Last week my missus called up the Hand & Flowers and left a message asking for a cancellation. To our amazement they called back the next day and we booked in for lunch today.
I have to be honest I don't really know what to say, apart from that it was a massive disappointment. Service was attentive and I like the pub, and I like Tom Kerridge, but I was so unimpressed with the food I left actually feeling like I had been properly stitched up.
My starter of salt-cod scotch egg was so salty it could have been anything. Really not good. The missus had a terrine, which was just ok. Standard semi-decent pub fare. She had another one last week (she loves a terrine) at the ex-Michelin star restaurant, The Vineyard, that was on a totally different level to what was served to her. My main of grouse was ok, but nothing more than ok. Her main of chicken cooked in beer was just chicken. Ok they shaved some truffle over it, but that does not make it two Michelin star chicken. We paid £4.50 for their special chips which we again, just ok.
Deserts were a bit better, I did like my chocolate cake served with a tine glass of really hoppy ale. The mix of the two worked really well together but by this point I was so peeved it was too little, too late.
I just cannot recommend the place for the prices they charge and I left wondering all the other people with beaming faces on the way out had just experienced their first supposed 'fine dining experience' as they have a lot to learn about fine dining.
I know it is just a pub, but it has TWO Michelin stars and I know pubs in and around Reading with none that serve up better quality food.
