Further to mikey's request on another thread, I'll mention the tasting menu at the Fat Duck in Bray.
I was feeling quite ill on the morning, and as we live in Somerset, it would have been quite a journey. Anyway, I decided to go as we'd already paid, and it's a once in a lifetime thing.
It was very good. Service was excellent. It was themed on childhood holidays, so we started with something to get the tastebuds going, then a tiny thing reminiscent of ice cream, another tiny thing, then a seaweed soup which came with an iPod with sounds of the sea to listen to while you ate.
More things, very nice and tiny. I thought I'm not going to feel too full on this by the end as every portion was very small. But the final courses were a succession of sweet things and I felt completely stuffed by the end of it.
I was invited to look around the kitchen, which was interesting. Loads of chefs, all very quiet and peaceful.
Very nice lunch. Expensive, but lovely for a treat.
Proper food here but its being renovated atm. A must to visit is Oakley Court (hammmer house of horrors). Not forgetting Queens Eyot for the poshest dooos but you can view on pretence of bookings.
A restaurant like the Fat Duck that has the nerve to charge you months in advance for your meal and then has the temerity to add a service charge is really taking the p***. And as for the wine pricing...... I'm surprised they have any customers at all.
I am glad that you enjoyed your meal at the Duck, especially as I will never be able to afford to go there !
£750 for a bottle of White seems amazing !
But it is not really fair to the place or its staff to quibble about the cost. As you said, its a once-in-lifetime occasion, and if you could afford to pay that kind of money without breaking sweat, then its a comfort to know that you are probably in one of the best restaurants in the world !