The Terrace Restaurant

Amazing experience at The Terrace Restaurant. Easy parking at the restaurant. Waiters had good PPE kit on which is a huge plus. Great wine selection plus good value champagne :-) Food was just amazing. Quality and execution were spot on cooking delicious meal for my family. We loved the Hake and Lamb Rump. Hake was perfectly cooked and the highlight for the evening. Desserts were superb and it disappeared so quickly. My kids loved the strawberry dessert. We will be back again for sure.

Despite the good reputation I heard about this restaurant, my visit was mostly underwhelming due to the food. Nothing wrong with the good service and atmosphere but the food really doesn't live up to its price. From the tasting menu, quite a few of the courses were just rather salty if anything (next table also gave feedback about their dishes being too salty). The vegetarian menu had a course which was 'braised leek', nothing special about it at all, just a few cuts of cooked regular leek, quite disappointing frankly. The kitchen really needs a good look in the mirror and listen to the feedback from customers before slapping a big price tag on the menu.

Wanderful staff and service. Amazing place. Great food. It is sophisticated food so might not be for all. My fiance didn't like beef as it wasn't done too well like for her and they took if off the bill. Amazing service.

We had afternoon tea with gin and tonic. We arrived late but the team were happy to accommodate us and still serve us afternoon tea. No one came to see to us - we were sitting out of the way and late. Really impressed that after this slight hiccup the manager came over to apologise. The service was excellent. The food delicious, especially the warm and fluffy scones. We enjoyed different treats overlooking a lush and cozy garden. Recommended.

Beautiful food and amazing service! The wine recommendation was perfect for our meal. Definitely a wonderful treat for a special occasion!

Very attentive staff, amazing service and delicious food! The atmosphere was very nice and we left very full and will definitely come back ☺️

I used to work here 10 years ago, and it was disheartening to witness the significant decline in food quality and service. The news of their lost Michelin star piqued my curiosity, prompting me to investigate the reasons behind this downfall. Unfortunately, the person in charge of the service exhibited open rudeness towards us, setting an unpleasant tone for the evening. Our disappointment continued as we were served burnt and inedible bread, which immediately dampened our expectations. Furthermore, the fish dish we ordered lacked freshness and was disappointingly tasteless. The remainder of the food was neither exceptional nor subpar; it was simply adequate. It appears that The Terrace Restaurant has failed to keep up with the changing times, merely going through the motions of serving food rather than passionately believing in their craft. It seems that poor management and a lack of accountability are responsible for the restaurant's current state, relying solely on past glories to stay afloat. One cannot help but wonder how long this can be sustained. The only positive in this experience was the presence of two exceptional individuals who served our food, distinct from the aforementioned host. They were truly charming and friendly, providing a glimmer of warmth amidst an otherwise lackluster evening. On our trip to the New Forest we dined at the The Pig and The Elderflower, and they truly stood out in comparison. These establishments exude a genuine passion for good food and possess a clear perspective on how it should be presented and enjoyed. I highly recommend considering these alternatives over The Terrace Restaurant.

Delicious dinner, excellent service, very enjoyable.

The Michelin starred Terrace restaurant was the main reason for booking a nights stay at the Montague Arms Hotel. What better way to celebrate your birthday than a Michelin star tasting menu! There was a little confusion over the time of our booking. I'm convinced I made it for 8pm but reception rang our room at quarter to telling me it was actually for 7pm. I'm not sure what went wrong here but we needn't have worried as we were not rushed at all. On arrival at the restaurant we were offered a pre dinner drink in the lounge. We partook in a glass of bubbly next to the open fire, with nibbles of nuts and olives, and a canapé of cheesy bread. The sommelier came with the wine list and recommended a white or light red to go with the tasting menu as we didn't want to go for the wine pairings. We plumped for a bottle of Tasmanian Pinot Noir. We were seated in the restaurant by Pierre, the lovely maitre de. The table faced out to the garden which looked beautiful with all the reflected candle light. My handbag was even given it's own little stool to sit on - what service!! Food wise, chef Matthew Tomkinson takes his inspiration from the surrounding New Forrest, most of his ingredients being sourced from the restaurant's own kitchen garden or from local suppliers. The amuse bouche was a delicious artichoke cream garnished with artichoke crisps and the tiniest mushrooms I have ever seen! First course proper was a delightful dish of scallops with a lightly curried crust, served on a bed of puréed cauliflower with slithers of fennel and apple. All of the tastes complimented each other perfectly. Next up was a perfectly cooked piece of sea bass, with deliciously crispy skin. I can't recall everything this dish was served with but it included small potatoes and sweet onions. The next course was our favourite - roe dear cooked very pink, and I'm guessing sous vide as it was so tender and delicate, yet retaining its full flavour. This was accompanied by venison croquette, also divine, braised lettuce and a red wine jus. I couldn't fault this dish at all. Next up was a cheese course. A creamy English cheese served with quince jelly and water crackers. Although the cheese was delicious, I couldn't help thinking that this was cheating a little to serve this a course on a tasting menu. If you are going to do cheese, I at least think there should be a selection. But given this is my only complaint, it didn't effect the overall experience. Next up we're the puddings. The first was a creamy orange tart with impossibly thin pastry, served with a blood orange sorbet. My boyfriend loved this dessert. I did too but the next one made me really happy! Salted caramel fondant with creme fraiche and cider lolly sorbet - absolutely divine! This was followed with a selection of petit fours with happy birthday Gemma written on the plate - what a lovely and thoughtful finishing touch. My boyfriend commented on the deliciousness of the black current jellies, and they brought him a couple of extras to take back to the room! We moved into the lounge for a final glass of port and to let the food go down! Not only was the food amazing, the level of service was outstanding as well. Both Pierre and David the sommelier were so friendly and helpful, the complete opposite of the stuffy and snooty French service you so often experience! Both are relatively new to the Montagu Arms, but having come from the Waterside Inn and the Fat Duck, you can see where these two have learnt their skills and this can only benefit their new adventure. Overall, an amazing foodie experience, I'll remember this birthday for a long time to come!

What a lovely place! I went there for lunch today and all the food, without exception, was deliciously exquisite. The Maître de maison and waiters were excellent and all the courses were explained as they were served. They even made some special Bon bons for my Gran's birthday which were brought out with a candle. The chef also made small portions for my 93 year old grandmother who was celebrating her birthday and rustled up a single scoop of plain ice cream for her desert at no charge. If I have one complaint it is that they got the bill wrong. However, when I asked them to explain it, it was quickly whisked away and a new one presented with apologies. This was my first visit to a starred restaurant and I will definitely be going back!