Review on The Clivedon Dining Room
One of England's most auspicious and aristocratic country houses, Cliveden was built as a country retreat in 1666. Since then it has played host to monarchs and dignitaries of every description and reached its zenith as the family home of Nancy, Lady Astor. Among her distinguished acquaintances were President Roosevelt, George Bernard Shaw, Winston Churchill and Charlie Chaplin, all of whom stayed in the house. Cliveden's tradition for extravagant and decadent entertaining still flourishes, even today.
Their fine dining restaurant is where ‘Art meets nature’ in the stunning south-facing room overlooking the Parterre, spectacular gardens and the River Thames. It is a room of perfect classical proportions and elegant fittings, with fine canvases and portraits on the walls.
The kitchen is dedicated to the seasonality of carefully sourced local ingredients, using precise cooking techniques he has created an inventive menu of exciting dishes alongside refined classical favourites. As a curtain raiser order ballotine of foie gras and Cotswold white chicken, Cumbrian ham, salt-baked celeriac, golden raisins, hazelnuts or maybe the Cocotte of native lobster, grilled baby gem, artichoke and basil. The menu continues in true style with line-caught Cornish seabass served on the bone with squid, clams, potato gnocchi and parsley juice or from the land choose roast Bresse pigeon, glazed salsify and pumpkin, chestnut and liver jus. Proceedings conclude in style with desserts like mille-feuille, passion fruit, mango and fromage frais sorbet or slow-cooked Cox apple, rosemary caramel, raisin purée, beurre noisette crumb and walnut ice-cream.
Cliveden’s full wine list is a magisterial 800-bin tome, bursting with astronomically priced pedigree clarets and Burgundies, plus some more down-to-earth bottles from elsewhere.
The Astor Grill is Cliveden's informal dining option featuring classic American and British dishes, located in the old stable block which once housed Lord Astor’s most prized fillies, it showcases an equestrian décor.
The Clivedon Dining Room is also featured in: Good Food Guide, AA Guide
Rate this RestaurantCuisine
Modern European
Chef
Paul O'Neill
Restaurant Opening Times
Lunch: 12.15 - 2.30pm
Dinner: 6.30 - 9.45pm
Accepted credit cards
Visa, Master Card, American Express