The Fernery in Pembrokeshire

During our stay at Grove of Narbeth, the highlight of the visit was the seven course taster experience at the Fernery. After being warmly welcomed by Luke, offered drinks, we were seated in the plush restaurant, and the delights followed. The dishes, the craftsmanship, the ingredients (the chef is obviously a genius), the enthusiasm from all the staff describing each dish, their sommelier Cathryn's expert choices and advice - was about as perfect as any taster experience we've enjoyed. Each course was presented beautifully, the choice of ingredients varied in a way that wasn't at all repetitive. The "Grove Vegetables" following fresh breads was immediately impactful with freshness and wonderful kale sauce with hints of seaweed. For "The Love of the Sea" with lobster on a tomato base again fresh, light and so tasty - as well as beautiful. And on it went with Sea Bass and a Beef dish to die for. Just outstanding presentation and flavours. As we moved towards dessert we were presented with “Farmesan” a cheese a hard Welsh cheese that resembels Parmesan - aged for over 3 years. They aerate the cheese with cocoa butter and serve with a pepper sorbet and black olive. Just wow. And to finish "Hedgerows", a delightful dessert so multi-layered it's hard to describe. The overall flavour seemed to present Christmas and carrot cake on a bed of meringue. What's not to love? In conclusion, probably the finest taster menu we've ever had (and we've had quite a few). Mostly because of the menu, ingredients, execution, presentation and, of course, taste. But also because of the team - from the maitre d, to the sommelier, to the procession of smiling, enthusiastic waiters. Simply superb. Cannot recommend highly enough.

The tasting menu was exceptional. A wonderful curation of dishes using local Welsh ingredients. The food and the service both 5 stars! Don't hesitate to book.

Mind blowing and very clever, the chef is making food with a smile on his face. Each course had a bit of humour in it and some very sophisticated cooking, his technique is all local and very about the flavour of each item. I was amazed and each course was skilful and clever. A cheese course that was a Parmesan case carrying a cheese sorbet. Fantastic .

We had a lovely meal here for my wife's birthday on December 20th - a rare occasion for a night out without the kids whilst we were on a pre-christmas break in Wales! The venue is lovely, the restaurant (and hotel) being set in a pretty georgian building in the countryside. Other than not quite knowing where the entrance was, once in we were welcomed warmly and shown to our table. Decor and ambiance were perfect for a dark winter night, and whilst reasonably busy, we never felt overlooked or that we didn't have privacy. We chose the 5-course tasting menu, and we had no regrets. Along with the 5 courses, we were served an initial amuse-bouche plus a post-dessert sweet treat, both of which were large enough to have really counted as additional courses! Each course was a real adventure in unexpected ingredients coming together in oddly successful ways! Given the somewhat cryptic menu, you naturally are a little trepidatious about what you might end up eating, but certainly for us there were very few "fails"! The whole evening is pulled together by the friendly, enthusiastic (and adorably nerdy) staff, who make a real effort both to explain both the food and it's provenance (pretty much EVERYTHING is locally sourced), but also do so in a way that demonstrates real enthusiasm and love for what they do. Initial trepidation was reinforced when the early course contained ingredients that traditionally I'd avoid like the plague, but in the spirit of adventure I tried anyway - to be pleasantly surprised! Eggs and Eels were transformed by the addition of strong pesto-esque basil, Parmesan became tolerable with the addition of (I think) licorice (which is normally the devil's own foodstuff) and pine nuts and AMAZING bread? (my memory is fuzzy!) Our highlights were "The Kings Estate" and the desserts. I won't ruin the surprise in case you decide to go, but both were utterly heavenly. As was the Mango cake/Mousse thing from the second dessert course! What I will say is that, excluding the dessert, it's probably the most "savoury" meal I've ever eaten. I like that, but if you prefer a more even mix of sweet and savoury flavours in your dishes, then the menu on the night we went might not be for you. In addition, the menu has very obviously had a lot of love and care put into it, and there are flavour themes that seem to run through many of the dishes - I'm recalling basil, lemongrass, licorice being particular standouts. As a consequence, if you have a particular hatred of any of them, you might not get much respite through the meal (although I generally do not eat cheese OR licorice and had a wonderful meal!). There are other menu options such as a vegetarian and vegan tasting menu though, so you have options. Overall, I think this is one of my favourite meals I've ever eaten. It was memorable for the interesting and creative food we ate, and it was augmented by really charming service from, primarily, the Head Sommelier and (if my memory serves) our server who was called Tilly (?). The fact I'm remembering names tells you much about the impact of good service. It's not a cheap restaurant, but you leave feeling like every penny was well spent. If you find yourself in Pembrokeshire, there are no shortage of great restaurants, but I'd probably recommend taking a drive out to Fernery vs booking at the more obvious sister restaurant Coast in Saundersfoot (although I bet it's lovely there on a summer night)

We ate here when staying at the Grove. This was the second time we have eaten here. We had the 5 course taster menu which was fantastic. The service was a combination of friendly, informative and efficient. We had our sweets in the lounge and our leftover wine was brought out to us. Will be returning

The Fernery Restaurant is a true hidden gem in the area. The top-class food and impeccable service make it worth the extra cost. I celebrated my partner's birthday there and had a fantastic experience. Highly recommend!

Superb food & service. Follows "you pays for what you gets" maxim.

Everything was superb. Tank you.

It was nice atmosphere. I really enjoyed it.

A wonderful enjoyable evening. The service was highly professional. I think the first Michelin star can be achieved soon. Good luck and keep it up. Thank you again for a great evening!

What a fantastic location, hotel and especially the restaurant. We had the 8 course tasting menu and pairing wines, and all I can say is that it was fantastic. All 8 courses were exceptional in flavour and presentation and how they do not have a star I have no idea. Honestly one of the best menus we have ever had. The staff we lovely, attentive but most of all they we themselves and their personalities were very evident. We will be returning very soon

Impeccable service and food in a lovely, calm atmosphere. All the staff and Geoge the restaurant manager, exceeded all expectations. Highly recommended!

Fabulous food, interesting wines, great service

Stunning experience from start to end. We opted for the 8 course option which was very indulgent. (I ate the pescatarian menu whilst my partner had the meat) A laid back but still elegant atmosphere in beautiful surroundings. It needs a Michelin star! Staff were lovely and each course was totally different, a fantastic mix of flavours. I loved how most items on the menu were either grown on site or from the local area. Also a big thank you for being able to cater for my gluten free needs, It felt like it was no issue for them which made me feel totally relaxed and welcomed. Would highly recommend.

My wife and I had an extraordinary dining experience at The Fernery last night. The food surpassed Michelin-starred dinners we've had in the US, London, and France. Each dish was a masterpiece, bursting with flavors that delighted our senses. Impeccable service and flawless presentation added to the remarkable experience. The Fernery is a hidden gem deserving of international recognition. We highly recommend it for an unforgettable culinary journey and bonus points if you have the opportunity to stay onsite at The Grove hotel

Hands down one of the best dinners we've ever eaten. Eight outstanding courses and exceptional service throughout the evening. The lobster and prawn dish was just outrageously good. No Michelin star tells you more about Michelin than it does about the restaurant. Go eat here if you can!

We had high tea. Superb experience.

The food here was exceptional and we both thoroughly enjoyed our meal. The service was fantastic. Nice little touch afterwards with some lovely cakes

Staying at The Grove, I was so pleased to be able to book The Fernery for my wife and I. Service was exceptional, nice intimate surroundings, food was divine and different tastes and textures than we have had at similar restaurants, wine pairing was amazing, staff were very knowledgable and friendly, I really wouldn't have changed a single thing. Thanks to chef and all the staff!

Possibly one the best meals we have eaten in the last 10 years - having been all over the world and including many Michelin starred restaurants. Fantastic skills in the kitchen

5-course chef's dinner. Alternating courses and all equally tasty. The pace is high

The spacious dining room provided a welcoming setting for our 5 course meal with accompanying wine flight. The courses were each beautifully presented, and the flavour combinations were modern. The wine pairings were interesting, including a nice sparkling white wine from Wales. The service was enthusiastic. All in all a very nice dining experience.

This was our second visit to the Fernery -- and we again had an outstanding meal. Chef Doug Balish is hugely talented and believes in using local ingredients, much from the hotel's own garden or nearby purveyors. We particularly loved the sea bass, venison, and grilled vegetable courses in the five-course tasting menu -- and the wine pairings were gorgeous. The Fernery delivers high quality cooking, perfect but unfussy service, and a delightful dining experience. A Michelin star for sure is on the horizon....

This restaurant is simply incredible, and easily rivals London's best. Congratulations to the staff and head chef for creating a superb and unique experience. This is the time to dine here, before they inevitably win their Michelin star, and become unaffordable.

Incredible. Best in the area by a long long way. Expensive but worth it. Take some extra time to walk round the gardens.

One of those perfect restaurants in perfect surroundings where everyone seems to know what they are doing and they all do it very well. Firstly, many thanks to Alex for being the ideal front of house: genuine, engaging and helpful. In addition to meking our dinner an extremely enjoyable experience, he gave us excellent wine recommendations, accommodated our request to unfix the fixed menus and called ahead to his friends at our next meal - what more can I say! The food was a perfect match for the service - just amazing flavours and ingredients. Nothing spoiled by being too complex or frou-frou - good honest culinary excellence! The beef, fish and quail courses were three of the best we've ever had (not exaggerating!) in their quality and simplicity. The main ingredient shone and was marvellously complemented by the sauces. I would recommend most michelin chefs pop to taste the sauces served here! I could go on...but I think you get the idea. Many thanks for a fantastically delicious experience.

We had a fantastic five course tasting menu, with wine pairing -- and thought the quality of the cooking and the level of service exceeded meals that we have had at Michelin starred restaurants.

Unbelievable. By far the fanciest meal we have had and we decided to push the boat out and have the 8 course with a flight of wines. Neither of us are wine buffs, we just enjoy an occasional glass but we were made to feel most welcome with attentive, friendly staff and the most delicious food I have eaten….an absolute flavour sensation.

An absolutely amazing meal! I am allergic to gluten and intolerant to dairy and so often when we eat out a fine dining restaurants I am a little bit disappointed with some of the swaps made on the plate. That was absolutely not that case here! Everything was absolutely delicious and care had been taken to ensure that adjustments made to my meal still worked really well from a flavour perspective. We were so impressed and can’t wait to come back!

Michelin standard food. We had the tasting menu. Hard to choose which course I liked, they were all superb.

The Fernery provided an exceptional vegan experience, with no courses 'lacking', and flavours outstanding. Those with a vegan diet will know how rare this is, especially to be sustained across five courses, plus extras such as vegan herb butter, canapes, etc. And accommodation in the Angelica Room was perfect. Space to really relax and chill out, with fabulous views across to the Presseli Hills.

I’ve not stayed or eaten anywhere high-end that has embraced plant based cuisine in the exquisite way that the chefs at The Fernery have approached the menu. Rather than simply offering vegan options for omnivorous dishes, the whole menu was created from scratch with taste...

This is one of two restaurants in the Grove at Narberth hotel. This one is fine dining. It has a lovely set of rooms and it serves only a tasting menu, when we went there was a choice of 5 or 8 courses. We went...