The Walnut Tree

Mixed feelings about this place. On entering, the older woman at the bar couldn't have looked less happy to see us if she tried and really didn't give a good first impression with her unwelcoming and icy cold demeanour. I see others have commented in their reviews about this so we're not alone. Trying to put this bad first impression aside we were shown to our seats and the rest of the staff were very friendly. It's a place where you have about four or five different people serving you which always seems a bit chaotic and inconsistent. It does lead to errors with being asked if we wanted to order drinks from someone when we'd already ordered from someone else. The staff were a bit too attentive at the start with not giving enough time to look at the drinks menu to decide. The food itself was wonderfully flavoursome and high quality. It's more traditional in style then contemporary. A side order of potatoes was missed though which at this pricing and level was poor with mains going cold whilst waiting. The decor inside is likewise more traditional than contemporary but could do with a bit of a refresh as it's currently got the mediocre pub decor vibe which seems at odds with the higher quality of the food. I'm not sure I would be rushing to go back but we enjoyed the food on our visit.

For over 30 years The Walnut Tree has been deemed (by me, anyway) one of the beacons of Welsh culinary excellence. Tonight, celebrating our wedding anniversary, we actually ate here, for the first time.
And despite its many accolades, we were disappointed; a meal that 10 years ago might have been considered really good, didn't crack it. Food has moved on and there are many restaurants in Wales to prove it. Sorry guys, but time to recalibrate.
The service, however, is beyond reproach.

Delightful place to eat. Lovely staff. The only slight disappointment was my wife's dessert which was a fig chocolate frangipane. Too much going on.

We came here for my birthday this evening. Lovely food, attentive and friendly staff and, a good selection on the menu. We have been to a number of Michelin star restaurants and, although this is more relaxed and traditional than most, we still enjoyed both the food and experience. Lovely place to eat.

Stars well-deserved. Enjoyed spiced partridge and chestnut soup, followed by mallard duck with morels, kale and Jerusalem artichoke (both roasted and purée). Fabulous food, faultless service. Worth every penny.

Table booked for 18.30, arrived just after 18.00, a very warm friendly welcome by the guys behind the bar. Service was brilliant all staff smiling and friendly, food was incredible, so tasty, hot and ample amounts... well worth my 5 star review.

Good restaurant , not sure if worthy of a Michelin Star though ! The food was really good, the service was attentive, even if a bit pretentious (what's with the white gloves !?) .

Atmosphere of restaurant a bit lacking what with gas fire in the fireplace , uncomfortable Bistrot style seating , and air conditioner units heating that gives constant draft of warm air over tables.

What was really weird was how fast service was , for what's supposed to be a gastronomic expérience, we were done in 90min tops, with aperitif, amuse bouche and 3 courses !? Normally I really just complain about slow service, but here it felt too fast for what's supposed to be an evening filling dinner experience.

Nothing about our visit was good, except one starter. The menu doesn't describe the meal very well. I ordered sole. I had to ask what it came with and was told it came with mashed potato, broccoli and smoked asparagus. The smoked. Asparagus must have been in the green sauce and the mash. Everything tasted like smoky bacon crisps. Even the broccoli had anchovies on it. It was all horrible. Worse meal I have ever had. Couldn't eat hardly any of it. My daughter had pork loin, which was served with baked beans, black pudding and sausage. It was ok but too salty. She ate about half of it. She ordered pate for starter, which was like stuffing. That was ok and she ate about half of that. The only good part of the whole meal was my starter which was monkfish in watercress sauce. The decor is uninviting and the staff not particularly friendly or helpful.