We went for a 13:15 booking, and left about 4 hours later. Staff were very attentive, there were many of them. Staff communicated well, chatted easily. Descriptions of dishes were sometimes a bit offhand - I guess this happens if you have to repeat the same spiel dozens of times a week. Heston was mentioned quite a few times. The menu is fixed - repeated every day with variations for holidays. We went for the full meal, but not with any wine pairings. The meal was almost like a performance, with a ‘storyteller’ putting cards on an illuminated device that would give a hint at the upcoming course. A big magnifying glass was provided for effect, but also to help read the notes, though we did not bother with this after a while as the notes did not seem to add anything. Lights above our table were dimmed and illuminated at various times in concert with some dishes. In fact the whole Alice in Wonderland theme didn’t really work for us - we all agreed that we would like to just concentrate on the food. Dishes: - A mouse in liquid nitrogen infused with vodka. Less cold than expected, more squidgy than expected. - A beetroot macaroon. Very small, gone quickly, but would have liked it more if it had provided more of a hit and lingering taste. - Sound of the sea. Listening to the sound of waves and seagulls gave a slight reminder of sitting on the beach, but it did not change the taste of the food, which was served on a what looked like a photo frame, the food being a seaweedy thing, a smear of something tasty and a breadcrumb mix made to be crunchy as if getting sand in your food at the beach. - Snail porridge. Tasty snails, I would have liked the porridge to have a bit more substance to it. - A Salad thing, colourful, edible flowers, tiny finely cut vegetables, all very tasty. - Mock turtle soup - an oxtail soup you mix yourself. Served together with a few small sandwiches that reminded one of afternoon tea (the wonky sandwich platter just like the one in Tenniel’s illustration of the mad hatters tea party. Nice soup, sandwiches rather flat with limp bread which did remind me of limp sandwiches at my grandparents when I was young. - Beef, very nicely cooked, tender, with a scrummy mashed potato dollop and gravy, but 3 quite cold mushrooms. We assume this was intentional. - Bread and butter. Nice to have something filling. - Tea which was half cold, half hot vertically. A bit of a gimmick, had a slightly gloopy texture probably indicating the cold part was a recently chilled gelatine thing. - Tasting the wine in the ‘cellar’ with blaring music, flashing white and red light did change the taste of the wine - interesting, but might have tried this at the science museum. - Parsnip flakes in parsnip flavour milk - served in gimmicky small cereal boxes like when we were little - though each box had the same flakes in them. It did feel just like eating one of those selection cereals, but a bit parsnipy. - Black forest gateau was scrummy. - Sweets at the end from a fancy sweet shop doll’s house. Activated by inserting a coin that we had been given earlier at some point, the drawers opened in some sort of pattern with one remaining open. However each drawer contained the same sweets. Of course the sweets were things like tobacco flavoured chocolate. This did feel Alice in Wonderlandish but it was another unnecessary flourish we felt. Some notes were provided that said these sweets took many hours to create each week. Hmmm. - Tea and coffee at the end was optional, but charged separately. Given the overall cost, it seems odd that a cup of coffee would not be included. Total cost £1750 for four which included a bottle of Pinot that was priced at 4 times what one would pay in the shop (and probably 8 times what it would go for in retail). Be prepared to spend a lot more for alcohol if you want any other bottle. Later I met a chef who had worked for FD for a number of years previously, who said that he would spend months repeating the same dish, and the menu barely changes for many years. Having not eaten much for the day before in anticipation, I actually found I had lost a kilo when I weighed myself the next day. We were told by one member of staff that someone had been that day for their eleventh visit, which seemed very impressive, if only for stamina. This had been a bucket list item - we had thought about coming for quite a long time, and looked forward to it, but in the end a bit of an anti climax. I think this is partly because Heston Blumenthal’s innovations have now been around for a while and other places have followed similar methods. We are very familiar with Chinese dishes and could only think that the wide variety of taste combinations, textures, presentation styles of Chinese food make FD dishes seem a little puny.

This is not just about amazing food but it’s the whole experience. From the moment you arrive to the moment you depart it will blow your mind.

Overall food was good quality , service was impeccable, however food was so overated and boring . I thought Heston was going to be far more inspiring and thought provoking . Instead we received dishes with standard flavour combinations. We saw everyone’s food before hand which took away from our experience as it was hardly surprising when we had it . I am fortunate enough to dine in most of the worlds best Restaurants and the fat duck is no where near the standard we would expect normally. It’s a shame because I thought this would have been the benchmark for fine dining. Hardly different or exceptional for the money we paid. Not worth £1390; insane price . I actually Had an additional course of bread to tie me over. If you like your fine food and eat fine food often you’ll be truly bored at this menu , after you leave.

Overpriced gimmicks, poor value proposition. Taste test failed. Service patronising, esp coming from waiters who are not professionals, felt like part time college students giving instructions on life. Atmosphere juvenile. Decor stuffy.

We visited the fat duck on a very rare anniversary menu, celebrating 30 years of it's fine history. Dishes ranged from classics, to classics with new twists, to newer plates. The whole history was showcased in a single meal. It was titled the journey, and we were provided with a map and a magnifying glass. The map detailed our menu for the evening, but hidden across it were much smaller texts, instantly making the experience playful. All dishes were masterfully presented, with plenty of theatre and of course, delicious flavours. Highlights were the full English breakfast masquerading as a bowl of cereal, and the magical floating merengues. Truly wonderful!

Worth every penny and worth the trip. Got the wine / sake / cocktail combination pairing and we just had a total blast. I waited so many years to try ‘the sound of the sea’ and it totally did not disappoint.

Best food, best service, best meal in the Uk. All the waiters and waitresses were phenomal (especially Dan). Thank you for making my girlfriend’s birthday special!

Incredible food and drinks, service was great and just such a unique experience.

We had a fabulous time and a great meal - would suggest a few courses are a little too theatrical, remember we are there for the food. However I am surprised no one mentions that the menu price does not include VAT or service - for a table of 4 a cost of just over £500 unexpected cost upon receipt of the bill ! There is no mention on the website that neither are included. I worry for those on a gift vouchers who end up with unexpected bills- tell the consumer what the real Price is in advance ! Poor show and very unusual for a restaurant .

Treated to the journey tasting menu for my 40th Birthday. A taxi error resulted in us being 15minutes late but the staff were not phased and made me relax straight away. The entrance is discreet and you are immediately welcomed in a small mirror bound waiting area with holograms. Entering the restaurant is undaunting, it is very relaxed with lovely cosy decor. The staff are highly attentive as you would expect but in a very unpretentious manner. They really know how to make you feel comfortable. The food was amazing as expected although a couple of dishes weren't quite to my taste....a personal thing but they were still edible and I could still respect and admire the complexity of the flavour and the amount of work gone into creating them. The theatre through the culinary journey is incredible. All of your senses are catered for. I won't say anymore as I would not want to spoil the surprises for anyone else. Yes it's expensive. Very expensive in fact. But it's an experience I will remember forever and I don't think you can put a price on that ❤️

Each "course" was an unpleasant mix of flavours. Left feeling hungry and slightly repulsed. I am sure some of the good reviews are from people who don't want to admit they have wasted all that money on a gimmick. Someone somewhere is laughing.

Amazing experience from the moment you're greeted at the front door to when you leave.

Insane. Absolutely wonderful. Didnt take pics as its not the done thing. 30th anniversary The Journey menu. Featuring the biggest hits of hestons back catalogue. Sounds of the sea. Cheese and grapes. The breakfast box. Crab ice-cream, Woodland, . There all here with drybice aplenty, and were all miraculous. Service was wonderful and aided a totallly immersive 4 hour lunch. Even the lights above our table changed in time with the courses to aid the atmosphere. Perfect and thank you very much.

Creative food, really interesting concepts, but disfrutar is still ahead by a mile. It is definitely an experience and a show though, and sometimes that can be gimmicky but not here. Service was generally great however my primary server seems a bit solemn and did not describe the dishes as comprehensively as I saw that some other servers did - and it’s important as there isn’t a detailed menu and it’s up to the server to uniquely describe dishes. The setting is quite simple if prefer that, not too much of an ambiance. Overall still a good experience and would recommend.

The Fat Duck has been on our bucket list for a number of years, but with many Michelin Starred restaurants on our door step (Cumbria) we hadn't made the journey until business took us close by. It really is a sensory experience of taste, visuals and sound, which made the experience unique for us. The quirky detail really added to the culinary experience and made for conversation throughout the meal. Service was faultless. Just the right amount of attention and humour. Not in the least stuffy or pretentious. We went for the £185 wine pairing and were pleasantly surprised by the quality and how well matched they were. We only had one course that neither of us enjoyed, either food or wine choice (my husband kindly ate and drank mine so not to cause offence). That was the Counting Sheep course. Visually uninspiring and taste we found unpleasant. It also felt too gimmicky, as once you had seen another table blindfolded until the 'floating pillow' arrived, it had no impact. The accompanying Asti was also not to our taste. Hence the four star rather than five star review. To have one course and pairing which we really didn't rate (and we can accept differing tastes) at such high prices just dropped that star. The Journey menu was priced at £400 per head, cheapest wine pairing at £185 per head and we also paid for the £50 per head drinks to accompany the sweet shop treats (worth doing). So £1400 for two people. I would recommend this experience as there were so many fabulous courses (our favourites were the quail and beef) but hopefully if we are to return, we won't be counting sheep!

We had been really excited to eat here having told many of our friends. Despite emailing the restaurant in advance explaining we didn't drink wine and providing them with our favourite cocktails, we still found ourselves having to read through a 72 page wine list, resulting in us not getting anything to drink until we were nearly an hour into the meal! This did not set the stage for a pleasant start to our evening. We did enjoy some of the dishes, others were less than underwhelming. The use of dry ice and sweet cereal as dessert felt gimmicky. The meal took so long, with so very little to eat that we had to ask for additional bread as we were so hungry. Ultimately whilst we appreciate the efforts of the chefs and the staff we cannot help but feel it was a waste of money and extremely overpriced. There are many other beautiful restaurants in the world we would sooner recommend.

DO NOT READ OTHER REVIEWS! Please! You will absolutely destroy your experience at The Fat Duck. And considering the price tag, that's not what anyone wants. My friends and I chose The Trip menu. You can have three extra dishes with The Journey menu, but unless you have starved yourself like a bear in hibernation or have a huge appetite, it's not necessary. We arrived only knowing which menu we had chosen. We had no clue what was going to happen, what dishes we'd get, what the experience was like (except the sweet house at the end which is on every YouTube video about The Fat Duck). This resulted in a wonderful experience. One surprise after another, not just experientially as they make a lot of effort to create the atmosphere, but the flavour combinations and textures. Absolutely wonderful. It's well worth saving up if you have to so that you can experience this once. And if you're well off enough to go to 3 star Michelin restaurants, this should be first on your list. Well done Heston and team. WOW!

Amazing set up and professional service! Every single dish was out of this world! Amazing selection of wines and spirits!

Fat duck, which has been awarded three Michelin stars for many years Just ask which restaurant, be sure to make a reservation and give it a try. Someone will definitely recommend fat duck to you. The earliest molecular cuisine was very creative and didn’t look like much. I'm really full after eating the fine pieces. This set menu also includes the Mock Turtle Soup from Alice in Wonderland, which is also a famous British dish. The scrambled fake egg ice cream is also very interesting.

This was my second time at the place and the central question was - are the classics identical, is there anything new. This is a three star joint, so level high anyways. So. 1. Many of the classics were improved and developed, so the menu is not a dead one even for the Sound of the sea etc. 2. There were new entries, my favorite was the kinda deconstructed Black Forest gateaux- it was lip smacking delicious. Then the most notable improvement: last time e.g. sake pairings and the wines were OK, but nothing to write home about. This time… the pairings played in the same league as the food. I stole the idea of pairing a dish with a special martini instead of wine immediately to my next home meal, what a genius idea. Service was flawless, our wedding anniversary was met with a card from all chefs and our special guest, a Viking rubber duck named “Olaf, the gourmet duck” was given due attention. I did find the evening a tad pricey though, 750€ of the tasting menu paid beforehand should have contained even a basic set of drinks with food.

This was our third visit and it didn’t disappoint! Alex and his team take you on a journey that is truly remarkable. Your senses are treated to an experience like no other. I would highly recommend a wine pairing too, this elevates the food even further which I didn’t think would be possible. Thank you again Alex and team and we are looking forward to seeing you all again for the Christmas menu. Mr & Mrs Harvey

The Fat Duck is truly a very special restaurant. My wife and I dine out a lot and often visit three-star restaurants, but at The Fat Duck, one could easily add a plus to the three stars. The presentations are very impressive and thoughtfully designed, perfectly coordinated with each course. The dishes themselves are incredibly creative, and you can truly feel the amount of thought and perfection that has gone into them. It's self-evident that everything tastes amazing. The service is friendly, very attentive, and helps to enhance the overall experience. Our visit has left a lasting impression on us and will continue to do so for a long time. We rarely take the time to write reviews, usually only when something doesn’t go well, but in this case, we are writing because The Fat Duck absolutely deserves a positive review. We would like to thank the entire team at The Fat Duck for an impressive and exciting dinner.

Food was delicately prepared but not at all impressive. 80% of the food was cold and the ingredient use doesn’t justify the price of the menu. Considering this is a three star Michelins restaurant advertising a sensory journey, the sensory storytelling experience was mediocre as it rely heavily on the storyteller and not as much on the combination of food and story. What was the disappointment factor was that after knowing it was a birthday celebration by confirmation with email and booking order, there was not any element of birthday celebration from the restaurants besides two birthday cards. Is it not common expectation to have a little sweets or cake with candles when the restaurant has specifically ask if you are celebrating anything?

Did not have the best experience dining at the fat duck. It was one of the most stressful meals I've had due to the fact that my wife was ill on our trip to the UK (occured during the trip), and we were unable to cancel the booking. With such a high price paid upfront, we felt we had no choice but to trek to Bray in the rain for this meal. I appreciate that the team contacted us daily in 'attempts' to assist in reselling the table, though I had no way to verify attempts were actually made. Also, due to my wife's condition we had to avoid all seafood and she had nausea during the trip over and the meal, thus making the meal difficult to enjoy. The food in itself seems executed technically superbly and some very novel items. Hot and cold tea/ soup was very interesting as an example. However, again due to the overall situation we were in, difficult to enjoy given the circumstances. The staff experience varied as well. I felt like a slightly more enthusiastic and theatrical explanations would have significantly helped the dining experience. Most of the food elements are very technical and whimsical in nature, and thus a big part of the enjoyment comes from understanding the items we're eating. However, this was hit and miss, with some team members seeming to be missing on the enthusiasm and detail. I was looking forward to putting the coin into the sweet shop trolley as an example, but that was done for me by the waiter. I was asked upon payment why I asked to cut the service charge but at that point, due to the slightly uncoordinated service, we were informed that our car was waiting for us outside already approximately 5 mins before our bill arrived. Hence this review to explain. Overall, felt like something that could have been a much better adventure for my wife and I on our anniversary, but was just missing that extra spark + the circumstances and the inflexible policy made what should have been a great dinner into a stressful one as we were conscious throughout the trip that we had this big ticket item on our agenda that we had to go to or have paid for nothing.

Good 👍 Nice Very nice 👍 Very good

If you want to enjoy food, inventiveness, and storytelling, then "The Fat Duck" restaurant is the best place to experience an explosion of all three aspects of gastronomic pleasure in one spot! During the three-hour magic, you are discreetly drawn into sections where you move through various natural landscapes, different times of the day, and historical moments. Each part is different but exciting in its own way. Excellent wine/sake pairings with great explanations from an experienced sommelier. The staff is very kind and attentive. A top-notch experience!

I just had to write about this establishment ASAP. What an absolutely phenomenal evening my husband and I had. Firstly the service received was met with smiles and a feeling of wanting. They were all very polite and even thought they do this day in and day out they all give 100% in making sure the experience is absolutely First class for you. They have great passion in what they do and more importantly make you feel so important. Thank you to ALL the staff especially to Tom and Keanu . I did not know what to expect other than to be surprised and that didn't fail one bit. They told a beautiful story about the journey of the foods and paid great detail to the food with the story. Each course was a delight full of surprises. This is not your regular restaurant with 3 courses and out you go...this is a dining experience to be mesmerised by. I certainly have a new found respect for celeriac and rare beef..which I would never have touched before. Go there to experience and explore the passion this establishment was created for and enjoy it. I truly recommend this establishment and can't wait to explore more delights here in the near future.

Very, very nice napkin. The best napkin of my trip. If you are debating between the Journey and the Trip; I recommend the Trip. The additional cost is by no means justified. We ate here in 2010, and to this day I have classified that as a top 5, or top 10, meal in my life. The Whiskey Wine Gums capped off what was a great meal. This was not that meal. The “Sounds of the Sea” from 2024 was one of the worst dishes of my life. It was on both menus. That was followed by scallops with white chocolate, which the server described as an unusual combination. I agree it was an unusual combination. Service was equally unusual.

From being met at the door outside until we stepped back outside three hours later we couldn’t have wished for more. It was like a dream an illusion. Every single item we tasted we smelt and we touched was Topsy Turvey. The food, the staff were outstanding. I don’t ever think I will ever see food the same way again. Knowledgeable staff engaging and excellent story telling with explanations all the way through the lunch experience. We left asking ourselves did it really happen ? I won’t spoil the surprise or magic as it has to be experienced. All I can say is mind blowing and a once in a lifetime opportunity.

What can I say about The Fat Duck that probably hasn't already been said somewhere? 4 of us visited to celebrate my birthday. Everything about it was absolutely superb. The food was stunning, and I do mean stunning. On occasion I've felt slightly underwhelmed in some starred restaurants and I was worried the hype about The Fat Duck would result in similar- but I was pleased to be wrong. My favourite dish was probably Sounds of the Sea - absokutely perfect experience of taste, smell, sound, texture. Very clever. The service was brilliant. Very friendly, approachable and very happy to talk and explain things. My wife enjoys playing a game in places.like this to see if she can manage to successfully empty her water glass before a waiter notices and tops it up. She didn't succeed here, which is one of my favourite (nin evidence based) yard sticks for quality of service/attentiveness. This was my first time at The Fat Duck. I'm sure it won't be the last. Thank you for such a wonderful evening.

Good spot and deserving of the recognition

I have been a fan of Heston and would visit dinner by Heston Blumenthal once in awhile for my favourite meat fruit. We made a special trip to The Fat Duck but it was a tad disappointing despite attempts to engage us during the dinner service. My favourite was the part where we’re at the sea/beach. Unfortunately, service felt tired and while a few tables got to visit the kitchen, we had to ask for it. Although they obliged, we ended up watching them clean up and most were just standing around empty tables getting ready to head home. It was also challenging to understand the waiter when my wines were introduced and after 2 glasses, we gave up clarifying. We went to the Hinds Head the next day; the food and experience felt more satisfying.