Acanthus - (Near Berkshire, South East)

3 /5 Rohan: The food here is nice but expensive. However, whilst it was a very busy evening I would not expect to wait for nearly 1 hour for a couple of dishes and then a further 15 minutes for ice cream. The waiting staff did their best but having more team members in the kitchen would have made it a better experience all round.

2 /5 Ashna Agarwal: The ambience is lovely and they have a good selection of wine but I wouldn’t eat here again. Focusing on the positives - the Italian dishes and desserts were better options. The starters were good too. The staff were friendly. However, the service was disappointing. The waiting staff did not know anything about the menu including allergens, and not well versed on the wines. More frustratingly they were in a constant rush to take the plate away!! But f you do decide to go, for the price you pay, do not order the Indian dishes or salad. They are not good. The breakfast was average.

2 /5 KSC2018: Acanthus at the MacDonald Berystede Hotel, Ascot, provided a mixed but generally pleasant family dinner experience, chosen as it was where my in-laws were staying via Secret Escapes. Overall, Id give it 2 stars. The food was largely great, with dishes well-prepared and flavorful, though the undercooked potatoes were a notable misstep. The staff, however, truly excelled – attentive, friendly, and professional throughout our meal. My main grievance arose when ordering cheese and biscuits; upon requesting a glass of Port to accompany it, I was astonished to find we were looking to be charged £48 for a 50cl bottle! For a simple cheese course, its not unreasonable to expect a single, reasonably priced glass of Port, not an entire half-bottle at that exorbitant cost. This significant oversight in pricing policy certainly detracted from an otherwise enjoyable evening.

5 /5 Wynton McLaren: During the last bank holiday weekend at the end of August, my wife and I stayed at the Macdonald Berystede Hotel to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. We booked their Acanthus Restaurant on the Monday evening hoping for a special meal. When booking (via OpenTable) I was able to add a comment about the occasion. When we arrived they had selected the best table in the restaurant, by a tree with lights, had a large fresh flower in a vase (the only one in the restaurant) and scattered anniversary confetti on the table. The food was really nice - my wifes chicken caesar salad was plentiful, and my salmon was beautifully cooked. The waiting staff - Aish and Alida - were very attentive and were helpful in accommodating special dietary requirements. The chef was really on point with catering to those requirements, and provided a one-off dressing for the caesar salad. Having finished the main course I couldnt see anything on the dessert menu which I was able to have, so we requested the bill. Having settled up we were asked to wait a few minutes. To our surprise, they brought out the most perfect complementary desserts! My wife had panna cotta, and I had the most delicious gluten free, dairy free chocolate mousse on thin biscuit base, with fresh strawberries. It was amazing! This unexpected treat really made the meal, and the whole stay. Many thanks to the fantastic chef and staff for making our anniversary special.

5 /5 Franck Martin: We had a great time ! The lamb and chicken were absolutely delicious. A special thank you to Irma for her outstanding service. She was professional, warm, and truly the joy and light of the place. She really made a difference to our experience.