4 /5 Nicholas: We had an excellent experience overall, driven by a tasting menu that was confidently executed from start to finish.
The pork skin starter was outstanding—crisp, deeply flavoured, and immediately set the tone for the meal. The squid noodles were unbelievable, particularly with the addition of peanuts, which added both texture and depth. Another highlight was the deer: lean, beautifully cooked meat paired with a layer of fat on top to compensate for its natural leanness. It was a smart, well-judged choice and worked exceptionally well.
As a tasting menu, it felt seamless and complete. There wasn’t a single course we didn’t enjoy, and the progression of dishes showed real thought and precision. It’s rare to come away without being able to point to a weak moment, but that was genuinely the case here.
For wine pairings, we chose both the soft pairing (£95) and the champagne pairing (£250). The soft pairing was a genuine surprise—creative, well-balanced, and consistently complementary to the food. In many ways, it outperformed expectations and stood confidently alongside the menu.
The champagne pairing was more mixed. The selection itself was clearly strong, and champagne is obviously an area of expertise here. However, I was the only guest ordering this pairing that evening, and several of the pours appeared to come from bottles that had been opened earlier. As a result, most glasses after the first had noticeably reduced carbonation. While the pours were slightly more generous—likely because I was receiving the end of the bottle—freshness is far more important than volume at this level, especially at a 2* resto. A champagne, no matter how good, loses much of its character once it goes flat.
This didn’t detract significantly from an otherwise outstanding meal, but given the premium price, it’s an area where expectations are understandably higher. I would recommend the soft pairing, the wine pairing, or ordering a bottle to ensure the experience fully matches the quality of the food.
Throughout the evening, the chefs and front-of-house team were attentive, professional, and genuinely welcoming. One small practical note: the bar seating felt slightly low in relation to the table, and we found ourselves leaning forward quite a bit to finish the opening courses. A slightly higher table would make the experience more comfortable, especially for longer tastings.
The food alone makes this a restaurant well worth visiting, and with tighter execution on premium pairings, the experience could easily be close to flawless.