Hand & Flowers, Marlow

Last week we headed along to the Hand & Flowers in Marlow for my birthday. I had booked a table a while back - I think last October, as it gets booked up to a year in advance! I just saw on their website though that they have changed the system so that from 1st November 2016 you can now only book a table 3 months in advance which seems more reasonable!. We arrived about 5 minutes early and were seated in the bar area and given a menu to look through.Within a few minutes our table became available and we were taken through the bustling restaurant to our table. We were given whitebait and sour dough bread as a chef's offering while we chose our meals. This is not a cheap eating establishment (starters range from £9.50 to £16.50 and mains from £28 to £38.50), although you can have a set lunch for £19.50 for 3 courses or £15 for 2 courses which is extremely good value for money. We opted for the set menu which was delicious.The main of smoked brisket of beef literally melted in your mouth and although the portions didnt look that big when they arrived I was stuffed at the end of the meal. Everything we tasted was amazing. Mats ordered the elderflower doughnuts from the a la carte menu - the doughnuts were huge - I was so full, I was glad that I had opted for the lighter option of Rhubarb Fool with Ginger Sorbet and Oat Crumble. We had a really lovely lunch and would definitely go back again. It's worth noting that when you book you are given a 2 hour time slot before you need to vacate your table - this was fine for us but may put some people off.

Being new to the Chilterns, I discovered the Hand & Flowers in Marlow when I googled michelin restaurants. The first available restaurant table was months away but they had two seats at the bar next month. I wondered how "seat at the bar of a pub" and "Michelin star" were going to blend. I looked foward to the gastronomic adventure to come. From the outside it has retained the look of a stylish pub but at the same time it is clear this not a regular pub. On entering the staff were friendly and the immediate impression is one of comfort and warmth. We were seated at the bar on large leather chairs. We were the only ones at the bar and so it was private and about as unlike sitting at a bar could be, certainly no hardship. The staff were attentive but not invasive and knew the menu inside out including any drinks that might work well with any course. The menu has a british pub theme but each course was pleasant and interesting. The "British flavours" theme of the menu is artfully explored through the look, presentation and taste of each course. It is difficult to think of anything that I could find disappointing about the Hand & Flowers and nothing would not put me off returning as soon as I could get another reservation.