Halliford Mere Lakes - Spelthorne

We recently discovered this hidden gem of a restaurant, located near Halliford Mere. The cuisine offered is traditional and delicious, with a touch of style.

What a lovely setting the restaurant is in it overlooks trout lakes. The young waitress serving us was charming. There was four of us I had the fish soup for starter's the broth could have done with a bit more flavour but the fish in it did followed by sea bass which was cooked to perfection as were the vegetables all the food was fresh and tasty. I would happily visit this place again.

We arrived on a bank holiday lunch time. whoever was managing the place looked surprised that clients were coming, there was another couple that arrived at the same time, the manager told them to follow him and left us in the entrance, we could see that they didn’t have any table set so they moved 2 tables on the terrace, we eventually went to the terrasse too as no one was coming back for us, it’s a big terrasse, and yet we were seated the furthest possible from the sides with the nicest view even though the terrasse was almost empty. we then had to wait for the other couple to decide what they wanted to eat because the restaurant only had 1 menu hand written on a slate. We eventually ordered and went to enjoy the lake views, the waitress came to us to tell us that what we ordered wasn’t available, so we changed. The food arrived, the quantities were absolutely ridiculous, i took a monkfish dish that was a tiny square portion with about 7 fried baby potatoes slices, 1 steamed mini carrot and 1 tiny broccoli and about 2 teaspoon of sauce on the monkfish, the monkfish was ok but the vegetables were completely tasteless, except the broccoli piece that tasted like raw fish which wasn’t really pleasant. My partner had lamb with the same potatoes slices and the steamed baby carrot and broccoli. While we were eating one staff started to varnish a table next to us, so we had the pleasure of super strong varnish smell while trying to enjoy the food that had no taste. I really don’t understand how a place can have such a beautiful scenery, pretend to do Mediterranean food and yet make the worst food and give the worst service, and it wasn’t cheap! The monk fish was about £19 and the lamb was about £24…We were super hungry leaving this place, we walked arround the lakes and went to eat some cake somewhere else. I very rarely leave reviews, but seeing such a nice place which huge potencial is a bit sad, and also I am pissed off because I feel I have been ripped off, if I could go back in time I would have left when we were serve the food. Yet, the waitress was very friendly and we talked to someone managing the lakes who seemed very nice too, please sort this restaurant out as, as per our experience it is currently a good candidate for Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen show.

Can not rate this place highly enough, most perfect setting, wonderful staff and owner, couldn’t do enough to accommodate, all COVID rules in full Place, our families have had the best day here today and the food was amazing, definitely going to be back soon 10/10

Beautiful view and friendly staff rest was very disappointing. Place was very cold and drafty. No beers on tap, (although they do serve them) no ciders, very limited choose of can beers. Although place was almost empty they had only one serving of calf's liver left, which came out quite rare(they did say they would recook it, but our friend didn't want to hold up the meal).Choice of rice, polenta or new pots only, vegetables same for every dish. One pudding came out not very hot, and cheese board had only one choice of cheese very poor. Expensive for what we got. Was first vist for a meal would not consider going back and would not recommend.