Guest User
June 26, 2024
We stayed in the National trust cottages by the Thames and enjoyed the grounds enormously. We ate in the Astor Grill and were bemused by the experience. Sure, the grounds and the hotel are lovely and deserve many plaudits, but the Astor Grill was unexceptional. The waiting staff were both polite and friendly, but the food was no better than good "pub grub". One expects to pay a premium in this location, but the balance between a fair price and a rip off was markedly in favour of the house. A Campari and Soda clocked in at £17:50 for the Campari and the soda water was £5.50 - it didn't even have a slice of orange. The Arancini & Calamari arrived in short order - so short in fact that one wonders whether or not the food was freshly prepared. The main courses were ok, but the cod was dry and overcooked and although I enjoyed the Beetroot Ravioli, it was as if the dishes were being heated up prior to service, as opposed to being freshly prepared. There was nothing there to delight the senses, and the 12.5% service charge could have been added to by a discretionary 2.5% for the National trust. We decided against dessert, coffee, and stickies and paid the £182.70 bill with a rueful smile. Cliveden might be a great place with fab grounds, but the Astor Grill really isn't worth it, imho.