Web site: www.thefrenchhorn.co.uk

Telephone number: 01189692204

Date of visit: 14 October 2009

Approx. cost per head: £50

Comments on wine list/beer: Very extensive and expensive wine list. Expect to pay around £100 for a decent bottle.
Review:

This is one of the great restaurants in the UK. Thats my view (and also Michael Winner’s). It has everything, decent food, great views, excellent service and a top wine list.

What’s the downside? Its on the expensive side and they can’t do “crispy” chips. However, there is no extras in gratuity and side orders

 The cooking can only be described as “old school” grill room style haute cuisine. Most guides describe this place as English or French. Its a bit of both.

I have been coming here for over 20 years and amazingly, the menu stays about the same – except the price.

The top two dishes on the a la carte menu for many “old timers” are grilled (or pan fried) dover sole and roast duck – done over a spit in the bar and finished off in the oven. By the way, they serve vegetables as part of the course so there is no side orders. The duck is considered by many foreign visitors (my guests) as the best they have ever eaten. Everything is on the generous side so starve yourself before you go.

For starters, you can have foie gras, smoke salmon, asparagus, crab salad, soup de jour etc.

My usual starter is asparagus followed by the grilled dover sole but for a change, I tried the seafood ravioli (starter) on the winter menu – it was more like a lasagne, very cheesy and rich.
They also have an evening menu (£25+) and a lunch menu (£15+).On Sundays and bank holidays, its a set lunch (3 courses) at £45.

The place is frequented by regulars with a few visiting business men/women. Service is included in the price  so, you can go for that bottle of wine and not pay another 12.5% handling charge.

Car park is across the road from the hotel. However, take a taxi, get a non drinker to drive or stay overnight in the hotel.

Eddie@bottlesandcooks.com