Howard's House Country - Wiltshire

I must say that our dinner at Howard's House was quite enjoyable. The food was of good quality and the cooking was more than satisfactory. However, the overall experience was underwhelming mainly due to the lack of ambiance in the hotel dining room. To be frank, it all seemed a bit dull and even the two appetizers provided did not convince me that this was anything more than a decent hotel restaurant with aspirations for improvement. The highlight was the beautiful location in a charming village with two stunning churches.

I visited this restaurant on a beautiful sunny afternoon. The staff did not provide much information about the different types of tea available and did not offer a list. Instead, they only mentioned a few common types of everyday teas that most people would already have at home. I ended up ordering a cup of coffee, while my partner chose the mint tea. The food was good and the setting was lovely, but overall the experience fell a bit flat and was not amazing.

My two friends and I went to this restaurant for lunch on a rainy and windy Saturday in November. We received a warm and friendly greeting and were escorted to a cozy lounge near the open fireplace where we enjoyed drinks before looking over the menu. We each opted for three courses, selecting different dishes, and were all delighted with our choices. The food was not only delicious but also beautifully presented. I personally loved the game terrine, the venison, and the crumble. It was evident that the kitchen staff had received top-notch training, as the flavors were perfectly balanced and each dish was expertly crafted. We could tell that many of the ingredients were sourced locally. The service remained attentive and welcoming throughout our lunch experience.

This was the second time we experienced service issues during our dinner at the Hotel's restaurant. Overall, the setting of the hotel is beautiful but the restaurant can do with some updating, especially in the area of coziness and decoration. Yes, we had a single...yellow rose in a vase on the table but the decor of the room lacks warmth and creates a more formal/cold ambiance. Service is the main issue here. After a quick start (menus offered even before an aperitif has been served), the lack of attention of the waiting staff is quite noticeable and becomes an irritant. Water, bread nor wine was replenished by staff and our table had to clear the empty dinner plates ourselves after sitting behind these for over minutes with no waiter/waitress in sight. Food portions were style over substance' but tasted nice. If the restaurant staff focused more on delivering attentive service, the place could should do very well indeed.

Service was lovely. There was only one dish for vegetarians, which I had. A plate with a few steamed veg . Little taste and something you'd expect as a side dish. Again only one starter for non meat eaters and if vegan ,nothing. For the...cost....well I paid the same as my meat eating companions. I should have complained but will just not go again. Can't think of any restaurants that don't cater well for vegetarians . Certainly not one with this reputation. Shame.