The Blue Mallard

Great service, relaxed atmosphere add great food

Today, we went to The Blue Mallard for lunch. However, we had an "agenda". Having looked at different venues for an event, we decided to look at this restaurant, sample the food, do some fact-finding and make a decision. This was easily achieved.

The set 2 and 3-course menu was not overly-long but, where it lacked in length, it certainly gained in content - excellent!

Our lunch was superb and it's clear why the chef (one of the two partners) has won a coveted Michelin award. The food was beautifully presented and now in our "the best we've ever tasted" group (and, believe me, we've been to some good restaurants).

We spoke at length with the other proprietors - a delightful, very knowledgeable and professional lady who certainly knows her stuff! She listened, advised, suggested, and was very impressive.

We have looked at the reviews about this restaurant and, since the new owners took over (approx 6 weeks ago), there have been some surprisingly negative reviews. Frankly, we can't understand it. Following our very positive experience today, we had no hesitation in going ahead with our booking and also booking for their French Evening later this month (after which I shall post another review).

To all those who have been influenced by the negative reviews, don't be! Go and make your own decisions. These things are, after all, very subjective. You won't be disappointed.

To the new owners, thank you so much for a lovely lunch.

Went for a birthday meal Sun 23rd Aug. The staff were amazing and couldn't have done any more for us. The food was lovely and well presented. We mostly had the Sunday roast and was offered a range of choices of meat. All produce was locally sourced, it was so tasty. Just a lovely meal out.

Excellent again. Friendly, efficient staff. Social distancing and Covid safety precautions in place. Food matches expectations. Would recommend a visit.

Great location, great service from the owner and team, amazing food, awesome deserts. Cannot fault .. they even called a taxi for us “out of towners”!

excellent meal. Don’t listen or be put off by any negative comments, they are obviously used to weatherspoons food . The steak is one of the best steaks I’ve had in years, the place is spotless, and the staff couldn’t be friendlier if they tried.

We popped in here without booking first and the hostess was gracious enough to sort a table for the four of us. We last visited before lockdown and were surprised to find it had changed hands and then we had the tapas grazing menu and wow, just wow!
The food is simply amazing.
Small plates packed with flavour and originality. Every mouthful a mix of tantalising tastes and complementary sensations when eaten together.
We chose a starter each plus 3 tapas dishes each. Obviously we tasted everyone elses dishes too, just mouthwatering. The salmon risotto was sublime, the pork belly crisp and perfectly matched with the apple sauce and chipotle slaw and the flank steak cooked to perfection.
The dessert, orange amandine was the perfect ending to this great food.
The hostess was lovely, really knowledgable and simply a lovely lady with a beautiful accent.
All of the staff were friendly, capable and helpful.
We sat outside watching the barges drift down the canal in the warm night. Going to organise a family visit for my mums birthday next.
Definitely give this little gem of a restaurant a try.

Went for Valentines night and offered a fine dining menu. To be honest, we were left disappointed. An overly price menu to start given the experience. The starter was beautifully presented, however that was as exciting as it got, bland with flavour combinations that certainly did not work. The main course again beautifully presented, but luke warm at best. There was a 35 minute wait between our courses and the resturant was empty. The staff seemed nice but rarely interacted with us, and the chef could be heard yelling at the waiters. Disappointing for such a lovely location and setting.