The Fat Duck

The service is out of this world. Danny was a gracious funny and made The Journey all the more special. Is this place pricy. Yes. But you have to try it and you'll see it's worth. Every. Single. Penny. The food was amazing as you'd expect. Each dish following a story of childlike wonder and feeling like one magic trick after another. 3 hours flew by! When reserving your meal on the website just remember there is a 12.5% service charge to be included after your meal. We sheepishly forgot this and was a little taken aback when receiving the bill. Other than than. Incredible. Definitely a bucket list experience you'll want to have over and over again. Thank you to all the staff, the chefs and everyone who made our time and my birthday so special. 😊

+6

Extraordinary storytelling, theyve created a lovely christmas atmosphere, some amazing dishes to remember - great experience!

+6

The Fat Duck is truly an iconic dining experience. We arrived with exceptionally high expectations, and for the most part, they were met. Each dish was meticulously crafted and thoughtfully presented. The breakfast course, in particular, was absolutely mind-blowing—playful, inventive, and unlike anything we’ve ever tasted. While a few flavors didn’t quite deliver the wow factor, and some of the service felt a bit flat and disengaged, the overall experience was still unforgettable and unlike anything else.

+3

We've found a new favourite restaurant... from the moment you're met at the door until the moment you leave, this is an amazing culinary experience... the venue is intimate, the staff are amazing, efficient yeti relaxed and friendly, the theatre is magical, taking us back to childhood memories through your senses of taste and smell... but all of this is surpassed by the sublime food... everyone should enjoy this experience at least once

+6

A truly surreal and unforgettable dining experience. The Fat Duck isn’t just a restaurant — it’s a whimsical journey through memory, sound, scent, and taste. Each course is designed to surprise, delight, and challenge your senses. Highlights included “Sound of the Sea” with actual ocean sounds, and nostalgic dishes that played with texture and perception. It’s not about traditional fine dining — it’s theatre, science, and storytelling on a plate. Some flavors are mind-blowing, others just curious, but every moment is memorable. If you’re looking for a meal that you’ll talk about for years, this is it.

+6

An Unforgettable Experience at The Fat Duck - 10/10 We recently had the absolute pleasure of dining at The Fat Duck in Bray, experiencing The Journey menu — and it was nothing short of spectacular. From start to finish, the creativity and storytelling behind each dish were simply outstanding. Every course was a work of art, but particular highlights for us were the lamb course with its exquisite caviar gravy, and the "Counting Sheep" dessert, which stole the show with its theatrical flair and playful imagination. We were lucky enough to explore the wine cellar experience, which we would highly recommend to anyone visiting. My partner opted for the wine pairing, while I enjoyed a few glasses of champagne — the Krug by the glass is a must-try! Every detail was thoughtfully curated to enhance the experience. The atmosphere in the restaurant was lively and buzzing, yet it never detracted from the intimacy or specialness of the evening. The service was exceptional. The sommelier was impressively knowledgeable, sharing the background and stories of each bottle he presented, which added another layer of depth to the meal. A special mention must go to our main waiter, Danny. His storytelling ability, fantastic sense of humour, and genuine passion for the experience really made the evening unforgettable. Thank you, Danny, for bringing even more magic to an already incredible night! We would highly recommend The Fat Duck to anyone looking for an extraordinary dining experience — the creativity, food, wine, and service are all truly world-class.

+1

Quite an experience at the Fat Duck. Heston is a master at his craft, molecular gastronomy at its finest; he transformed dining into a journey of the senses. Once in a lifetime!

+3

Dining at the Fat Duck is definitely one of best food experience of my life. You have to go and do this.

+6

Nothing to say except wow. Look at my photos. Once in a lifetime experience. The food is amazing the service exceptional but the theatre is what makes this stand out. You really go on an adventure. The location is warm and cosy. Took us about 2 hours to get to the restaurant during peak traffic so plan accordingly.

+6

An incredible experience. There's no words that can do justice to the food so I won't really try. What i will say is that every person you interact with, and there's lots are great at their jobs. They show pride, knowledge and warmth for all. I think we all know it's not cheap, but it's such an experience. If you get a chance to go, or you're toying with the idea, just do it. I'm not going to post pics, because spoilers.

There are no words to describe the experience. Without a doubt, one of the most incredible nights of our lives! The staff were incredibly attentive, I was full of cold and they recommended the olive tea to make me feel better, which it did! We loved how their individual personalities shone through, which is different from other high end restaurants where the staff are almost told to all act the same? Danny in particular, made our evening! The food was innovative and a real experience, there are no words! My mind is still boggled from all the different flavours and textures! We would absolutely love to come back soon!

+3

A truly special dining experience! We came for a birthday celebration and it did not disappoint. We love his Dinner restaurant in Knightsbridge so we were very excited for this restaurant. We had the tasting menu, as you can imagine, each dish was super creative and fun. The food still tasted amazing and wasn’t ‘style over substance’. The service was also amazing, each person we spoke to so kind and friendly and happy to have a chat. I would recommend going earlier during dinner service if you can. The tables around us joined later and were getting ‘spoilers’ for each course from other tables.

+6

An unforgettable dining experience at The Fat Duck! 🌟 This iconic 3-Michelin-starred restaurant in Bray, UK, is a true culinary masterpiece. Chef Heston Blumenthal's innovative approach to cuisine is evident in every dish, with bold flavors and unexpected combinations that will leave you speechless. The service is impeccable, with attentive and knowledgeable staff who are passionate about the food. While the price tag is steep, it's worth every penny for a truly unique and memorable meal. A must-visit for any foodie or adventurous eater!

What an experience. We were a group of friends who had wanted to try The Fat Duck for a long time, and it absolutely lived up to our expectations. As the restaurant is located a little outside London, we took the train well in advance to avoid being late. We were in contact with the restaurant beforehand and were kindly told that we were welcome to arrive early if we wished. From the moment we arrived, we were warmly received. The setting is discreet and calm, and you immediately feel a sense of anticipation building. What followed was nothing short of a fairytale of an evening. The waitstaff were exceptionally knowledgeable and genuinely warm, sharing not just information but themselves. The sensory experience and flavors are unlike anything you can fully prepare for. Not every flavor will be for everyone, but that’s on me and my admittedly selective palate — I still fully understand and appreciate the experience for what it is. We also opted for the drinks pairing, which was outstanding. Our sommelier, Raku, was fantastic and guided us expertly through the evening. Tom, with his infectious energy and great sense of humor, took wonderful care of us and topped off the night by showing us the kitchen and introducing us to the people behind the magic. Unfortunately, I don’t remember the names of everyone who contributed to making this such a special evening, but I want to thank them all. They are what truly made the night memorable — and the reason I already want to return.

Dining at The Fat Duck was pure magic - nothing is as it seems✨. We chose The Journey and from the very first bite, we were transported into a world of creativity, surprise, and joy. Every course was a story, every flavor perfectly thought out, and every detail—from presentation to pacing—was just spot on. The service was exceptional, as expected at this level, but what truly stood out was the food. This is what a true three Michelin star experience feels like. Every bite was not only delicious but also sparked curiosity and wonder. It’s rare to say this, but everything was memorable. It’s easily on the same level as Disfrutar in Barcelona or Hajime in Osaka—an experience that reminds you why you love food in the first place. You lose track of time because you’re just so immersed in the moment. If you’re celebrating something special or simply want to experience something unforgettable, you have to book The Fat Duck. It’s joyful, imaginative, and absolutely worth it.

The Fat Duck is truly a very special restaurant. My wife and I dine out a lot and often visit three-star restaurants, but at The Fat Duck, one could easily add a plus to the three stars. The presentations are very impressive and thoughtfully designed, perfectly coordinated with each course. The dishes themselves are incredibly creative, and you can truly feel the amount of thought and perfection that has gone into them. It's self-evident that everything tastes amazing. The service is friendly, very attentive, and helps to enhance the overall experience. Our visit has left a lasting impression on us and will continue to do so for a long time. We rarely take the time to write reviews, usually only when something doesn’t go well, but in this case, we are writing because The Fat Duck absolutely deserves a positive review. We would like to thank the entire team at The Fat Duck for an impressive and exciting dinner.

We visited the fat duck on a very rare anniversary menu, celebrating 30 years of it's fine history. Dishes ranged from classics, to classics with new twists, to newer plates. The whole history was showcased in a single meal. It was titled the journey, and we were provided with a map and a magnifying glass. The map detailed our menu for the evening, but hidden across it were much smaller texts, instantly making the experience playful. All dishes were masterfully presented, with plenty of theatre and of course, delicious flavours. Highlights were the full English breakfast masquerading as a bowl of cereal, and the magical floating merengues. Truly wonderful!

Excellent venue, service and food. Genuinely incomparable to anywhere else I've eaten and a real treat.

If you want to enjoy food, inventiveness, and storytelling, then "The Fat Duck" restaurant is the best place to experience an explosion of all three aspects of gastronomic pleasure in one spot! During the three-hour magic, you are discreetly drawn into sections where you move through various natural landscapes, different times of the day, and historical moments. Each part is different but exciting in its own way. Excellent wine/sake pairings with great explanations from an experienced sommelier. The staff is very kind and attentive. A top-notch experience!

The Fat Duck has been on our bucket list for as long as we can remember. We are big foodies and love a taster menu. It was an experience we won't forget. The food was interesting, my favourite was the sound of the sea although my partner would differ ;) (he's never been a fish food fan). It's not a place I see us returning too but we thoroughly enjoyed our visit.

This was my second time at the place and the central question was - are the classics identical, is there anything new. This is a three star joint, so level high anyways. So. 1. Many of the classics were improved and developed, so the menu is not a dead one even for the Sound of the sea etc. 2. There were new entries, my favorite was the kinda deconstructed Black Forest gateaux- it was lip smacking delicious. Then the most notable improvement: last time e.g. sake pairings and the wines were OK, but nothing to write home about. This time… the pairings played in the same league as the food. I stole the idea of pairing a dish with a special martini instead of wine immediately to my next home meal, what a genius idea. Service was flawless, our wedding anniversary was met with a card from all chefs and our special guest, a Viking rubber duck named “Olaf, the gourmet duck” was given due attention. I did find the evening a tad pricey though, 750€ of the tasting menu paid beforehand should have contained even a basic set of drinks with food.

The Fat Duck exceeded all my expectations! From the moment we walked in, the service was exceptional. The staff were incredibly friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable, making us feel welcome and well cared for throughout the entire evening. We were lucky enough to try the special Christmas menu, and it was pure magic! Every dish brought back the wonder and joy of being a child on Christmas morning. The flavors, presentation, and creativity were unlike anything I’ve ever experienced – a true celebration of the season. The attention to detail, combined with the team’s ability to tell the story behind each dish, made the entire meal feel like an enchanting journey. The ambiance was warm and inviting, perfectly complementing the festive spirit and culinary artistry. It’s rare to find a place where both the food and service are equally outstanding, but The Fat Duck delivered on all fronts. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a world-class dining experience. I can’t wait to return!

One of a kind! If you are looking to have a unique experience then I couldn’t recommend more. Let me start with how amazing the staff are and extremely knowledgeable about the food and customers! Accidentally swapped my pocket cash money with my partner to spend at the sweet shop and they new those sweets weren’t mine! The food, the different textures the combination of flavours and the way the food is presented was unreal. I recommend paring with the wine tasting to elevate the experience! It’s worth every penny. My favourites dish was the sounds of the sea. It brought me wonderful memories of where I grew up as a child. But every single course was unique and delicious. Thank you to all the staff, would have been amazing to see Heston!

We had an excellent experience with the Fat Duck and there team Food definitely played with your mind and was excellent

I recently celebrated my birthday at The Fat Duck in Bray, and wow, what an unforgettable experience! The meal was like a magical adventure lasting about 3.5 hours. Every course was a masterpiece, with incredible attention to detail and even the lighting changing to perfectly highlight each dish. My absolute favorites were the "Sea" and "Breakfast" courses. I won’t give too much away, but let’s just say they were both mind-blowingly good! The surprises kept coming, and I was smiling the whole time. And the drinks? There are so many pairing options, you'll be spoiled for choice! Whether you're into wine, cocktails, or something non-alcoholic, they've got you covered. In short, I had an absolutely wonderful time and can’t recommend The Fat Duck enough. If you’re looking to celebrate something special or just want an extraordinary dining experience, this is the place to be.

Took my other half here for a special birthday last month, well worth it. Right from the start the experience was great, greeted outside and entered in to an area closed off from the restaurant before being taken to our table. The atmosphere is quite cosy but the tables are nicely spaced apart, watch out for the beams if you are tall! All of the staff were really friendly and knowledgeable, but not at all pretentious. We spent over 3 hours here, but the time flew past. Reading the guide book between each course was great to find out some additional information about the dishes. Plus, the staff were great at answering any additional questions. Some of the courses were interactive and obviously not everything was what it seemed. All the food was amazing, but it can only reach a certain level, so it was the experience as a whole (& the staff) that really made it. Yes it's expensive, but we both thoroughly enjoyed our evening in every aspect, well worth it for a special occasion. p.s. visit the toilets!

The food was incredible. Mine was dairy and gluten-free, and I did not feel left out at all. The staff were kind enough to present me with a birthday card too. I felt really special. The meal took over four hours and waiting half an hour before our last course was too much for me. The toilets were amazing lol, they automatically opened, closed, and flushed. The toilet seat was warm! I could have sat there for ages, lol. I would like to reiterate how outstanding the food was. I didn't like all of it, but it was definitely an experience and one I enjoyed.

There are not enough feelings to describe how wonderful the anthology meal at the Fat Duck was. Art meets Magic meets whimsy. Every dish was better than the previous dish. The taste buds were taken on a sensory tour. The meal got super modern and then turned traditional which is a perfect balance. Every element of every plate made sense. EAT HERE, EAT HERE, this place is just simply and absolutely amazing.

A wonderful topsie turvy food service experience. The service was fantastic, The atmosphere was electric, a wonderful selection of wines. A wonderful night out.

I had to wait for this day to come for as long as I can remember, finally my boyfriend treated me to “the journey” as my birthday treat… it exceeded all my expectations starting from very friendly staff at the door who welcomed us to the restaurant. We were taken to our table where the Heston’s magic started. The food was out of this world… the little beetroot appetiser was to die for, the pigeon dinner was unforgettable not forgetting the breakfast cereal and the sweet shop. Every dish on the journey was full of surprises. We loved it all…. The staff with their in depth knowledge each dish telling us the meaning behind it with enthusiasm and passion completed the whole experience. We were lucky enough to be taken into the kitchen to see the precision and attention to detail each dish requires. Thank you so much to each and every one of the staff who looked after us on this special day! We will definitely be back to celebrate another special occasion in the world of magic!

Taste wise good but more so paying for the experience which is amazing, a must try, at least once (imo). Lovely staff and attentive service, kudos to especially Ewan(I think this is his name) for making our time there even more memorable!!! Had lots of fun and all our senses got all opened up. The house, games, “magic” all reminded us of our happy childhood carefree times when young, which is not that long ago 🤫. With some curiosity we broke the magic and caused the meringues to fly away the pillow to which they were so kind to replace us with new ones. Haha.

Dining at The Fat Duck is undoubtedly a unique and technically fascinating experience. The creativity and theatre behind each dish are impressive, and there’s no denying the skill involved in crafting such an intricate journey through food. One absolute standout, though, is the service – the team is phenomenal, second to none. The staff were warm, knowledgeable, and effortlessly attentive, which truly elevated the entire experience. That said, while I thoroughly appreciated the artistry and the playfulness of the meal, I found that none of the dishes left me with that “I must have this again” feeling. It’s certainly a meal you’ll remember, but for me, it lacked those truly crave-worthy moments that would draw me back. The cost is, of course, significant – and while I’m fortunate to have dined at other top restaurants where some dishes linger in your memory (and tastebuds) long after you leave, that just wasn’t the case here. If The Fat Duck is on your culinary bucket list and you’re comfortable with the price, I’d still say go for it – it’s an experience worth ticking off. Just manage your expectations: it’s more about the journey and the theatre than the flavours you’ll be longing for later.

+6

We were very fortunate to get an invite to Heston Blumenthal's Fat Duck with very special friends and we travelled up from Cardiff and checked-in to the excellent, and beautiful, Monkey Island Estate nearby for an overnight stay. We arrived promptly at 7pm and were escorted inside to quite a small and intimate space with small groups and couples of diners in various stages of the 6 course journey that we were about to embark upon. I've included the menu, and it is clearly a theatre of senses - vision, sound and taste. The pre-dinner snacks were incredible, beautiful and flavourful. Nitro-Poached Aperitif "Lime Grove", the Aerated Beetroot with Horseradish Cream and the Red Cabbage Gazpacho with compressed Cucumber, Pommery Wholegrain Mustard - all deliciously sensational. The journey started with an interesting and now infamous breakfast in a bowl. It was very tasty but with some weird gelatinous textures, that one of our party found hard work. The Crab & Passionfruit 99' palette cleanser was a welcome interlude. The sound of the sea dish, again a well known dish, with the supplied headphones deliverimg sound of the seaside, recreated seafood, sand and surf in a tasty and visually impressive presentation. It was fresh and vibrant, a complete contrast to what followed - a walk in the woods, with its black truffle, beetroot and oak. I personally struggled with this dish. Too much sickly truffle and heaviness, and too dry. The next course the 'dinner course' of lamb, cucumber and smoked caviar was a saviour. A decadent and tasty treat, well balanced and beautifully executed. The 'Counting sheep' sweet finale to the meal was pure theatre, a rotating pillow offering tasty, sweet treats with the aroma of lavender and talcum powder. This again may not fit everyone's taste or texture preference with the sprinkles talcum powder-like coating. The journey comes to a close with an offering from the sweet shop - delicate, hand made morsels of confectionery. Quite delightful. Their wine list was spectacular in choice and price, but the 2017 Puligny Montrachet and 2014 Fattoria Le Pupille 'Saffredi' Maremma Toscana were both superb and somewhat sensible. All in all, with the incredible service, the Fat Duck is an incredible experience, but the food is a little lost and comes second place to the theatre. So it's not somewhere I would yearn to go again, sadly.

+6

This was a hard review to write, Heston is unequivocally the reason I got into cooking. He's the reason I became a chef, and sadly, this is a case of never meet your heroes. The food averaged out as good...now that sounds lovely...but Hestons food was supposed to be mind blowing, life changing even...maybe its just me, maybe my expectations were too high, maybe the industry has finally caught up to him and he's not longer breaking ground the way he used to, maybe im just old and jaded. Either way, I was sad when I left. Take this review with a pinch of salt...something the starter was missing as an fyi... Everyone around us seemed to be having fun and enjoying their food, and the service was immaculate. I still think I'd have enjoyed his food 10-15yrs ago but now, sadly not.

A wonderful experience, but I do agree with other reviews in that the experience has become a little dated. The restaurant itself is small. The dishes are incredible and the dedication to flavour and senses has to be respected. Many classics are served, which leaves little room for invention and development. Undeniably a bucket list experience, but Dinner by Heston in London takes the fat ducks work and expanded on it wonderfully. Definitely worth seeing where molecular gastronomy was born though.

Overall, innovative but not necessarily good. Sure there's a few sensory things going on. We had the ala carte Weird that they didn't ask for allergies and such during the booking given they have 3 stars, and weird that they charge the full price of the menu during reservation. Welcome bite: nitrogen lime mousse. It's not aerated enough lol, it doesn't have enough structure. Amuse: orange and beetroot jelly. This one was fun, I enjoyed the experience Bread: The burnt wheat one has a good smokiness, but the centre was doughy. Both of them have too hard a crust, not light enough. The butter has a nice sweetness though First course: Partner said the duck liver is good. The crab risotto used to be famous for being an innovative savoury sorbet probably many decades ago. Now that it's popular, the novelty isn't quite there. Instead the flavours don't work quite well, in particular the risotto itself doesn't taste strongly of crab, and the cold crab sorbet doesn't quite have the same umami has a proper crab bisque. Mains: Lamb was disappointing. They try to incorporate fish flavours but for it to work, they were very mild, the whole dish was mild esp the accompaniments: the smoked cucumber tastes of nothing. Lamb was chewy, and that's unacceptable for a 3 star. It's not good even for non-starred places The turbot was ok, there's a lot of alcoholic components, but nothing particularly memorable. It's the mussels that were good, and the mash was quite nice too. Desserts: The strawberry dessert is actl not bad, given how they add in spiciness and savouriness(olives) and wasn't too weird. Pistachio scrambled egg was basically pistachio ganache lol, with pistachio bits and other things. Not quite a scrambled egg texture but I guess the idea is there. Partner didn't like the pinot noir Petit four: Chocolate with mandarin orange jelly was more bitter than sweet as these Michelin places like to do, but I'm not a fan of these types Meanwhile the pecan toffee was simple but brilliantly executed and absolutely delicious. Atmosphere: It's really dark and low-ceilinged. Quite unpleasant

+6

This was my second visit to the fat duck, this time with a friend to celebrate a landmark birthday. My first visit was everything I had expected so it pains me to say that this visit was a big disappointment. - most of the dishes were cold except for the main, to the detriment of flavour on occasions, the dessert didn’t taste of anything supposedly had flavours of malt and tonka bean. Some dishes were good but mostly forgettable. - the main was underwhelming, under seasoned measly portion of lamb that was still tough to cut (compared to other diner’s photos here which seem to be thicker sliced), that didn’t taste of anything. The super cold jelly served with it didn’t add anything - sound of the sea didn’t taste of much, the faux sand texture was unpleasant to the point I thought it was as annoying as sand, and whether that was the point. - the storytelling which is a key part of the experience was lacking. Our main host was going through the motions and giving out bits and pieces but it wasn’t coherent, nor complete. Some dishes weren’t even explained what was in them (even after the surprise element had passed) and we had to ask. I still don’t know what was in the sandwiches as part of the mad hatters team party. The added updates like coloured lights, a beautiful animatronic model house, wasn’t enough to cover for the lacking key part of the meal. - finally they made no efforts to mark the fact it was a birthday celebration, despite telling them on booking and having witnessed other birthday celebrators receive acknowledgement. My friend had to ask as we were leaving if we should have received anything. They came back apologising that it hadn’t been noted down from their side. - the service was there to a point, but I felt that because we were clearly a table that hadn’t opted for wine tasting or a bottle etc that the amount of attention we received was the bare minimum. The feeling I got was I assume if you have £££ to spend on the drinks you’ll have a great time. Maybe we were unlucky, maybe because it was lunch time or we had a cover staff or they had a supply problem. Nonetheless at a price point of £300+ per head, 3 stars, a consistent experience for all customers matters. You’re paying for the full experience as well as memorable food. What we received was a ghost of a once exciting culinary location.

+4

After wanting to go there for years, my eldest son took me yesterday for my birthday, and I have mixed opinions. At first, I was very pleased with the food experience. I've been to a few fine dining establishments, and it's fair to say that this place topped most of them with its theatrics. In saying this, as there were tables close by being served before us, the element of surprise was lost, so they did not impress and at times were distracted with a crying baby and another table which was minutes in front of us by way of serving. As this was a surprise (an amazing one at that) I later learnt how much my son paid for three of us to eat with wine pairings, mine's being the alcohol-free selection, I am now extremely disappointed. The reason for my disappointment is that they set the standards of expectation with their well-above-typical fine dining cost, and I personally felt the overall experience fell well short of what should be expected. My son always takes me to different fine dining establishments for my birthday, and this is the first time I've not received some small sweet treat. To be fair, when I arrived, I was handed a birthday card which had been signed by a number of staff. Nonetheless, I left the restaurant still hungry, and now knowing what it cost, I think I would've appreciated a sweet treat instead. Speaking of sweet treat, I have a sweet tooth, and to only be served 1 dessert, on taster menu was a let down. The dessert, part of which was served on a levitating cushion, is without doubt what is meant when one says Style of Substance(SoS), as it was very, very average in taste. Part of the meal served a meal worm, again SoS, as it did nothing for the overall meal by way of taste. I have a lot more things I could say about its comparisons to other experiences that fell short, but the staff were extremely nice and friendly, so I do not want to complain too much on this platform. However, it should be noted, that the cost of this experience should come with a certain level of service. All I will say is that it was disappointing for me after wanting to experience this place, and the cost does not allow me to give it a second chance, so I cannot recommend this place to anyone, knowing what other restaurants serve at a substantially lesser amount. As theatrical as it was, ultimately you are there to eat food and hopefully leave satisfied. In this case I left slightly hungry, which resulted in me eating a flapjack and a packet of popcorn when we returned to the hotel. And yes, it was definitely a dining experience, but dry ice and liquid nitrogen shows are no longer revolutionary in the fine dining world, neither are worms. And in my opinion, at least two extra courses should be added to that taster menu, to justify its cost compared to other restaurants serving food of equal quality and nicer tasting in some cases.

+6

I was part of the same dinner party mentioned in another review here, and I share many of the same thoughts. This was my second visit to The Fat Duck, and unfortunately, the experience and food this time were a real disappointment compared to before. The “journey” that used to make The Fat Duck so special now feels disconnected. From the very start, the map was simply laid on our table with a very brief introduction — and that was it. Throughout the evening, no one explained how the dishes connected to the story. For two courses — Sound of the Sea and Cheese and Grapes — we were told someone would return to explain them after we finished, but that never happened until we asked at the very end. It’s a small detail, but at a restaurant of this level, it makes a big difference. From a taste perspective, I personally found Sound of the Sea overly salty, which made it hard to enjoy. And for the pre-dessert, we were served what tasted like Horlicks — which, to me, is something you’d easily find in a local Hong Kong café (“cha chaan teng”), not something I’d expect in a fine-dining setting. Perhaps this is a cultural difference, but it felt out of place. Overall, the magic and storytelling that once defined The Fat Duck experience were missing. I left feeling that the restaurant has lost the charm and attention to detail that used to make it truly unique.

Bottom line, it wasn't worth the money and the expectation.. I had some big issues: The main one is the excessive use of star anise and 5 spieces. I don't have any particular problam with anise, but as a dominant flavor it was too much for me to have it in half(!) of the dishes (mainly in 2 that it was almost all i could taste). There was only 1 tasty cocktail out of the 3 we tried- the spicy el dorado was great, the negroni tasted like old bubble gum and the coffe tobacco was no more than drinkable. The sumallie suggested 190£ wines as we asked for non-acidic nice and cheaper wine, because we are not wine experts. After saying this is not on the cheaper side we got suggested a super acidic 60£ wine that we didn't like and felt akward to return. Because of the acoustics and the vicinity of the tables I had difficulties to have conversations or hearing the waitresses most of the meal. Lastly, every time someone got the first dish, the unpleasant perfume that goes with it just did waves of stench across the restaurant. On the other hand, i want to point out that the beach dish was incredible! So to conclude, up until the fifth dish we had mostly good experience, but nothing that woth the absured costs of the menu, the drinks and the place. Realizing childhood dreams can sometimes disappoint...

The Fat Duck is, in my experience, one of the most misleading and overrated restaurants in the world. The high prices only lead to the highest disappointment. Let me elaborate: The ceiling is too low, making the dining room feel like a cellar with poor air circulation. You can smell the breath of the person at the next table, and after three hours, it feels suffocating. The service is poor. The staff behave like robots, reciting details about each dish so quickly that we couldn't understand them. We had to ask them to repeat the information for all 11 dishes. The restaurant seems unable to afford a proper chef, as it appears the waiters are preparing the food, relying on gimmicks like hydrogen air. The quality of the food is comparable to any average restaurant in London. The fourth dish, "Taste of Sound of the Oceans," tasted like sand from the beach. All 11 dishes were poorly made, yet we were still charged a £198 service fee. Instead of confusing guests with incomprehensible, robotic stories about each dish, the restaurant should focus on the quality of the food. The £85 cake was awfully made. We were served poor-quality wine recommended by the restaurant. While this isn't the waiter's fault, it feels like the owner is selling cheap wine at Michelin three-star prices. Many people are too shy or too proud to share their honest thoughts. Given that each guest pays more than £500 (including the service charge) for their meal, they don't want to admit they've been fooled. In summary, The Fat Duck should concentrate on improving the food and service and hire a real chef to cook.

Seven Years On... The Fat Duck Journey Feels Broken A lot of my friends asked about my third visit to The Fat Duck, and I thought I should share it with you too. Wait, don’t smile yet. There’s almost nothing good. I’ll start with the only good thing: you brought back that dessert on a floating pillow. Now, the bad parts. Over the past seven years I’ve had the pleasure of dining at your restaurant three times: first in 2017, then in 2022, and most recently last Wednesday. Over the years I’ve received many emails about changes to the “journey” and experience, but essentially you’ve just been cutting it down, again and again. The whole journey now feels like a series of unrelated events, forcefully put together. Honestly, the dishes would be just fine without the story. I remember the first time I was there: you sent a questionnaire asking about the most memorable experience in my life, and then you included a figure representing that in the Forest presentation. That’s long gone. At Breakfast, the little breakfast menu, the token for the candy shop and little puzzle in the cereal box, gone. The sense of anticipation, gone. The most memorable thing, the hot-and-cold tea is gone. It was, in my opinion, the greatest representation of Heston’s talent. At the Beach, the dish that resembled a crab, gone. The ice pop, gone. After Playing at the Beach, the afternoon tea, gone. I still remember dipping the gold medal into hot water and it melting into a soup. If these are gone because you changed the story and the journey, fine. But you haven’t! The journey has been the same for the past seven years. Also, no one is explaining the little adventures anymore. And for two dishes, Sound of the Sea and Cheese and Grapes, no one came back to explain them until we asked at the end. There used to be lots of small touches that connected the experiences and made it unforgettable. They’re all gone, and now all I can remember from my dinner on Wednesday is a series of awkward presentations of the “experience.” I was a big advocate for The Fat Duck; and I still am, but right now I’m also an advocate against it. You really have to fix it. You are welcome.