Based on 109 opinions finded in 1 websites
Based on 109 opinions finded in 1 websites
Opinions
We had a 3 course meal here and it was very good. Starters of Chicken and Shiitake Mushroom terrine with Parma Ham and veloute cauliflower. Main courses of Pork Belly, Cavolo Nero and Apple Crumble and Apple Sauce was very good. The french wine we had was full bodied and tasty and the desserts of cheese board and passion fruit cheesecake was very good.
ZakJShaw . 2020-10-29
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Booked this hotel for afternoon tea with my daughter and sister and we had a great experience. Plenty of attention offered to us with endless tea and sandwiches offered. Good service and worth a visit - priced well compared to some other hotels that offer afternoon tea. We also took away the cakes for our partners as we could not eat them all!
Dena E . 2020-02-18
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Almorcé aquí entre semana y luego en el cercano hotel El Cliveden al día siguiente. (están a sólo media hora de diferencia) Entre semana precios almuerzo eran muy similares en ambos lugares (aquí es de £30 por 2 campos y 35 libras por 3 campos y en el Cliveden es £33 por 3 campos) pero la calidad de los ingredientes y el sabor era mucho mejor en el Cliveden. Aquí teníamos chorizo salchichas y puré pero difícilmente podría comer mucho de el chorizo salchichas como era exactamente como comer chorizo, que es demasiado fuerte en su propio. También tuvimos un rodaballo principal que estaba mucho mejor, pero siempre un pequeño trozo de pescado (pescado de el cliveden fue principal doble de tamaño). Encantadores jardines y vista desde el restaurante, que también tiene una gran terraza. Parecía que había un fuerte empuje para bodas con una mesa de planificadores de bodas de disfrutar una comida de cortesía con champán y obviamente parejas emocionado ser mostrarán con un comentario ruidoso mientras comíamos. El servicio era bueno. En general, no volvería para una comida. Dada la preciosa casa y preciosos jardines nos encantaría considerar volver para tomar el té de la tarde si en la zona.
exotissima1 . 2017-07-05
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Cenamos aquí tras una mañana de spa. El paquete incluye 2 campos cada uno. Ambos tuvimos pescado y patatas fritas que estaba delicioso! Agradable tener patatas fritas caseras. La mayoría de los lugares sólo usar listo para comprar. Tuve la tarta Tatín, que era delicioso y mi amigo tenía el arroz que era demasiado rico para ella. El servicio era bueno y disfrutamos de algunos Prosescco con vistas a los jardines encantadores. Lo recomendaría!
TenOutofTenUK . 2017-05-13
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Sin duda volveremos! El té de la tarde era muy buena y el servicio lo hace muy especial!
MoniqueAnthony . 2016-07-20
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Started with a glass of prosecco, a very good quality one, while we considered the menu and gazed over the beautiful gardens. I started with Asparagus served with poached egg and hollandaise sauce. It was so delicious I didn't want to get to the end of it. The asparagus was perfectly steamed,the poached egg oozed onto my plate and the sauce was a dream. My companion chose pate de foie gras, served with a brioche, and pronounced it excellent. For my main I chose duck with beans, red cabbage and fondant potato. The duck was full of flavour, and roasted so that the skin was very crisp. The other main course selected was Beef en Daube with mashed potatoes and green beans, and was much enjoyed. We were defeated after two courses, and finished with coffee and chocolate truffles. The service was attentive, but not fussy. We drank Chianti and a red Turkish wine, choosing from a wide selection of world wines. The two course lunch cost £30, and was good value. The wines by the glass were on the pricey side, as was the 15% service charge, but I would definitely repeat the experience. Total bill came to £113.
Hugh E . 2016-05-02
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Afternoon tea for us is a regular occurrence both at home and when travelling. I had not been to Danesfield house for many years and not wishing to travel into London and being completely put off Cliveden by their GBP 7 per head supplement for just using the driveway, Danesfield seemed like a good option. The full afternoon tea was an obvious choice and there is a nice variety of teas to choose, we went with Oolong. When we arrived and met together in the hall there were two young mums with their broods of noisy children, we hoped they would stay there but unfortunately no, they soon followed us into the Orangery. Such a shame to have the ambience of tea on a wet afternoon spoiled by someone else’s children. The sandwiches were a nice selection and the scones absolutely wonderful; light and fluffy, so if we had not been so hungry we could all have probably been happy with just a cream tea and they are happy to bring extra cream when asked. Battenberg cake was super, as was the chocolate choux pastry bun and I enjoyed the macarons, although my husband found them overly sweet. The little fruit tartlets were bland and soggy and could well have gone without and having seen my husband taken a bite and put it aside I didn’t even try the pink angel delight whatever it was. So, a lovely setting for tea, perhaps they should introduce a no children under 14 policy? tea selection is good and scones superb. If I return, I probably would not bother with a full tea and would stick with the cream tea. Service is good helpful and unobtrusive. GBP 30 is expensive for the selection and quality of tea cakes provided, the cream tea in comparison is absolutely excellent value. But I guess the costs reflects the current craze for tea being experienced by the UK.
Katherine K . 2016-03-24
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We have had Sunday lunch twice this year at Danesfield House and I am still not decided how I feel about it! The hotel has splendid grounds with views across the River Thames. The lunch service on both occasions was excellent and the Orangery itself on a sunny day is quite special. Set against this the price is quite high (£30 for two courses; £35 for three) and the cheapest bottle of wine is £25 with a 12.5 per cent service charge billed as standard. So it's around £50 a head. Would just about be acceptable if the food was extraordinary, but it's not. The starters are quite ordinary; soup, a crab cocktail which was very 1970s and a few others. The beef roast was ok. Nothing to complain about but not to rave about either. If you decide to make an afternoon of it, exploring the house, spa and grounds as well as eating it you might console yourself that it is money well spent...I can't make up my mind!!!
travelinhope . 2016-03-15
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I visited for afternoon tea with my Mum,Grandma, sisters and 6 month old nephew.My sister wasn't made to feel uncomfortable when my nephew became grumpy and started crying a bit and the staff even showed her somewhere quieter where she could stand to soothe him.The afternoon tea was quite expensive compared to others I have been to and there was no clear offer of refillable teas or coffees though I'm sure if you asked for these they would be provided. I had the rosebud tea which was something I had never tasted before and which was very nice. The sandwiches and cakes were all lovely and there was plenty of them.I particularly loved the chocolate cream profiterole and the chocolate and raspberry macaroon. A lovely afternoon and beautiful grounds to walk around. Only because of the high price, this afternoon tea is perhaps more of a treat than some others (£30).
Victoria_H648 . 2016-03-08
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Fine sandwiches, warm scones, delicious cakes and a wonderful choice of teas - a lovely way to spend an afternoon relaxing with my daughter before heading over to the Spa for manicures - it was a treat as quite pricey but we will return. Friendly, helpful and polite staff.
Sareewaree . 2016-02-15
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Service excellent, first with drinks in the bar then three course lunch in the Orangery followed by coffee in the Great Hall. Food was first class with just one minor complaint, one main course was only just warm but this was replaced immediately and price deducted from the bill, so one cannot ask for better customer relations. All this came with a very reasonable price tag. I would definitely recommend Danesfield for food, service, wonderful architecture and a beautiful view over the Thames from Medmenham to Hurley.
Paul F . 2016-02-09
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A really nice venue for our family lunch celebration with a great choice of food. The food was delicious and of great standard and the service was polite and attentive. Glad we chose Danesfield.
LouiseH562 . 2016-02-07
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Excellent food gorgeous building the service amazing spot of lunch beautiful Been here twice and will visit again this year very nice indeed
464brigittes . 2016-01-15
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We had a wonderful afternoon tea in the orangery overlooking the beautiful grounds, there was a very good selection of sandwiches, four scones for the two of us and a lovely selection of small cakes and pastries, we both had earl grey tea which was topped up for us, the food was delicious and the service very good, we didn't have the champagne afternoon tea which was just £10 more but was nice to have the option
Jules5520 . 2015-12-18
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My Daughter took me for Champagne afternoon tea for my Birthday, we were sat in the Orangery which has a lovely outlook. Unfortunately it was empty except for one other table nearby. The whole time we were there the waiting staff were cleaning and making up tables for dinner, it was very noisy and we felt in the way. If we’d known we would happily of sat in the bar area where there was more people, which looked warmer and an atmosphere. The food was nicely presented, and we enjoyed the little cakes and thought the sandwiches would be freshly made but they were dry and so were the scones (which we left) When I’ve been to afternoon tea at other locations the staff have run through the sandwiches and cakes but we had to guess! The service was slow and we were only asked if we wanted more tea when we had nearly finished. Considering this was a Birthday treat, I felt terrible for my Daughter as I could clearly see she was also disappointed, she paid extra for the Champagne tea, plus the service charge on top. Not worth the money as it should have been a lovely afternoon!
Cazzy26 . 2015-12-17
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Could not rate highly enough. This was well executed and delicious. The food was sublime. I normally have food envy but regardless of what you ordered you felt like you had won!
f1987f . 2015-12-02
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Stayed here for a night and dined in The Orangery on a Saturday evening. I had the Mackerel and Beetroot salad to start, which was lovely- although very small! For main, I had sea bass and vegetable risotto- which was amazing. My partner had the venison and said that he was really impressed. I would comment on the dessert, but the vino had got to me by this point, so my recollections aren't entirely accurate. I think that I had the cheese board? I love cheese, so I imagine it was a winner. Overall, 4/5.
Georgina F . 2015-11-30
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My friend and I recently visited for a spa break and dined in The Orangery for dinner and breakfast. The evening meal was exquisite and I would thoroughly recommend the Foie Gras to start and Fillet of Beef for main. All courses were beautifully presented and the staff were excellent. Just the right amount of attention. It was a further treat when we returned in the morning for breakfast. A great continental selection is offered together with a menu for cooked breakfasts. Finally the view from The Orangery is outstanding, overlooking the grounds initially and then to the countryside beyond.
Jennifer K . 2015-11-19
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We eat here as part of a package we had at the hotel , we had three courses and a bottle of wine.All the food we had was great and very nicely presented. The fish and chips was the best bit of battered fish we have ever had as a special bit of praise.The service was very good and not to in your face as some places can be.We will be back in the summer when we can eat on the terrace and enjoy the view.
Normthefisherman . 2015-11-07
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We were taken by a friend who, as a thank-you, treated us to the set lunch. This, at a reduced price was selected from the à la carte list some of which seemed more ambitious. Very well presented and all properly prepared. The wine list was appropriately priced for a restaurant of this class (i.e. not cheap, but very good).The setting which overlooked the Thames Valley was in full autumn colours, beautiful. The hotel in which the restaurant is situated has a very interesting history of which more might be made.We span out our two course and then strolled round the grounds, a delightful afternoon.The staff were superb, efficient and attentive without a trace of the obsequious.Don't forget, somewhere like this you are paying for more than just the food.
Tom B . 2015-10-25
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I had visited the Danesfield recently for dinner, so I decided to bring a friend here for Afternoon Tea, I ordered the Afternoon Tea with Champagne, unfortunately I was told that they didn't have any and was given prosecco instead, I duly accepted and paid the bill as I didn't want an uncomfortable situation as my friend was going through a difficult time and really didn't need the upset, if I had wanted prosecco I would of ordered the standard Afternoon Tea and Prosecco seperately. I didn't! Disappointed. I wanted what I ordered. If it wasn't available I should have been given the choice when ordering not when someone is stood next to me with the bottle and the food and tea is already on the table. Unfortunately this has put me off my next visit, so will be booking to go to another hotel and restaurant for our next lunch.
Ladyjane76 . 2015-10-18
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Good for breakfast but the food is not anything special otherwise. Can get cool in there. Stunning views. Dine outside if the weather permits.
M A . 2015-09-27
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On a sunny day, this is a delightful spot, Afternoon tea with lashings of clotted cream overlooking the Thames Valley.
StegLondon . 2015-09-27
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We went here last night and it was absolutely amazing. We were celebrating an anniversary and we couldn't have chosen a better place. We were treated like a king and queen. The food was amazing and the service was impeccable.wecouldn't have picked a better place.
Lisa Ann F . 2015-09-25
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After staying at Danesfield House a couple of years ago and loving every thing, we decided it would be a perfect venue for a birthday treat, so went with 6 family members in total for afternoon tea. We were the 1st table to be seated, so did not expect them to make a mistake with our tea, only beinging out 5 pots initially. The sandwiches took a while to come out, when they did, they looked nice but ordinary, in relation to other afternoon teas I have had. The last sandwich I ate was dry on the outside. The service was very variable. One man, in his early 20's (?) Was very attentive and chatty, making it a very enjoyable experiance. The rest however were sullen and hardly showed us any attention. We were offered a top up of hot water, after a couple of hours, it was so "hot" I could put my finger quite happily in the tea. On this occassion there was not enough water for all of us, so they said they would come back with more. I am pleased to announce that my husband has not died of dehydration, as he is still waiting for his tea. We then asked for the bill and discovered the 15% service charge, £25 for them to bring food and drink and then ignore us. I was happy to tip, but not this amount, so asked for this to be removed. I stood by the till for over 5 minutes and watched 3 staff discuss how to remove it. Thankfully the walk around the grounds was enjoyable.
Sharon D . 2015-09-23
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We went for lunch with two friends and the food was delicious. The service was attentive, but not over the top. The grounds looked stunning with lots of topiary, unfortunately it was pouring with rain and so we did not explore outside, but the view was lovely from The Orangery.
Penny S . 2015-09-16
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By sharing your experiences, you're helping travelers make better choices and plan their dream trips. Thank you!Stunning location close to the Thames. Bright, airy venue. Unpretentious with a simple menu but very well presented and cooked. Excellent attentive service from trained staff. Very pleasant gardens to wander in, particularly for topiary connoisseurs. High tea offering looked very creditable. Undiscovered location, don't tell too many people, it will spoil it!
Gerald H . 2015-09-15
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quite simply superb !!!A lovely room with excellent views......wonderful service, excellent menu with loads of choiceThe quality was outstanding with service to match !!!
Guy M . 2015-08-21
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We stayed and dined at Danesfield a few years ago, which was a great experience. Twice before we have visited for afternoon tea. This time I had invited my in-laws for afternoon tea at this beautiful hotel. Unfortunately, it was a big disappointment. The staff had no idea, who had ordered what and brought us the wrong tea. Mistakes happen which is fine, but they constantly asked us what we had ordered, the service was slow and there was no staff around when we wanted to pay. Having waited for around 20 minutes, I got up to find someone. He then presented me with the wrong bill without seeming to care. 15% service charge was automatically added - for what service? The beauty of visiting a Michelin starred establishment is the level of service and attention to detail. Danesfield has none of it anymore. The pastry and tea were OK, but not worth £27.50+15% service charge. We will not be going back.
Yanni4 . 2015-08-20
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Delicious food, good wine list, lovely setting. I had a fabulous asparagus hollandaise to start and my husband had a delicious beignet of black pudding. Service is good.
triki07 . 2015-08-19
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Only had one evening meal. Starter I had was soup that was delicious. Our group had a steak lamb and smoked haddock all I would give 7 out of 10. Meat was a bit fatty and portions a bit small for a hearty eater like me. We had a desert and a bottle of wine. Bill came to £180. This was nice but not wow. I rated this as average not because of its quality because it was very good but the hotel and its restaurant needs to achieve a high standard at this level and I am afraid that is why only an average will do
MarkEggy . 2015-08-12
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lovely lunch after a morning spa day. the service was a slow though and the orangery doesnt have any air conditioning so the room was very hot indeed.
familycolborne . 2015-08-12
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Lovely table by the window overlooking garden.Food was lovely, had scallops to start - done to perfection had steak with sauce for main course - beautifully cooked as requested. A lovely dining experience.
hilwal . 2015-08-03
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Very small portions and whilst the food looked amazing on the plate, for the money it was disappointing
jivebanana . 2015-06-14
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We came here on my birthday, the setting, the food, the service were fantastic. Michael the restaurant manager was attentive, came at the right time to check everything was ok, the waiting staff were brilliant and knowledgeable about the food. We came back two weeks later for my fiancée's birthday and the service and food was excellent again. Except this time we were taken to the log fire to have deserts, great touch. Looking forward to the next visit, standards are high and stay there. I have no problems recommending this restaurant 10/10
Gmaxski . 2015-05-10
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Visited last year and have only now got around to writing a review.Met with two friends here for a catch-up and we were all pretty pleased with the overall experience of tea in the Orangery.It was a beautiful, sunny, warm day so a perfect setting for that type of weather. (I had visited before for my partner's birthday and had been freezing in the Orangery).But this time was different. Looking out at the lovely, serence gardens bathed in sunlight was like being in another world.Service was delightful and many thanks to our waiter who was friendly and efficient.The food was delicious and plenty of it. I am a vegetarian but had not problems as there is plenty of choice.The cakes are also delicious and all washed down with a nice choice of teas.Sparkling glasses and white linen tablecloths complete the picture.
NohoIhoRa . 2015-04-26
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We were staying at the hotel so had afternoon tea and dinner there. The afternoon tea had a good selection but the tea was so over-brewed as to render it undrinkable and the sandwiches had gone hard on one edge where they'd obviously been sitting around for a while. Overall not worth £25 per head. Dinner, starters were nice, I could recommend the foie gras but the main was a massive disappointment. The most bland veg I've ever had and the potato fondant was rock hard and without flavour. The hotel itself was nice but I suggest you go out for dinner.
Catherine S . 2015-03-26
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We went for lunch in September 2014. The weather was lovely and we sat outside overlooking the valley which was truly amazing. The service and the food was a huge let down, we had to remind the waiters that we need cutlery, salt/pepper and all sorts, overall it was just a very average service good for a local cafe not what Danesfield claims to be. The ground was full of cigarette buds etc.
Barbara1London . 2015-02-26
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My wife and I had a wedding anniversary lunch here yesterday-a wretched wet day which meant that we could not enjoy the views over the Thames Valley-no doubt wonderful in summer.As The Oak Room was empty we were invited to dine in The Orangery.a glass fronted room extending over the entire length of the hotel.The staff were competent,but I must make particular mention of the maître d' who was quite exceptional-professional,knowledgable and friendly.The food was very good,albeit expensive,but not up to Michelin standard.The only shortcomings,which one would not expect at an establishment of this sort were;1.When the maître d' went off duty the exceptional service went with him-we had to wait an age for our bill and others who had requested theirs after us received their bills,paid and left whilst we patiently waited.2.Surely there should be some sought of dress code in a restaurant of this calibre? I may be old fashioned,but I would not have expected to be dining alongside people in jeans and trainers and more particularly jeans with holes in them-extraordinary!
HUNTERCHERTSEYSURREY . 2015-02-20
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I attended a 70th birthday lunch and the hotel location was very nice with superb views over the Thames. The smoked salmon starter was good and the sea bass main course very good. The dessert of Christmas pudding was decidedly average.The whole experience was let down by the service. It took 35 mins and four requests to receive coffee in the lounge after the meal! The poor service was exacerbated by the robotic staff: most whom did not speak good English.
Ann H . 2014-12-26
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Service was excellent but overall a bit lacklustre considering the price of the afternoon tea.would not recommend.
Yvonne G . 2014-10-22
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I was visiting Marlow to take my uncle out for his 90th birthday with other family members and we all thought our lunch experience was excellent. The staff were attentive and welcoming and the house, gardens and restaurant were absolutely beautiful on a sunny summers day. We had various dishes from the fixed lunch menu and also the A La Carte and all was delicious, portion sizes just right and very nicely presented. I'll certainly be coming back and I'm not waiting for another birthday to come up either! My only small gripe is the wine list (interestingly omitted from the restaurant website) - The wine was fine but the cheapest bottle of white was almost thirty quid for a wine that most restaurants would sell for about £13 - £18, but I didn't let that spoil my day.
BricklayerLondon . 2014-08-04
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Badly cooked, uninspiring, food. Eat elsewhere - there are so many excellent restaurants to choose from so don't waste your money here.
Paula S S . 2014-05-19
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Well, I stay here quite a bit I must confess, and have had a number of excellent meals - tonight leads me to a recommendation. Try the fish. The oysters I have had - very nice and well dressed and priced, but Marie rose prawns mmm, followed by an exquisite lemon sole; tasty potatoes and perfect beans. To be fair the rest of the menu is super too, could do with a 'special' but we'll live with that, and the ambience especially in the summer is hard to best. The new chef has worked wonders here - well worth a bash, says a regular you may say but a Chablis on the veranda with the sun setting on the valley should be on your list - it's always on mine.
bear12345 . 2014-04-22
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The family went to the Orangerie to celebrate a round family birthday. We had a great time in the beautiful spring sunshine. The meal was excellent and suited the expectations of all family members between 8 and 75. There was easy access to the restaurant for the wheel-chair using family member, although access to the garden was limited for wheelchairs; the reason for dropping the score one notch down from excellent.
A_Global_Traveller55 . 2014-04-15
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Excellent afternoon tea at Danesfield House. The sandwiches were on the large side, which was a surprise and very fresh. The scones were light, the jam was divine and the clotted cream lush! The pastries were amazing too, that passion fruit tartlet was an incredible burst of flavour on the tongue as was the chocolate torte. I can heartily recommend this location as a special place to visit for an afternoon tea and will definitely go back at some point!
Bubbinaribena . 2014-03-11
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On a beautiful sunny (almost) spring day, what could be nicer than a walk round the beautiful gardens at Danesfield House, and afternoon tea on the terrace? Sadly I can't comment on the afternoon tea. Having first checked we could sit outside, and being assured someone would come out and serve us, we waited 10-15 minutes without anyone coming out. Other drinks we're being served on the terrace, so I re-entered the hotel to check we hadn't been overlooked. More assurances from the same member of staff. Another 15 minutes later and still nothing, so we left. On the way I out I approached the member of staff to say that no one had come to serve us, and he simply turned away from me. I suggested an apology might have been appropriate, to which he uttered a very insincere and almost inaudible 'sorry', still facing away from me. On making a complaint to reception about his rudeness, they asked me to point out the member of staff, which I did. No effort was made to recover the situation.An utterly disappointing experience. Don't be complacent Danesfield: a nice setting and beautiful view don't make up for appalling customer service and shameful disrespect for your guests.
CK_Travelpro . 2014-03-01
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As a regular at this hotel the orangery was always special- unfortunately less so now - I will be trying again but this evening after reserving my table at 7 I sat until 755 watching other people wander through. I got my menu after asking for it - the 'new' menu is interesting: more conventional than the old one but alas without any opportunity to order from it I retire - danesfield ! Service, service, service... NEVER forget and ALWAYS respect that some customers have eaten here many times... You will loose them, there are plenty of other good restaurants in marlow I may stay here but am not averse to dining elsewhere.
bear12345 . 2014-02-18
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Delightful food, not very good service, reason? on one of the coldest nights of the year the main restaurant was closed and dinner was served in the orangery, basically a glass box on the outside of the hotel which was absolutely freezing. Service poor because in addition to waiting duties staff were running around trying to find heaters to put by the diners. Despite my complaining upon the night and my leaving both company and personal email addresses and further emails to guest services manager, response from hotel absolutely nil. I am sure in summer the glass box would be delightful but on a freezing December evening not an experience I would wish to repeat.
james l . 2014-02-12
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Our son booked a table in the Orangery as he heard it was well worth a visit. Unfortunately it was very disappointing. our drinks order was taken in two parts, the suited man failed to deliver the first soft drink, the waitress arrived with the other two. We were offered the festive Christmas menu; only one starter was ordered, this was a very nice parsnip veloute, my main course was the sea bass which was interesting and tasty, although the mushrooms were either very finely chopped or missing, the two men both ordered the traditional turkey dinner. How hard is it to present this dinner, yet the brussel sprouts were "bullet like", the turkey was dry and tasteless (left uneaten by one) and the amount of "sauce", a clear liquid, was barely 100mls for two dinners served in a very small jug. Why? The Christmas pudding with custard was good and the sherry trifle was enjoyable, even if the only spoonful of sherry to be tasted was the last one from the bottom of the glass. The menu listed coffee and mince pies at the bottom of the page, yet when we enquired we were told they were only for guests on " a package"!!!. My son ordered a pot of tea, his mince pies only came after questions were asked. For the cost of £79.50 we considered it poor value in a conservatory that was just warm enough. The young waitress was very apologetic for the service, but the blame lay at the door of the kitchen. Not a venue to rush back to when there are so many others to choose from
5TudorRose . 2013-12-12
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The food was excellent, especially appreciate the preparation of tea and fish main course. Excellent deserts, comparable to the Rick Stein's restaurant in Padstow.
159Emily . 2013-10-08
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We stayed on a room package , but can report, for a hotel restaurant, this one has top marks . Clean, atmospheric surroundings, good table service, nice menu choice at reasonable prices and a varied wine list ..recommended
Tony F . 2013-09-19
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We visited for a mideweek birthday lunch and had a nicely cooked set lunch, good value at £19 for 3 courses. This is posh food, so portions are small but beautifully presented. Service was very good and attentive. Best thing about this brasserie is the wonderful view of the gardens and topiary. A civilised quiet location for a special lunch. Thanks to chef for the Happy Birthday inscription on dessert!
MH64 . 2013-09-14
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We have a holiday home at Hurley that looks directly towards the white (ivory) towers of Danesfield House. So near, yet to get there (without the use of a boat) requires you to drive around, through Marlow and then back again towards Henley. In other words you have to make the effort.Having decided the effort was worth it, we treated ourselves to Afternoon Tea in the Orangery. I read some of the previous reviews on this page and wondered if we had made the right decision. Would it be a case of "Oh dear, too dear!" We knew it wasn't going to be cheap, but a treat is a treat after all.First off, the service was very good indeed, (though this did come as an extra 'discretionary' additional charge on the bill). The sandwiches were of the dainty 'crusts cut off' variety and delicious. You wouldn't have wanted them filled to a point of falling apart, especially considering the scones and cakes that accompanied them. These were very nice. With a good selection of teas to choose from, we felt we had eaten more than enough. All this in lovely relaxing surroundings overlooking a terrace and a view of the River Thames below.You pay as much for the setting as the tea. Spoiling yourselves once in a while does no harm, and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, but it might be a while before we do it again. Recommended, but bring your credit card !
Bill52London . 2013-09-02
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Tea for 6 last Saturday. Great surroundings and good service but cheaply produced food. Sandwiches with wafer thin fillings - it was almost impossible to detect what the fillings were. Decent scone but cheap catering jam. Cakes plain and uninteresting. Compared very badly with tea we had a Baillifscourt Hotel, Climping. Bill was £141 - very poor value for money.
mike a . 2013-08-19
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Very disappointing afternoon tea experience. Despite asking waiters on four ocassions we waited 45 minutes before receiving our pots of tea which was 20 minutes after getting our sandwiches. When making the reservation I specifically asked for the low sugar tea option which is advertised in the brochure and also on the tea menu. I was assured that a note had been made and that staff would be aware on the day, apparently not. We finally received our selection of sandwiches, scones and cakes none of which appeared to be low sugar options. Having already spoken to the waiter when ordering I then had to raise the question again. I was informed that I could have a low sugar scone but, apart from some fruit, there was no other option as regards to cakes or biscuits. NOT what the menu suggests. Although once we had received the food it was delicious, the service was appalling and not what we expected from a highly rated hotel.
Carol V . 2013-08-13
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Lovely setting, attentive staff, mediocre food. Set lunch portions far too small, our starter and pudding were ok but our plaice main course was very poor, fish portion small and tasteless, so called lobster bisque with it were three small blobs!We eat in lots of Michelin starred restaurants at lunch time having set menus and they are hugely better value than The Orangery which doesn't have a star . We will not return.
Rubytour . 2013-08-08
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Went with friends for afternoon tea and it was the best we have had. Topped up the tea all afternoon an d a good variety of homemade cakes.Staff very pleasant and welcoming and we even got a tour to the spa area. Lovely views, even in Winter and good garden to walk it all of in. Scenic hotel and well worth a visit
Pauline M . 2013-08-01
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Having come here in 2011 for my mother's birthday and having a really nice afternoon tea, we decided to come again this year; it was a very different experience however. It started well when we sat down for some drinks on the patio but when we arrived for our 14.15 booking we were told there was no table available! This led us to doubt the hotel's interpretation of a 'booking'. After complaining, we were shown to a lobby/hall where we were told we could have our afternoon tea. It was really sub-standard and the table was in fact a large cushioned bench. After complaining (again), a manager was fetched, who introduced himself as the food & beverage manager of the hotel. All he 'managed' to do was annoy us even further by denying there was any problem in an extremely arrogant and dismissive manner, also claiming another party there had lied to us about waiting an hour for their table.Eventually we were given a table outside on the patio 45 minutes after our original booking time. The sandwiches were stale, but the scones & cakes were good and the tea was extremely good. Another manager came over after we were finished and agreed to only charge us for cream tea which went some way to making up for the terrible treatment.It also came as no surprise that they had forgotten to add our initial round of drinks to the bill considering their overall organisation skills. We did not point this out!A real shame because we would rather have paid for everything in full and had the service and respect that one would expect from this type of business.
raftery_11 . 2013-07-31
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We came here for our Wedding Anniversary meal. We last came here 2 years ago and enjoyed it so much we decided to come back again! Beautiful surroundings and delicious food on a gorgeous sunny day. It was relaxing and the food was great!Our starter and main were delicious. The creamy mushroom soup was the best I have ever tasted. My husband enjoyed his crab starter. Our steaks were cooked as we like and were delicious. The chips were crispy and tasty. The puddings were a bit of a disappointment however. Beer sorbet or something similar with summer berries? We wanted to try it, but it was disgusting!! So strong and not subtle at all which we were expecting! We didn't complain though and still enjoyed the rest.We will be coming back here again at the end of the year for my birthday! I love this place for a special treat :)
Jane A . 2013-07-25
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three of us went for sunday lunch at the Orangery at Danesfield. It was a beautiful July day and we sat out side to enjoy the well maintained garden and spectacular view. Inside there was a large party and also a wedding in the adjacent function room. I do not know if they were receiving adequate service but we were not. We asked for menus to order drinks and waited and waited. Finally lunceheon menus arrived, not drinks menus. We finally got drinks and then waited some more. We finally got food but they never asked to refresh our drinks. The waiters never responded to our repeated entreaties to pay attention to our table. We waited over ten minutes to receive our bill. The management of the dining room was some of the worst that I have observed depite a very low standard in the UK. The food was acceptable but not memorable. We spoke with the manager and he was clueless. He did adjust out bill to remove the drinks but I would have rathered to pay full price for full service. just plain horrible. They knew they were going to be busy on a weekend. They did not employ adequate trained staff to serve the guests. It will be a long time before I venture back. It is a shame because the location is spectacular.
John N . 2013-07-15
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I took a friend to this restaurant for lunch and we ordered from the set menu. The food is very designer, and so small portions, but that is absolutely fine and what I expected. We both ordered the belly of pork, and though my friend's was unremarkable, mine was two thirds fat, in fact in was disgusting. 2 large flacid oblongs went back to the kitchen. How a chef could let that out of his kitchen is beyond me. When I complained the manager said he would not charge me for dessert, which in fairness he didn't do, but I felt sick all afternoon, having had a mouthful of soft fat and am so very very disappointed. The surroundings are lovely, the staff attentive, but the food was worse than awful, and I should not have been charged for any part of that meal
Lindamonj . 2013-06-25
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Have eaten here on occasion but it is pricey for average food. Cocktails are very expensive. Can get chilly in the winter. Breakfast here is better than other meals
M A . 2013-06-18
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Went for lunch in Father's Day with husband and 8yo daughter. The setting is stunning and the food was simple but tasty. What was really nice was that my husband and I could enjoy something approaching a 'fine dining' experience - and our daughter had her own menu with proper food on it and not the usual 'variations on a theme of burger and chips'. Unfortunately we weren't seated in the Orangery but the dining room instead - but it was very comfy and not too stuffy. Had a lovely pootle around the grounds afterwards - don't wear heels! Good value for money too, and a much more ambience than the Hand and Flowers (which personally, I think is good pub grub but nothing more).And finally... take on its own merit a review of a restaurant with a Michelin star, where the reviewer (before he even turns up) decides that the food is too rich and wants a green salad instead. Eh?!
Zoe_S_2010 . 2013-06-17
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After reading the so so reviews I wasn't expecting much from this meal but I thought it was great!Excellent service, great views, very tasty and well presented food which wasn't expensive - what's not to like about that!?
hellsbelles13 . 2013-05-24
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...sirloin steak I've had in years. Really.As I've put in my accompanying review of the hotel, the bar and restaurant aren't exactly cheap. Then again, you're under no illusion that this is going to be anything but a high-end dining experience.My wife and I relaxed in the cocktail bar beforehand for a glass of wine each (£12.50 for a 175ml Chablis), and the attentive staff took our dinner and drinks orders in the bar for our convenience. As our starters became ready to serve, we were unhurriedly brought through to our table with the waitress bringing our drinks separately - a thoughtful touch indeed.Our starters of tuna medallions with accompanying pine nuts (I think!), lime and cucumber were presented to a very high standard and tasted as good as they looked.Our mains of rare sirloin steaks with a red wine jus accompanied by hand-cut fries were simply beautiful. Generous, very high quality cuts of beef and cooked to perfection - the red wine jus complemented the meat well. We did forget to order some sides of vegetables - one night without my greens won't matter!For desserts we had berries with scoops of ice cream and ale foam, and chocolate with peanut brittle and nuts. Excellent presentation and excellent taste.As I wrote in the hotel's review, we'll definitely be returning and I certainly wouldn't rule out returning to the Orangery.
Darren H . 2013-05-10
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The first thing that grabbed my attention was the stunning views over rolling countryside plus the well kept garden with mazes. The Orangery gets a lot of light as one entire side is a glass wall looking out onto the terrace and that amazing view.I had a giant ravioli for starter filled with goats cheese and peas plus sauce which worked well. My main was a sirloin steak which didn't have so much taste and in hindsight I should have picked the pork dish but I was in a steak kind of mood. The chocolate dessert with crushed, sugared peanuts was tasty.The service was friendly and on the ball.Book ahead if u want a window table.
Eddy041 . 2013-05-09
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We had visited here some years ago, and remembered how picturesque the location was, so decided to have a night out to enjoy the surroundings in the fine weather.Had a glance of the of the menu via the Internet, and had noticed the starters may be a little rich for our tastes. Contacted restaurant via email early Saturday morning,(730 am) to request two plain green salads, quoting our booking, and our landline. Mobile numbers and of course return email address, resending some 4 hours latter in case the staff checking the emails overlooked it.No Response or reply were receivedArrived around 745 pm, the appearance of the impressive building was marred front entrance was surrounding by members of a wedding party all equipped with a bottle of beer in Hand. and a demeanour that indicated wetherspoons was their normal habitat Upon arrival We were greeted and taken to the bar area, and then just left, a quick look around we noticed that there were no available seats,or standing area so we decided to go back in to one of the reception areas, however a table had become available within 5 minutes.It took ten minutes for the debris of the previous occupants to be removed and only upon request, none of the waiting staff thought we would require a drinks menu, so our choices had based upon guesswork.We were able to secure menus and a wine list when our drinks arrived, Ordered a bottle of white and a bottle of red, and were shown to our table, due to the lack or responses to the email previously sent, my partner ask for a plain rocket salad as a starter, after 15 minutes I was informed that the white I had ordered had sold out, and I chose an alternative, partners salad arrived and was a creation based upon cucumber cut to baby food proportions, this was rejected as it bore no resonance to what was ordered (basil faulty managed a waldorf salad in faulty towers !!) We had to request fresh glasses for our red wine, and this was looked upon as strange request akin to asking for a toothbrush, or something similar in a restaurant.Our main courses arrived, the beef was accompanied by a red wine sauce, well 2 of them were, when my friend asked for his, he was told that the 2 sauce boats we had were to share among three, Even by novella cuisine standards this would have been an achievement, so we requested some mustard, which took 20 minutes to arrive. We were desperately trying to stop this onslaught of poor and mismanaged service spoiling our evening with the friends, and tried to keep a brave face about the catasophe that was unfolding in front of us. Typically in restaurants like this we order a cheeseboard to share prior to having a desert, we decided on the 6 cheese option, upon arrival it was obviously that this would not be sufficient even for 4 health conscious diners, so we ordered another one, this took 25 minutes to arrive, our evening conversations was constantly interrupted by a barrage of waiting staff offering to pour wine etc., even if we were in full and deep conversation, As our desert menus were removed from us with out asking, we decided to not bother, we asked for the bill (£290) and left, My partner whose appetite is akin to a sparrow was still hungry and upon our arrival at home ate half an Easter egg. I have emailed the restaurant twice since our visit just to see if would reply or comment, as I did not want to write this damming and negative review, as it may have been an one off, their lack of replies to any of my communications , clearly demonstrates all this establishment sentiment about looking after its customers!!!!
don m . 2013-04-28
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We booked a spa and afternoon tea package for four people. The hotel setting is beautiful and we were shown to the orangery for afternoon tea. The waiter asked if we would like champagne with our tea ( this package was £8.50 more than the standard tea) so two of us accepted and we were told that he would upgrade two of the packages to reflect this.The food was delightful and we went on to enjoy treatments in the spa. However, as we were relaxing in the spa area, the food manager approached us to pay the bill for the champagne. We were horrified to have been approached in the spa area so paid the £28 bill without question and out do embarrassment!It was not until we got home we realise that we had paid excessively for champagne, well above the rate of the package. On ringing the hotel we were told we had consumed ' more expensive champagne' than was included in the package but we explained that we had not been given a choice.The following day the food manager rang to say that we had to pay for the expensive champagne because we had only brought a package! Firstly, I think it was distasteful to chase clients for money in a spa area and secondly, the charges and choices should be made clear when offered to the customers.Not impressed and will not be returning or recommending this hotel to anyone.
Mel L . 2013-04-28
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My husband booked Sunday lunch as a surprise as we had recently thought about spending a weekend here.The setting is fantastic and it was a lovely sunny Sunday, so we were very much looking forward to our lunch.Firstly we were sat over a drain and every time I moved my foot my heel got stuck which has ruined a lovely new pair of shoes. Our request to move was dealt with quickly and efficiently. It would have been nice to have been offered one of the many empty window tables so we could have made the most of the views.The food was ok but the roast potatoes tasted as though they may have visited the microwave on more than one occasion. Having dined in many fine eateries we did feel the cost of the food did not reflect what was served.On the whole the staff were polite and helpful but it was a very expensive lunch and did not really deliver the fine dinning experience we were expecting at a hotel of this calibre.Really quite disappointed and feel a bit sorry for my husband as he had booked this as a birthday treat.
mrssmart . 2013-04-14
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Had Sunday lunch here before and I recomended it to all but today it missed the mark by a mile. Service good but the quality of the food was not there. The goats cheese and beet starter was minute, the salmon was better. We had to ask for bread (no apologies) and no pause between courses. We all had the beef which was underdone even for rare and was not the best quality. The side vegtables were excellent. The worst crime was the meal was served on cold plates and portions varied from plate to plate. I had two potatoes everyone else three, some had thick slices of beef others were on the thin side. I asked for another potato and had to wait some time before a single potato was brought to me on a plate! Deserts were OK but why do restaurants serve a Fool that does not combine the fruit with the cream and an Eton Mess which is served as a layer of fruit, a layer of cream, a few pieces of merangue and a piece more fruit. They need to get their recipe books out or call them by another name. Drinks and wine were good but £13 for a wine based Kir is excessive. They need to review their act. Nice place to go for a lunch and a stroll round the grounds.
christopher_nell . 2013-04-14
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We took some friends for afternoon tea at Danesfield as a treat. We were sat in the conservatory which was extremely cold. The tabletops were made of glass and the one we were sat at desperately needed the glass removing and cleaning under the rim. The sandwiches were stale on the edges and the cakes were tiny and not very inspiring. However, the scones were warm and lovely. We were not offered a top up of tea, which had gone cold very quickly due to the cold room. All in all a very disappointing experience.
DBPaul . 2013-03-13
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My partner and I dined here Sunday evening as part of the hotel package. Overall the food was very good, although lacking a bit of seasoning. The only real negative being my partners dessert. The rhubarb wasn't cooked properly. The price would've been reasonable (had we have paid for it), the setting was nice and te service was good.Tip: if you are planning to stay at the hotel look for a package that includes dinner here.We also had breakfast here as part of the package which was pretty good. Just a little on th cold side.
Dr-R-Fun . 2013-02-25
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We spent a very pleasant few hours having Sunday lunch in the Orangery. The service is excellent. We had the set lunch and it was absolutely delicious. My husband had roast beef and said it was the nicest he had ever eaten! My mother and I had the roast chicken which was equally delicious. The vegetables were beautifully cooked and presented. Deserts were beautiful. We retired to the large drawing room and had our teas and coffees sitting next to a roaring log fire. Would thoroughly recommend it!
DorisKent . 2013-02-11
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Can not really fault it. The place is beautiful and the service was excellent. My wife has a soup that was devine, so was the fish. I had a Caesar salad and the steak. Nice cold beer and the house wine were both great. Price was £40 a head what I consider good given the quality of the food and service. Not to mention the location looking at the gardens. We will be back....
ana_and_pedro . 2013-01-20
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Had dinner in the Orangery in a group of eight. All enjoyed their meals and in particulate the scallops starter and chicken mains were great. Service was prompt, efficient and polite. The wine list was very reasonable. All in all I rather liked this place and may return to sample further.
JonnersB . 2013-01-10
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This restaurant within Danesfield House serves good quality food and the service is better than average. The menu is quite limited and given we ate here both nights of our stay due to an error by the hotel, this became more of an issue than if we were just eating there 1 night. The portions are a good size - not too large and the ingredients were fresh and well prepared. The desserts were delicious. We were given the same table both nights, something I do not like. With its full length glass windows, The Orangery is a cold venue and being at a table by the window meant it was quite drafty. The restaurant has very little atmosphere and the fake plant table decorations were awful and should be thrown away. With what they charge for meals here they can afford fresh flowers - fake plants/flowers are tacky! In autumn/winter (when it is cold), this restaurant needs to be made cosier. Overall a nice dining experience but could be so much better as the food and staff are good.
luabandit . 2012-11-16
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Good service, not a lot of choices but they are good!This is not a big portions kind of restaurant, but the quality of the ingredients is quite high.Good desserts as wellAnd then you hve the view over the gardens with the Thames in the distance.Quite nice really
pjm_pt . 2012-10-13
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We had lunch at the Orangery as part of a spa day. It is good value for money when you buy a spa day but otherwise quite pricey. Having said that - the food was tasty, the service attentive and the room and views are superb.
PEMtheDane . 2012-10-04
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A superb experience from start to finish. Highly recommended, well done. I enjoyed the afternoon tea in the orangery, which feels very special with the attentive service. The patio garden and views across the Thames are wonderful given the prominent position high above the river. Aviation & WWII interest for this was the base of the allies and Bletchley Park type operators. Superb.
Chris F . 2012-09-24
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Took the mum in law- she loved it- I thought it was good without being particularly special- staff were really good though
martindhogan . 2012-09-14
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In response to our feedback to the management following our previous visit (reviewed on 3rd July) we were invited to visit the Orangery for afternoon tea again.We are happy to report that there were none of problems that we experienced last time, and we have a very nice afternoon. The food was, again, delicious and this time the service was excellent too, and we are happy to recommend it.
manlytango . 2012-09-11
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My wife and I recently visited for our anniversary. The setting is nice, the Orangery is a narrow conservatory will full length windows overlooking the beautiful gardens.The menu offers little choice, and prices are top end. High end prices creates high end expectations, but unfortunately the food and service didn't quite live up to expectations. We felt that the food was ok. It was nicely presented and tasty. Portion sizes are generally small. But when you consider that the prices match those of many top restaurants, this place doesn't quite make the grade. At close to £5 for a bottle of still water (75cl), I expected it to be chilled, or at least offered some ice with it. A steak knife with my steak would have made it easier to eat. The steak did come with some lovely crispy chips and a fantastic Bearnaise sauce. However the steak itself was average, I've had plenty of others in the surrounding area which were better.Atmosphere was lacking. It was a Friday night, and most tables were empty. If they want a full house, this restaurant either needs to raise its game or lower its prices - or both.
boro_expat . 2012-09-10
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A previous vist last year to The Orangery for lunch was agreat success.It had apparently just experienced a change of management and the new restaurant service staff and food was worthy of 4 stars.The recent return of summer warranted another vist to The Orangery.The first surprise was no set lunch menu available. £15 for a fish pie - nice though it was - seemed OTT, especially as the soup starter offered cost an extra £2 if a prawn was included! The second, was the sheer number of magers/supervisors in the dining room with no real mission. It all seemed rather unconnected, except for our waitress.cThe bill with coffee and sharing a bottle of the least expensive wine between 4 was £72 per couple. Hotel reception advised that a set lunch may return later this year. I wonder whether the current policy was influenced by the recent Olympics at nearby Eton Dorney?
idealshortbreaks . 2012-08-18
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Table for 8 booked for a friends 40th celebration. Great place and lovely great hall however no atmosphere. Sat down for dinner in the conservatory that seemed nice on 1st impression. In a nutshell: food not upto restaurant standard, naff presentation highlighted the basic food quality. Main courses took a longtime to come and when they did we waited a further 10 minutes for cutlery, say no more. Felt sorry for my friend as they knew we were paying a lot to come here and it was poor. Service just not there at all, hate having to look for service and catching their eyes to get served, it's a simple job and it just felt like the orangery is a secondary outpost to house the non complaining hotel guests. The talent must be at the adjacent a la carte restaurant that looked nice, but we won't be returning ....Needs a good shake up
0000000123 . 2012-08-09
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Chicken Rilletes with walnut brioche, a rare steak with chunky chips (crisp on the outside, fluffy on the inside), rhubarb cheesecake................ all perfectly presented, all cooked to a very high standard, all cleared from my plate very quickly, exceptionally good. Thank you Danesfield, you have never disappointed me.
P H . 2012-07-24
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Fourth year of having tea at Stoke park in the mansion and this year very difficult to book, not being a member, although have never had any problems before. This is the first time none of the staff we saw had English as their first language and we were made to feel unwelcome as non members.They were insisting I paid up front on phone with credit card when I booked, but agreed in the end just to take the details. On arrival waitress not happy serving us until we obtained a voucher from reception and made us feel like we shouldn't be there really. Manager in grey suit never came near us at any time and had to wave madly to get fresh tea and service. Saw at least three different waiters and waited over half an hour for two extra rounds of sandwiches. We were billed separately for these and the tea top up, a staggering £18 which was extortionate we felt. The final bill came to just under £30 a couple (2 couples) Whole experience poor. All very corporate atmosphere and expensive. In these ecomic times, surprised they make non members feel so unwelcome, especially as we pay more for the tea. We will leave them to their members and corporate customers in future. Pity, such a lovely old Paladian Mansion and grounds.
bris217 . 2012-07-13
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I had dinner at this place during my stay at the hotel. The food was great. Not cheap but you pay for the quality.
LeoLHR . 2012-07-09
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We had a cream tea in The Orangery, and were disappointed that the standard of service did not match the quality of the food.Unfortunately, the weather was poor, and it certainly would have helped it we had been able to sit outside and enjoy the splendid situation and superb views.There were plenty of staff hanging around, but they were not attentive or friendly e.g. there was no tea strainer on the table, no butter with the scones, no offer to bring a new drink when my wife had finished her coffee etc . They never apologised, and every time we wanted service we had to ask; they never checked if we were happy of if there was anything that we needed, and The tea that was served did not match what was promised on the vouchers we had been given; only one flavour of scone (Orange), no choice of champagne, no shortbreads. This might sound picky, but we expected more than we got delivered.The food that was served was delicious. It's a shame that the rest of the experience wasn't as good.
manlytango . 2012-07-03
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The Sunday lunch is probably one of the most worst ones I have had the misfortune to have. The service was extremely slow, you will wait in excess of 25 minutes if you choose a nice wine as they have to go around searching for it. The starter was okay, you really can't get a terrine wrong. We both opted for the Roast Beef, big mistake. The meat was a large slab on the plate accompanied by watery vegetables which has been cooked to an inch of their life and the potates how can you get them so wrong. This was cook chill as its worst, the meat was so tough even my steak knife couldn't cut through it, I gave up, The only edible item on this plate was the Yorkshire Puddings - don't ask for mustard it's too confusing for the staff!
Mac146 . 2012-06-25
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hajder . 2012-06-25
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We ate late after a long day. Very refreshing to have a cocktail and a relaxed dinner in the enclosed area with the full lenght windows with views of the gardens.
William P . 2012-06-18
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This was our 4th maybe 5th visit to the Orangery over 6 or 7 years, so the first thing to say is - yes, we do keep going back so they must do something right.However, the food was a little lacking in choice, was goo but wasn't "Wow" special, the prices felt just a little too high and then the service...... the staff flit around with a superior air and fail to make eye contact just when you need it. One waitress spent a full five minutes doing some paperwork and no-one noticed my attempts to get some attention to order wine. The perfunctory check on "is everything OK with your food" was delivered with a mixture of "I'm so great at my job" combined with an air of couldn't care less if we'd said it was awful - it wasn't but you get my point.Then we sat back and asked why we go back:- The setting is magnificent, the orangery, while a little dated is a good mix of intimate and atmospheric, the view of the gardens is lovely and so it's for the experience and something different. We did have a good time - hence the 4 star rating - however, if they would just up their game a bit, and not rely on the captive audience of hotel guests and groups, the place would be on our radar more often.
NewDogOldTricks . 2012-06-15
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We (4) had lunch here last summer. I write this belated review although I don't normally do critical ones, so it is after much reflection. The setting is lovely, with wonderful terraces with views of the Thames and extensive gardens. Lunch was good but marred by a combination of rather superior attitude on the part of some staff (although others were very helpful) and a couple of serious overcharges on the bill which had to be challenged and rectified. I would usually put this down to chance, but had expressly confirmed the charges when booking, only to find we'd been charged much higher rates, and then had a significant error in the bill which meant an overcharge of the order of £60, so not trivial. Seeing other reviews of a similar nature, perhaps it's time for local management to take note.
JEC45 . 2012-06-11
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We booked the "Jubilee" package at Danesfield House (which is a truly excellent hotel, by the way) which included Afternoon Tea at the Orangery (as well as cooked breakfast there the next day). The reviewer below is right that the layout of the restaurant does not help the staff do their job, but the layout clearly won't change so the way the staff do their job must!The overarching problem is there is no co-ordination between the hotel and the restaurant. So the restaurant tried to charge us for the Afternoon Tea, even though it was included in our package. We were also not offered the inclusive cooked breakfast (made to order, rather than from the buffet). It was up to me to leave the restaurant and confirm with Reception that it was included.The service generally is slow an inattentive. Afternoon Tea is meant to be relaxing, but I spent most of the time trying to attract the staff's attention, to ask for things like extra clotted cream, or even a pen to sign the bill!Also, at breakfast we had to ask for milk with our tea and butter with our toast. Surely these are really obvious and fundamental things that it would be so easy for the restaurant to get right?The food really was lovely, but unfortunately the experience was ruined by the poor service.
D H . 2012-06-07
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I regularly go to the Danesfield Hotel for meals (both restaurants), afternoon teas, spa treatments and overnight stays. The Orangery has a wonderful view over the River Thames and has the potential to be an excellent restaurant, but regularly lets itself down with poor service or other problems or misunderstandings that spoil the evening. The food is very good - bit like a 'little brother' to the hotel's fabulous Michelin starred Adam Simmonds restaurant, and you often see similar dishes on the two menus, albeit simpler versions in the Orangery. It can also be very good value when there is an offer on or you can use one of the discount dining cards. The restaurant service is where things start to unravel. The layout probably doesn't help waiting staff - a long, thin room, really a conservatory running along the rear of the hotel - which is very nice for privacy and views of the beautiful gardens and Thames, but the staff don't seems to have got the hang of 'walking the room' and making sure diners are looked after. The staff have a peculiar habit of keeping wine chillers in the central area where the till etc. are, and on more than one occasion my wine glass has been empty for some time and I have had to actively seek a member of staff to ask for a top-up of my own wine. If waiting staff are going to keep your wine away from your table, they need to make sure they are vigilant in topping up and must never let a customer run dry. Like in any restaurant, service slows up when there are lots of diners, but the layout of the room means that staff are less likely to be walking past to grab when you need something, so it is not unusual to have to sit for perhaps half an hour waiting for a member of staff to come past. All this could be fixed very easily by introducing some simple rules for staff to walk the room and check on diners more frequently. Billing tends to be a problem too - a few times I have had a mysterious bottle of sparking water added to my bill, when I have only had tap; this has happened so many times that I wonder whether the billing systems adds it by default. Do check your bill. So, I would encourage people to go for the good food and wonderful setting (the reason why I persevere), and hope that management see my comments, and those of other reviewers who have had a bad experience, and do something about the painful service. This could be a lovely restaurant under a good manager.
abcdefg123456 . 2012-05-28
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After a close friend recommended Danesfield as a place for sumptuous Gluten free tea time I booked as a Birthday treat for a dear friend.Sadly we were badly let down & disappointed! Our booking was made on 3rd May at 13.40 for Tuesday 8th May at 15.00 but the orangery appeared to have no booking!!! Highly embarrassing for me & my guests.We sat & checked out the menu that clearly said 'sugar free & gluten free items are freshly made on the premises & take 30 minutes.'We ordered 2 gluten free afternoon teas & one regular afternoon tea. We received 2 ordinary ones when we asked we were told the gluten free was coming. When it came it was disappointing to say the least ... Fresh fruit salad & sorbet ! No scones or cakes as we had been expecting. The sandwiches had such minimal filling you couldn't tell what was in the centre!I went to have a word with the manager privately & was kept waiting 15-20 minutes for a 'duty manager' who never appeared! The customer service was appalling .. A real catalogue of errors. The 'manager' went direct to the table to speak with my guests!!!! Which frankly made me more upset by now I was fuming. She had no understanding of privacy coming to the table & offered me money off the bill ... Fine but this is hardly what I wanted !! It didn't make up for the totally disastrous experience for my coeliac friend & her 'treat'. I'd expected a service that was never delivered. She apologised but didn't appear empathetic at all.I wouldn't waste your time effort or money.
Browneyedgirl_3001 . 2012-05-09
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This hotel in general is a real disappointment. It fails greatly to live up to expectation. The service is slow and careless. The food is average. We have stayed at the hotel and used the Spa as we as well eat in both the restaurants. The staff are rude & incompetent - especially in the Spa. The hotel is run down and in need of major investment. The management are arrogant and really don't care. We were told by friends who there recently that Danesfield had double booked two major cooperate events and were forced to taxi a large group to another nearby hotel. That pretty much sums up the Danesfield experience.
C A P . 2012-04-23
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On a nice warm summers day, it's a very pleasant venue with good views over the Thames valley. But the food offering is nothing special, but the prices certainly are. Afternoon tea at £30 a head is an example.
armanleg . 2012-03-06
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If you like excellent food with an equally good service then this is the place to go. It is not cheap but then for a special treat I thought it was worth paying a little extra for. The venue is beautiful with wonderful views over the countryside and would be an excellent venue for a wedding.
gaynor i . 2012-01-30
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262 Opinions
Four of us from out of area dropped into this pub for lunch. We sat in the garden as the weather weather was good. We ordered food and this was brought out to us. The food was tasty and well priced. When I went back in to order post lunch tea and coffee I reminded them of our table number but was told very sharply "you have to take them out yourself. We don't bring drinks out." I had to ask for a tray (4 drinks). When a lady came to clear the table I said "can I say something". She said aggressively "you can say what you want". I expressed the view that asking a customer to carry 4 hot drinks outside, including opening a heavy door, was dangerous and had I spilt some and scalded myself this would have been a problem for all concerned. This was said in a calm manner - no shouting, no bad language. She said "I'll get the manager - I don't like being spoken to like that". Another lady arrived, apparently the manager, and asked what was the problem. I told her. She said they don't have the staff to bring drinks outside. The customer must do it. This lady was scruffy, rude and totally uncompromising. She eventually said sorry through gritted teeth. I do not expect such rude and appalling treatment. Eat indoors if you want to stay safe and not be insulted.
44 Opinions
Caribbean curry needed to be returned to kitchen as it arrived tepid, and it was very bland - not at all fruity or spicy as described on menu. In addition to this, l left with a very sticky sleeve and underside of trainers where a spill hadn’t been hadn’t been cleaned properly.
2368 Opinions
Arrived at the premier inn to stay away for work, went to the brewers fayre. I walked in and was told they have a limited menu due to shortages of food. Wasn't given a menu of the limited menu even just habit of a4/a5 bit of paper so we could see what was on offer. We then sat for around 15-20 minutes before someone came over to ask for drinks and they only came over because we prompted to do so. After drinks and food was ordered drinks turned up a further 15 minutes later and again I had to go to the bar to get it. If the restaurant was busy I would understand however it was empty. I ordered the big stack burger and it came out scorched with the tiniest dollop of sauce in the burger. The second night we weren't greeted at the door we had to wait 10 -15 minutes before someone came and took us to our seats. Overall not great, which is a shame as I have eaten at brewers fayre before and it's really good service and food. So I'm putting this experience to a "bad week".
933 Opinions
Lovely setting, food not bad either. Staff are very friendly. Setting is pleasant. However, when I went there were some idiots swearing too much for my liking. Not making it suitable for couples or families. Pity, I'm sure it's just a one off though. I would take my gf here on another day.
40 Opinions
I went to celebrate my birthday with friends and we had the Festive Cream Tea. I had booked a time previously. When we got there a table was all ready for us in front of the Xmas tree, hot drinks came promptly followed by the freshly prepared cream tea. It was absolutely delicious! The amount of food was perfect and not too sweet! We had a lovely time and weren’t made to feel rushed at all. I regularly have lunch here, the staff are friendly and food nicely prepared.