Winepress At The Donnington Valley

Service was the redeeming factor here. Everyone was very accommodating and they prepared a nice dessert for my girlfriend’s bday. Food was another story. Flat iron steak to share burnt to a crisp when asked for rare. Using a wedge of meat thicker at one end than the other. Need to change this in method of preparation. We won’t eat here again. When I mentioned it was tougher than old boots I got an “apology and mention to chef.” Not really what you’d expect for £50. T

We had a fantastic dining experience at this restaurant during our recent visit. The staff took great care of us and the menu, as well as the wine list, offered a variety of enticing options. To start, my friend and I shared the smoked salmon with cucumber jelly and prawns, which were delicious (though we didn't get a finger bowl). For our main course, we both enjoyed the perfectly cooked and flavorful lamb rump. For dessert, my friend had a delicious homemade Bakewell tart while I opted for the beautifully presented chocolate nemesis. Overall, it was a truly excellent three-course meal.

I went for afternoon tea for two on March 26th. The restaurant was nearly empty, with only 3 other tables occupied at the same time as ours. The afternoon tea included 8 finger sandwiches, 2 scones, and 4 cakes for the two of us. We were served tea and coffee, but only one cup each. After waiting for 40 minutes, I had to flag down the waiter to ask for more tea, coffee, and sandwiches. To my surprise, we were told that we would have to pay for extra sandwiches. I have had many afternoon teas at various hotels and have never encountered such a policy. I felt like the £47 we spent was wasted and I will not be returning for afternoon tea again.

The restaurant is simply outstanding. The menu is short but varied, And all 6 of us enjoyed the ambiance, service and, not least, the delicious and well presented food. The Shepherd's Pie and Chocolate Nemesis particularly appreciated by our youngest guests. And I thought the seasonal greens (a side dish) exemplified the chef's skill. Of course, the wine selection is excellent too,

The service was attentive and reasonably friendly. We started with appetizers and then shared the chateaubriand for two. It was cooked well and served with delicious sauces (blue cheese and red wine jus) and chips. However, the side of cooked tomatoes and limp lambs' lettuce was not enjoyable. Unfortunately, the noise level and atmosphere were terrible. The lack of sound insulation meant that everyone had to shout to be heard, making it only bearable for about an hour. It felt like eating in a cafeteria and overall, it was a disappointing experience.