1861 - Monmouthshire

Our first visit to 1861 for our wedding anniversary was on a glorious Good Friday! I was expecting the restaurant to be busy since we had a table booked for 12:30, but it was actually very quiet - almost too quiet for my taste. This is a special restaurant, and the chef Simon's credentials certainly speak for themselves. The food was excellent, with interesting and flavorful dishes that weren't overly fancy. The wine list was also excellent. We will definitely be returning, though it seems my husband enjoyed it more than I did. It may not be a place to visit frequently, but rather season by season. The service, provided by the chef's wife, was top-notch. Overall, I found the experience a bit puzzling and can't quite pinpoint why.

We were disappointed to find that we were the only people in the restaurant during our visit. The waitress was a bit harsh in her approach to serving us, causing us to feel uncomfortable and depart earlier than we had planned. While the food was decent, the prices were quite high for the type of establishment. We understand that it can be challenging for a restaurant when they have only one party dining.

This restaurant is truly exceptional. Upon arrival, we received a warm welcome and enjoyed a pre-dinner drink in a cozy bar with delicious homemade snacks. We had plenty of time to peruse the menu, which offered a wide variety of appealing options. The atmosphere in the restaurant was very calming and the food was superb, prepared with creativity and skill. The ingredients were ethically sourced and often locally sourced, with the vegetables coming from their own garden bursting with flavor. The Welsh lamb from a nearby farm was especially delectable. The dessert sharing plate was beautifully presented and the coffee was served with delightful petit fours. Overall, we had a fantastic evening and could not find any faults with this restaurant. We highly recommend it.

Excellent food with fantastic use of local seasonal produce. Appreciated the muse bouche which were a delight.

Lunchtime and the food simply stunning. Top notch cooking.