Fillet Of Cod
The Spread Eagle Hotel & Spa - The Restaurant

The Spread Eagle Hotel & Spa - The Restaurant

Spread Eagle Hotel South Street Midhurst, West Sussex GU29 9NH, GU29 9PD, Chichester, United Kingdom

Steak • Hotels • British • English


"Our first choice restaurant was booked up so we decided to eat here because the menu looked really nice and it was convenient as we were staying at the hotel. It was full and so I was encouraged that it would be good. Some nice warmed bread was brough to the table with some olive oil/balsamic mix. The ration wasn't quite right as each time you dipped the bread you got olive oil and no balsamic. We ordered the wood pigeon breast (special) and baked sardines as starters. The breast was overcooked and the red wine sauced lacked any depth of flavour. The baked sardines allegedly came with a basil and garlic crust, Borlotti beans and a herb salad with lemon oil. I struggled to find any basil, garlic or lemon oil. I don't know what they braised the borlotti beans in because they had little or no taste. The sardines were lovely but rest of it was just apallingly executed. Steak is a great dish for judging the competence of a kitchen. It's difficult to get wrong and if you can't get it right then perhaps you're in the wrong section or profession. With that in mind and the disappointment of the first course we both ordered the Chateaubriand rare and rare to blue with extra sides of green beans and tenderstem brocolli. We did ask if it was possible to get a bernaise sauce but were advised that it wasn't. I know restaurants like to avoid going off menu but a bernaise takes me about 10 15 minutes to make so I'd expect a professional chef to do it in half that time. It's possible they didn't have tarragon or more likely the lack of demand would have meant them wasting most of it. Not a huge issue and it made no difference to our rating. The Chateaubriand was tough, chewy and lacked any seasoning it hadn't seen a flake of salt before it reached our table. Normally a great cut like this is tender to cut through, melts in the mouth, has great carmelisation on the outside giving that wonderful flavour. This was just like beef jerky....a real shame. The highlight was the cherries which were wonderfully sweet and bursting with flavour and the green beans. The tenderstem brocolli was underdone but I prefer that to overdone. The chips lacked any crisp bite, like they'd been sitting out for a while. The peppecorn sauce had a nice peppery hint to it but I do prefer a little more pepperyness. The red wine sauce was the same as the one used for the wood pigeon so again it lacked depth of flavour and could probably have benefited from reduction. My partner decided to forgo dessert as the previous courses were so disappointing and the few dishes we saw come out were not particularly appealing. I went for the cheese board. The cheeses were nice and mild. The figs went well. There weren't enough crackers and the slices of cheese were quite small. The front of house staff and serving staff were great, sadly the restaurant is let down by the kitchen. I expect much better food at £53/head. On the strength of the breakfast and dinner we had this place just can't deliver good food."

The Signature Restaurant

The Signature Restaurant

The Wordsworth Hotel Grasmere Ambleside, Cumbria LA22 9SW, South Lakeland, United Kingdom

Tea • Soup • Cafés • Coffee


"we booked on Easter Sunday lunch in the wordsworth hotel signature restaurant. we arrived a little early, so enjoyed a drink in the hotel bar, which was very pleasant. we expected that the restaurant is full, but we found ourselves the only people to eat that was a little bizarre experience as it was ostern in the lake district, we thought it would be packed! but no matter. we have been shown to a beautiful table near the window so that the world passes and enjoy it, in the dry, while it rains out! we decided to go for main course and dessert instead of a starter and pornstar. I chose the poussin and my man had haloumi both were absolutely delicious and beautiful presented. although we have not decided for wein due to the ride, the weinlist with some good quality options is extensive; the beautiful note had a recommended wein under any main course option that we chose properly and both the meals perfectly complicated. we shared the sorted desserts platter that were beautiful! but above all the service standard in the restaurant was excellent. the staff was polite and attentive without being obtrusiw, and I felt a little regret that they have no more to do! the room itself is beautifully bright and airy with a large window looking at the village. I really enjoyed the experience and will return definitiw. excellent eating, excellent service nothing better than that!"