The Fat Duck

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!

Incredible experience that tests the senses and leaves an indelible memory - while tapping into your memories and associations. This experience is not for everyone but for us it was some of the best 4 hours of entertainment with a perfect meal included.The 10 or so courses circled the globe, different environments and every imaginable flavour and smell. From a nitroaperitif of gin and tonic to unreal presentation of seafood on a panko beach complete with sea foam and the sounds of the beach and ocean to our favourite fish called Jelly of Quail which is hard to explain … followed by a wine cellar tour that had you tasting a wine and then tasting again while senses are stimulated by opera and strobe lights - and noticing wild differences from the same wine … and of course experiencing Heston’s playfulness with ingredients and plating; including a summer picnic sandwich which was strawberry (and cucumber)!cake and a block of blue cheese which wasn’t but was somehow.The dishes were delicious and the wine pairing perfect. Even the bread, a smoky crusty and still moist and dense sour dough was probably the best we have tasted - and we are spoiled for bakeries here in Tokyo.An amazing 4+ hour dining experience with great service and atmosphereP.S. I just read through some of the reviews and wanted to add some additional thoughts on this type of dining experience and reviewers who say it’s too expensive. To create this experience and put on this type of event is closer to a concert or theater. I counted more staff than customers and this doesn’t mean they are inefficient but they are mastering something across something like 10+ complex and unique courses. On top of this the ingredients and care taken in preparation and experimentation provides a quality you will not find elsewhere. But most important is one’s own belief in value. We live in a world where we think it’s fine to wear $200 or more running shoes as daily wear that took less than ＄20 to make - including materials, low cost country wages and plant/machinery or carry a $2000 purse that costs even less. More effort, care, skill, creativity and quality is put on these plates than any other meal you might ever experience - let alone some luxury brand hoodie. It’s not for everyone and it’s not everyday. Absolutely, one can enjoy an amazing meal for a lot cheaper like you can enjoy a street performer. But sometimes it’s worth taking in what the Royal Ballet or Broadway or a 3-Michelin star chef can deliver.

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.

Celebrating our wedding anniversary, we went into Fat Duck aware of all the hype and accolades, but somehow came out of it even more impressed and in awe.The Fat Duck is, as many put it, more of an experience than a meal. As the hosts explained, Heston Blumenthal aims to challenge everything we know about food, and implements nature and all of our senses to enhance our culinary experience. From the moment you sit down, the performance entertains, astonishes, and even at times befuddles with its emphasis on sensory-oriented exploration.The food is obviously impressive, but the unique experiences like the Sound of the Sea (headphones with your seafood thay somehow make it taste more...seafood-y?) and the Cheese and Grapes (not exactly cheese, and the grapes have a bit of a surprise!) will stay with us. The quail was fantastic, and the langoustine lasagne was incredible. There is no weak link in the tasting menu, as everything served a purpose.There's so much more that can be said, such as the incredible service (seriously, you are treated like royalty here), the wine cellar

It is nice but not as good as you would expect. They try to dazzle you with the technique but to be honest the Waterside Inn in Bray is superior in every way.It is still an enjoyable experience but not worth what is being charged. But the wine pairings didn't work and the food was tart in most cases.It may have been bleeding edge in the past but many have caught up with the techniques. There isn't the wow factor anymore which is a shame as I have always wanted to visit the Fat Duck and experience the performance.Maybe a one Michelin Star. Check out the other reviews that are not 5 star they will provide a more realistic review similar to what I experienced.

I don't have the vocabulary to properly explain how good the service, food, and drinks pairings were, and in fact I feel utterly privileged to have been able to spend a few hours here. If you have the opportunity, do it. (Those with negative reviews are being very unfair in my opinion, boosting their own ego).I should also add that Josh looked after us really well, specially with his coffee facts about SL-28

It physically pains me to write this after years of looking forward to dining at the fat duck but I have to say it: DO NOT GO. Save your money.Let's get a few things out of the way - the service is exceptional. More than exceptional. Everyone from the waiters to the sommeliers to generally everyone that had something to do with our experience was professional, had a smile on their face, seemed super enthusiastic and knowledgeable.Let's also give a shout out to the fanciest toilet I have ever had the pleasure to use with pre heated seat, self cleaning and all of the bells and whistles.The atmosphere itself is a bit dingy. The room is tiny and has no decorations at all which is supposed to add to your imagination but just feels a bit cold and grey.All of this is nice, and let's face it if you're paying £1300 for two people you expect the service to be exceptional and the toilets to be instagram worthy, however, the food just did not live up to expectations.Worse, apart from not living up to expectations most of it was outright bad. It's a shame because some of the gimmicks really got me and I enjoyed them. For example the take on a smoked salmon and cream cheese sandwich in the morning - Heston takes this and transforms it into cereal. Yes, you receive your own little cereal box with a game and a little trinket and it is absolutely adorable and made me smile. However, eating the actual dish was absolutely underwhelming and needed salt, pepper, and allll the seasonings. There were dishes that were not just in need of a heavier hand at the seasoning but that were inedible. The worst one was a take on prawn cocktails which ended up being more like a langustine lasagne which we had to send back after one bite.It is unfortunate that the best things we ate were the two bread courses, one with bought in butter which was delicious, the other one with a magically made little apple that turns into a flavourful pate. The only other outstanding things to mention were a perfectly cooked venison, which, you know, you can get in a lot of places for a lot less money, and a spelt risotto which, again, is one of the cheapest ingredients but was at least warming and delicious.The rest of the courses were simply not good. Not just not good enough for the price but not good, you would not eat them if you'd got them served in a Wetherspoons. I also felt that the story of a day at christmas" got quite lost after the first 3 courses. Yes

If your only consideration is the price then you are missing the point. Its not just about the food which is excellent, its not just about the service which is exceptional. This is about the experience. It lasts about 4 hours and they take you on a journey to discover how your senses can enhance your experience. It's one of the best meals I have ever had. If you only treat yourself on a special occasion then this is the place to do it. cant recommend this enough. Don't hesitate get booked and be good to yourself.

Dining at The Fat Duck was an extraordinary and memorable experience that fulfilled a long-held dream. Heston Blumenthal, whose culinary innovations have always inspired me, brought his imaginative genius to life in this remarkable establishment. As someone living on the other side of the world in Australia, the journey to Maidenhead, England, where The Fat Duck is located, was an adventure in itself.The restaurant's three Michelin stars and its place on the list of the world's best restaurants certainly raised my expectations, but The Fat Duck exceeded them in every way. The effort we put into traveling 24 hours to London and then hiking for half an hour from Maidenhead station was more than worth it.What struck me most about The Fat Duck was the meticulous thought and creativity behind each dish. It was evident that every element of the dining experience had been carefully curated. From the outset, they engaged us with card games that encouraged interaction among the guests, setting a playful and convivial tone. The presentations of each dish were like mini theatrical performances, leaving us in awe and anticipation.One aspect that truly set The Fat Duck apart was its emphasis on sensory exploration. They challenged the notion that what you eat is always what you see, encouraging diners to engage with their food on a deeper level, using every tastebud to savor the intricate flavors and textures. This made the dining experience not just a meal but a true culinary adventure.Towards the end of the meal, we were presented with chocolates and candies that were uniquely designed, a reflection of the card games we had played at the beginning of the dinner. These sweet treats were delightful, showcasing Heston's trademark unpredictability and whimsy.In conclusion, dining at The Fat Duck was a dream come true, thanks to my husband's thoughtful birthday gift and Heston Blumenthal's culinary mastery. It was a gastronomic journey filled with surprises, sensory delights, and unforgettable moments, making it an experience that will forever hold a special place in my heart.