Arkle

I had an afternoon tea at the Arkle in The Chester Grosvenor purchased for me as a birthday present. My partner & I selected a mixture of traditional & gentleman’s afternoon tea to share between us. The traditional is finger sandwiches and the gentleman’s was bigger items including Welsh rarebit, chicken roll & an amazing battered haddock sandwich. The sweet treats were beautifully made and it was made extra special with a chocolate happy birthday! The selection of teas was vast, I went for English breakfast and my partner chose the rum coffee tea which was really different but very nice. The service was great, it did get a bit quieter with servers after 4pm though. There isn’t a dress code at this time, I dressed a bit fancy as it was a special occasion but others were very casual so anything goes really!

The food was incredible here, and the staff very welcoming, really making the experience. I must say one negative though as is my duty for allergy sufferers - I am lactose intolerant and had pre emailed this to the restaurant. When we got there, they knew this and referenced it. I was impressed that all members of staff seemed to be aware. On one course the staff member told me I could not have the lobster dish because it was cooked in butter. This was different to what the first member of staff had said as she had discussed with me if that was what I wanted. No bother, all the food was delicious. Imagine my surprise then that tucking into my tomato pasta alternative it was covered in cheese... To be fair to the staff, they did all seem mortified and gave us a free drink each. However, if I was allergic to dairy that's a really serious mistake to make. We were out celebrating so I let it slide more than I normally would and I did end up feeling bad for the servers! The end to end experience was fantastic, but be prepared for a long night. From the start of our booking to paying it was nearly 4 hours and we didn't have the cheese course. Not sure if that's usual but seems a long time...

Food and tasting menu, we’re absolutely amazing. Enjoy every mouthful. Staff were brilliant and the tasting wines were well matched. Rooms aren’t as spectacular as the food, but nice touch with the handmade chocolates and wine.

We paid the Arkle a second visit with friends. My first review still stands. You pay for what you get. The food was flavoursome and artistically presented on the plate with top-notch service. Worthy of my previous 5-star review with excellence on a plate. Beautiful flavours, presentation, and service. We'll return and recommend.

My wife and I had the tasting menu and it was excellent to be honest, certainly up there with the best we've had. The service, as you can imagine in an establishment such as this, was top notch. All staff were friendly, professional and very knowledgeable. We ate at the Savoy a couple of months ago and the service and food at the Arkle genuinely blows the socks off the Savoy. Very expensive by the time you've had a bottle and a few cocktails (our bill was just shy of £500 for 2 of us), but you genuinely pay for what you get here. It's very good.

It's clear Arkle are aiming for a Michelin star and there were some excellent dishes such as the brill and roast almond mousse of Michelin standard. The bread selection was amazing although showing loaves on the trolley table side as was done previously would be more theatrical. The wine list of just 5 red and whites was disappointing. There were some service errors - forgot a glass of red wine (although put on the house), dropped the pre dessert and served shellfish to my wife who had an allergy meaning I had to eat the fish course alone whilst it was recooked. The price point is very high given no star. The canapés were bland and lacked any punch. The mushroom custard dish was unusual and we both left parts of it. Overall a nice dining experience but still falls short of a Michelin standard and at that price point I would not return.

Every dish boasts quality ingredients prepared with expertise, but the real star is the wild halibut, an absolutely standout offering that celebrates the fish's fine quality in a creative and delightful way. While the rest of the menu is executed well, nothing matches the "wow" of the halibut. The scallops, eel, sirloin and duck are enjoyable but not extraordinary. Deserts are tasty but miss a unique punch.

One of the best restaurants I've ever visited (probably the best!). From the moment we arrived, we were treated with great care. We opted for the tasting menu, which began with a range of canapés (my favorite was the one with red caviar and pomegranate notes). Afterwards, we were ushered from the bar to a spectacular dining area where we had an incredible experience. The service throughout the evening was friendly and knowledgeable. We even had the opportunity to chat with the chef towards the end, amusingly about how to cook asparagus. Thank you so much for this memorable experience! We will definitely be back.