The Fat Duck, Bray UK***, 4/18/23

After a disappointing meal at Gordon Ramsay, I was excited to try the Fat Duck in Bray after lucking into a reservation due to a cancellation.
The journey was actually a very easy ride on the Elizabeth line from central London – I was concerned it would be far afield but it really was an easy trip.
Immediately on arriving, I knew we were going to have fun. The nitroaperitif was a brilliant touch and we were given a card game that tied into the petit fours at the end of the meal. Already we were laughing and hadn’t even started the meal. The first several courses were essentially appetite stimulants, and did a brilliant job of making me want “just a little bit more,” as Thomas Keller says all great food should do. The umami course of langoustines was just perfectly executed and balanced. If there was one course that could have been improved it was the “tea” of smoked grasses and venison consommé… the smoke was overpowering and the rest of the subtleties were lost in it. Beef was brilliant and the cheese course was also a lot of fun (and not what it seemed).
Throughout, the service was perfect, attentive and also fun. Not formal or stuffy but confident. There were also several surprises throughout (including a wine tasting… experience). I don’t want to ruin them here but they really added to the adventure of the meal.
With all this, the cooking was also rock solid – I was worried that some of the theatre would distract from the quality of what was served (looking at you, post-pandemic Alinea), but that didn’t happen here at all. Overall a phenomenal experience, and truly worth “a special journey” to experience!

by millie678