FROM MICHELIN STAR WINNERS TO POPULAR LOCAL HOTSPOTS, HERE IS OUR GUIDE TO THE BEST SURREY RESTAURANTS…
1
SORREL, DORKING
Chef Steve Drake’s Michelin-starred Sorrel is situated in a stunningly refurbished 300-year-old building on Dorking High Street. Sorrel’s seasonal menus fuse together a sublime mix of different flavours and textures which include dishes such as scallop, smoked cauliflower with curried oat granola and cucumber ketchup. With elegant surroundings and dishes to match, Sorrel is continually wowing foodies from all over Surrey and beyond.
2
DAASTAN, EWELL
Excellent Indian cuisine is served up in Daastan which has been won a Bib Gourmand two years running and has won over the critics. Head chef Nand Kishor worked at the highly acclaimed Trishna and Gymkhana before setting up Daastan. He is passionate about his craft and nothing other than seasonal ingredients and freshly prepared food will do. Every single dish in Dastaan is made to order and tasted by himself before leaving the pass and the menu is constantly changing to reflect seasonal produce.
3
THE CLINK, SUTTON
***Update September 2021: currently closed***
If you’re looking for something a little out of the ordinary, then lunch at The Clink will be an experience to remember. The restaurant is situated inside a real working prison, HMP High Down in Sutton and not only do you have to take your passport and leave all belongings behind before you dine for lunch, but you’ll also be supporting the amazing work of The Clink charity which is all about rehabilitating offenders through catering qualifications. The food is outstanding, considering the chefs are training – and you can look forward to dishes such as braised saddle of rabbit, prune and mustard jus, pearl barley and girolle mushrooms.
4
THE IVY BRASSERIE, COBHAM
For an all-day dining experience which delivers on impeccable surroundings and a menu that has been delighting Ivy customers for decades, The Ivy Brasserie Cobham is a firm favourite among Surrey restaurants for all occasions. The vibe is chic meets leafy suburbs with Chesterfield sofas, fine art, and huge outdoor area perfect for sipping drinks with friends or loved ones. The Ivy is a popular spot for brunch – with dishes such as lobster scrambled eggs and chicken Milanese with truffle.
5
TONY PARKIN AT THE TUDOR ROOM, EGHAM
Located in Great Fosters, a luxury country house hotel in Egham, the award-winning Tudor Room is revered for its use of first-class ingredients many of which come straight from their kitchen gardens. Promising to take guests on a unique gastronomic journey in an inimitable setting, diners can excite their taste buds with a selection of tasting menus, with current dishes including Orkney scallop with cauliflower, cucumber & horseradish, and fallow deer with onion, puntarella, sweetbread, lingonberry and venison sausage. Guests will be treated to excellent service in a historic dining room full of character.
6
THE JAPANESE GRILL AT BEAVERBROOK, LEATHERHEAD
Beaverbrook Hotel has an air of elegance amongst the rolling Surrey Hills countryside. And while the hotel has several dining options it’s their Japanese Grill which is proving a hit with discerning guests. With ingredients fresh from the gardens, there is a wide range on offer for fans of this Asian cuisine – tuck into their popcorn shrimp with spicy mayo & ponzu for instance. Meanwhile, enjoy the breath-taking landscapes of the estate from your seat. A true fusion of east meets west.
7
THE RUNNING HORSES, MICKLEHAM
Near Box Hill, The Running Horses is a historic inn which is serving up outstanding classic British pub grub. Feel at home amongst the historic prints and riding collectables in the traditional but welcoming interiors. A particular favourite is the button-backed leather booths which are great for couples wanting some privacy or a crowd of friends dipping into the sharing platters. From Tomahawk steaks to market fresh catches of the day you’ll easily find something to suit your mood.
8
THE LATYMER, BAGSHOT
Pennyhill Park’s fine dining restaurant brings guests an ultra-sophisticated experience in one of the oldest parts of the hotel – with plush furnishings and beautifully ornate wood panelling and beams. Enjoy Steve Smith’s tasting menus or opt for an a la carte lunchtime offering dishes such as Cornish cod and Herdwick lamb, alongside some fine wines.
9
THE PLOUGH INN, COBHAM
Championing the best of British is firm local favourite The Plough Inn in the village of Downside. Watch the chefs at work in the open-plan kitchen producing dishes such as salt beef hash and pan-fried hake. It’s the fine cuts of meat, though, that are the real stars of the menu. The team has built its own butchery and is skilled in delivering a raft ever-changing cuts, from the well known to the more unusual, all cooked on a Robata Chargrill.
10
STOVELL’S, CHOBHAM
Stovell’s unique setting in a 16th-Century Tudor farmhouse sees discerning diners sample contemporary European cuisine with a Mexican twist. Chef Patron Fernando Stovell and his talented team use only sustainably sourced local produce and it is their infamous clay oven that really fires palettes. Try Stovell’s meat and fish chargrilled over compressed hardwood and applewood coals for an intense flavour.
