Tallow

Tallow has been on my list for some time and as a Michelin Guide recommendation, I decided to book it for lunch. The restaurant has a comfortable setting with nice decor if you're sat downstairs and the chef's table looks to be the same. Only one toilet upstairs though. To start, we ordered their only available cocktail special; a blood orange gimlet. The blood orange flavour didn't come to the fore, didn't appear to be double strained, the observed shaking was lacklustre, and the overall cocktail was lacking in balance. The non-alcoholic version was good. Focaccia with olive oil and balsamic served alongside a blue cheese amuse bouche to begin. The focaccia was excellent and the amuse bouche was very good. Between 4 of us, we ordered all 3 starters which compromised a Wild Seabass with carrot jam and masala crab sauce, Confit duck doughnut with liver parfait and port glazed prunes, and the Marmite mushroom agnolotti with confit egg yolk and Pecorino mousse. All 3 were average. The sea bass was tasty but lacking depth, the confit duck was quite dense as it was served in a doughnut and the duck was tough for confit, and the agnolotti was probably the best but again lacked depth of flavour; certainly no marmite umami richness. The Black garlic glazed pork fillet with smoked pork belly, Roscoff onion and burnt apple puree followed as mains. This was thoroughly disappointing, particularly at £32. There was no discernable black garlic flavour, the pork itself was bland, and most egregiously, incredibly dry. I mentioned this to the wait staff and whilst they did bring me a fresh plate, the comments were passive aggressive as she highlighted that all 3 orders from our table were from the same fillet of pork. A fresh plate arrived and the difference was night and day; the pork was juicy and much more enjoyable. Other than appropriately cooked pork though, the flavours were identical to the first plate. We also opted for all 3 available sides. Parsnips were flavoursome but soggy, the potatoes were underdone though the cabbage was delicious. After disappointing drinks, starter, mains, and sides we opted for no dessert. And settled the bill at an overpriced £345 for 4 people. Service was also disappointing and on par with a pub; no welcome or explanation of the menu whatsoever unless prompted. I think the quality of produce is good but the result on the plate is thoroughly disappointing.

Lovely place for a special occasion. Atmosphere is considered and cozy. Service friendly and attentive. Food was delicious. Cooked to perfection. We opted for the pollock, potato rosti and a couple of sides. I’d definitely recommend the chocolate waffle to finish. Would recommend.

Tallow in Southborough delivers a truly remarkable tasting menu, where every dish is a blend of creativity and flavor. The service went beyond attentive; our waitress was knowledgeable and clearly passionate, explaining the processes and ingredients with enthusiasm. It made the meal feel special and personal, enhancing the whole dining experience. Each course was thoughtfully prepared, and the dedication to quality was evident. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a unique and memorable dining journey.

The food and the service were amazing, and the restaurant itself was very classy and warm! The testing menu was absolutely phenomenal! Edit: We've had every tasting menu for the last 16 months or so and it had only gotten better!

OMG, I absolutely loved this place. The whole experience was incredible. I loved sitting there talking to the chef while he was cooking and hearing about how he ended up where he is, his upbringing, his family the food that he’s cooking and where it comes from, etc etc. The Pain perdu with caramalised onion, Tete de Moine cheese and summer truffles was my absolute favourite and I still dream of eating this again! Absolutely wonderful! The area sits eight people. There were four couples. Towards the end, everybody was talking to each other. It was really great and I can’t wait to do something like this again.

Amazing evening at the Tallow chef table last night. The food was superb, and the wine pairing did not disappoint. The service was excellent, and seeing Rob prepare the food in front of us and being able to ask questions was fantastic. Highly recommend and will definitely go again to dine in the restaurant.

This was genuinely one of the best meals I have had in my life. The smoked haddock starter was served with a gorgeous creamy white foam, the BBQ'd monkfish was delicate and bursting with flavour and the chicken was tender and served with a milk bread fried chicken sandwich on the side which was simply fabulous. They served some garlic dough balls to start which I would like to eat every day please! We finished with the chocolate slice which finished the meal off perfectly. An absolute treat and I can't wait to go back!

Tasting menu is fantastic, the accompanying wines are well worthwhile and add to the experience. Our hostess was brilliant and knew in-depth about each wine and each course. Well worth a special trip.