The Hand and Flowers, Marlow

Nice but expensive food, well presented. Shared two set menus and one main with a carafe of red for �58. Despite having 3 hand pumps, there was no ale available; firstly they said it would take 30 minutes to settle and put on, which were prepared to wait for... but then we were told NO. When asked about bottled beers they had Guinness or San Miguel.... Two hours later and still no beer on leaving we were surprised to see it labelled 'A Greene King' pub (should guessed from the IPA pump clips).
:( Food 8 pub 1
If ale and food is your thing then maybe Heston or AWT are worth a try.

17 Sep 2010 22:41

The Barley Mow, Englefield Green

Sunday late lunch, paid for food just before 3pm. At 3.30 we asked where it was - as two roast beefs arrived - all piled up on a square plate, 2 roast, 2 boiled, 2slices beef, broccoli/carrots, yorkshire and gravy... SInce the two fish and chips were nowhere in sight, we started as it was not piping hot. A little sparse at �8-95 each. 2 minutes later the fish and crickle cut OVEN CHIPS !!!OMG �9-95 each, with undercooked peas arrived. :( One fish was distinctly more cooked (brown batter) than the other. The Deuchars was ok, but the Adnams had a strange twang to it. Not impressed, especially as we now smell of the FOUR separate food burning incidents whose smoke permeated the whole pub in the 90 minutes we stayed.
The puddings (yes we had plenty of room...) on the other hand were pretty good and far better value (�4/5 bread and butter, sticky toffee, pecan pie). So I suspect they are bought in, or the chef doesn't work sundays. The bar staff were young and inexperienced.

25 Oct 2009 21:39