The Fat Duck (Heston Blumenthal), Bray

kind of agree with the last reviewer who mentioned some catering company (the kudos delivered people) who had dishes better than this place, never heard of them but get what she means in that this is all just cook by numbers nothing special kind of a place. the only thing special is that its got a telly chef owning it (not cooking in it you may notice) what I was wondering at each disappointing mouthful was where was all the wit and invention that he prides his TV preparation on? we had the beef course and it was good. but not pay for it good. disappointing.

I made a lunch reservation for two in March 2014. On the 'Fat Duck' day, my friend was very sick and she could not make it to the lunch. To honor the reservation, I had lunch alone in Fat Duck. The service and food were ok. However, just now I realized that I was charged twice. I paid 229 pounds in the restaurant, and there was another charge of 175 pounds on the credit card.

I emailed the reservations manager about the wrong billing. This person said the charge was due to reduction of party. I am feeling very disappointed, as this is the most expensive meal that I ever have, and I have to pay the double price (total of 404 pounds). During the meal, restaurant staff did not offer any extra food, or offer food to take away. I had one meal only, but paid for two meals. This restaurant owe me a meal now :(

What a magnificent small business! I was afraid that on the Saturday night it becomes congested and so unpleasant, yet it wasn't when I went, so I had the delight of being in a position to look around personally and talk pleasantly with my visitors.

Your wine list was intriguing and the bar people incredibly informed and warm and friendly. I can't wait to get back there and taste more food or conduct a drinks sampling.

I took the wife to the Fat Duck for her birthday. I was slightly nervous about what I/we'd think of it as Id read reviews about people absolutely hating the food - and we all know its ridiculously expensive.

I was very pleasantly surprised though I must say.

Its not really like going to a restaurant for a meal, its more like going to the theatre, or maybe more accurately a street entertainers front room, and there happens to be food too.

That's not to say that food isn't the main focus, of course it is. But the food has been so drastically altered from anything you've experienced before it's hard to really think of it as just food.

I enjoyed the taste, appearance and theatre of each and every dish from the tasting menu (by the way - they ONLY do the tasting menu now, there's no other options)

Some were utterly amazing on your taste buds some were just OK - but the combination of sound, taste, smell and sight of each dish was truly memorable.

Its not the sort of place I'd imagine we'd go back to - for me its a one off experience - but it was an experience Id recommend to anyone (with savings to cover it!)

Beyond the food, I was most impressed with the staff. They were knowledgeable and extremely friendly. Not the 'up their backside' types you often get in central london

They'd clearly all bought into the fact that this was a dining experience and they were part of that experience. Massive thumbs up to them - I just hope they're getting a good cut of the astronomical bill (and the 12.5% service charge - which I can tell you really adds up - I think ours was about £70 for two people - that's a good service bill)

If you're incredibly worried about the cost you might not enjoy the experience, but if you go and forget the cost and just sit back and let the Fat Duck do its stuff, you'll have a cracking 4 or so hours of entertainment, amusement and ultimately culinary delight.

This 'experience' starts the moment you book the table and you take it home with you. It's surreal, exciting and thought provoking; a bit like going to a magic show, though more derren brown than tommy cooper. It invades all your senses and I left feeling more like I had eating the 'wrong' type of mushrooms that a 3 star michele star meal. The sommeliere was faultless with his knowledge and they're are wines to be had at resonable prices - the Italian whites in particular. There were 3 main flaws; time (the meal lasted over 5 hours, and by the elevenmillionth course I'd had enough), ingredients (not enough luxury products, I was hoping for more caviar, truffles etc than everyday products I'd cook at home), variation (after seeing 4 wacky courses they all seemed a bit the same I know it might be asking a lot, but I'd like to have seen more things than just nitro cooking etc...). One more point, whilst the Fat Duck waiters were very apt to asking me and my friends if we'd like more wine etc they seemed to forget my pregnant wife if she'd like more soft drinks. Though I cannot fault the change of menu for her. 7/10

Fat Duck experience August 2009. Good points, the food delightful and original. The waiting staff, efficient, repetative and robotic as the same "performance" was delivered to every table in the exact same way. The wine waiter knowledgeable but forgetful as a wine order failed to appear. Other points, broken toilet seat in the gents, a dirty ring was left by plate on the table cloth and the bread started off warm but further servings became colder as the meal progressed.

Only small points I know but as the Fat Duck has three stars perhaps it is worth mentioning.

I loved The Fat Duck, but not sure I would rush back, so not sure how I should rate it. We had the tasting menu, and tasting wine menu which meant the bill was astronomical, but coming here was always supposed to be a one-off. The food was extraordinary, but i think it's fair to say that some dishes you wouldn't want a lot of, nor would you want to eat everyday. But go with an open mind and in the anticipation of eating like you have never known it before and you won't be disappointed.

I visited The Fat Duck at the weekend.. slightly apprehensive after it's recent closure i have to say, but all fears were quickly laid to rest. The venue itself is a blink and you'll miss it cottage type building on Bray High Street. From the outside it looks closed, inside however is lovely, calm, and smells fantastic!

We went for the tasting menu (you have to) yes it's hugely expensive (so much so that it's best not to think about it) but it's the experience you are there for.

So followed about ten courses of genius, I agree with previous reviewers that Heston Blumenthal is the only chef i have ever seen to indulge as many senses as possible. Favourites being sounds of the sea ( a course consisting of sashimi and edible sand that you eat while listening to an ipod of beach noises), snail porridge (much much nicer than it sounds) and the famous bacon and egg ice cream. There were stunning palate cleansers and amouse bouches - the oak moss course in particular.

The staff are wonderful, knowledgable and can't do enough for you. The wine list is practically a book. The somaliers are all very helpful when guiding you through it and happy to make recommendations. The wines aren't cheap either (nothing in this restaurant is) but there are a good selection of reasonably priced ones, and indeed you get what you pay for. All the wine we tried was very nice. We decided not to go with the paired flights for the meal as we wanted to choose our own - but the people in the restaurant that had gone with this option seemed to enjoy the chosen wines.

In conclusion, yes, it's shockingly expensive, but you know that before you go. It is a wonderful meal completely different to any other dining experience. Heston Blumenthal focuses not only on taste but also on whichever other senses he can and the presentation is second to none, the attention to detail is part of what makes it so special. It's not a place to visit frequently but if you want wow factor The Fat Duck has it in spades.

We accept human creativity and ingenuity, the pushing of boundaries, in the auditory and visual domain when enjoying music and visual arts. Heston Blumenthal is doing the same with respect to our much neglected senses of taste and smell. To me, he is a cultural innovator who shows us the richness of what our noses and palates are able to perceive and enjoy. The Fat Duck was a truly memorable and educational experience.

Food was interesting at The Fat Duck and sometimes exciting. Dining room and decor at the The Fat Duck was rather ordinary and a little crowded. First three choices of wine not in stock. Eventually drank their recommendation which was ordinary. Service of the British mock-servility style rather than the professional continental style. Everything should be tried once except morris dancing, otherwise prefer other, better, places with fewer stars.