Really great food great staff well worth a visit
Always wonderful -visited many times
The walnut tree inn is an nyc restaurant and fantastic food in beautiful environment and fantastic ambience . The food we ordered was delicious and yummy
Fantastic food in a charming location. Definitely one of the foodie highlights of the area and worth coming back to again and again for the interesting and varied menu and delicious use of local ingredients.
Set in the countryside, two miles east of Abergavenny, you’ll find one of Wales’ top destination restaurants. Re-opened in 2007 under Chef Shaun Hill, The Walnut Tree Inn seats about 70 (so can get a little loud on a busy night!) but it is certainly one of the most relaxed and unpretentious Michelin restaurants I have experienced.
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The food was very good, the welcome not so. When you arrive at a restaurant first impressions count for a lot, our welcome by the "boss lady" was mediocre to say the least. A woman of few words, why not make the visitors to your restaurant feel more welcome?
For lunch there was an a la carte menu or a lunch menu (£25 for 2 courses & £30 for 3 courses) with 2 choices for each course. We ate from the lunch menu and it was very good. The hake I had was cooked to perfection, the lamb dish also first class. We have been lucky enough to eat in a few Michelin starred restaurants - did this one live up to its one star? For the food probably but a Michelin star should be for the whole experience not just the food. The building itself is old and quite dark, not a problem but it might be a problem for some in that you have to go outside to get to the toilets, not so good. The younger members of staff were efficient but our overriding memory however was the feeling of being underwhelmed by the front of house experience, thank goodness for the food which is what we went there for in the first place!
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Walnut Tree has been a long time favourites for the locals here, so no doubt it was no surprise it was awarded a Michelin star. However, walnut Tree was once closed down after being on Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares television series. However, after reopening, it has been named best restaurant in Britain.
The lunch at the Walnut Tree Inn provided fairly simple dishes where the emphasis on treating quality ingredients well shines through. Although I like The Walnut Tree and would recommend it to other people, I'm not sure that the food matches the reputation that the Walnut Tree Inn seems to have gained in the food world.
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There’s one restaurant above all others which holds a special place in my heart. You see, almost exactly five years ago, Mrs G and I got engaged at The Walnut Tree in Abergavenny. It was a canny plan on my part – it means that whenever Mrs G and I have a special anniversary I’ll get to visit one of the best restaurants in the UK. There’s often a lot talk bemoaning Cardiff’s lack of a Michelin-starred restaurant. But, let’s not forget that 45 minutes up the road is one of the country’s very best. The Walnut Tree is perhaps the least Michelin-starry Michelin-starred restaurant going and that’s why I love it so much. One of the elder statesmen and big personalities of British cooking, Head Chef and Owner Shaun Hill, has been cooking in some of Britain’s best-known kitchens for a staggering 43 years. Bold flavours, unglamorous ingredients and straightforward presentation combine in his menu of modern classics. There’s not the slightest hint of a foam, smear or gel. The dining room meanwhile feels like the local pub; it buzzes with jovial conversation instead of the occasional hushed whisper. And the serving team are warm, knowledgeable and down to earth - no one will look down their nose at you if you don't have the foggiest what jabron potatoes are. An amuse bouche of a mini sausage roll summed The Walnut Tree up in one mouthful. Warm golden pastry and herby sausage meat were topped with a dollop of tangy homemade brown sauce. Warm bread, a golden granary loaf and a crusty soft brioche, were both delightful. Neither of our starters were as we envisioned from their menu descriptions. Thankfully, they were both still lush. A pheasant pudding with sage and bacon (£10) was unlike anything I’ve ever eaten
Had dinner here. What a treat. Great unpretentious place with the MOST friendly staff possible.
I started with the Cornish fish stew which I still dream about to this day. Main was Mallard which was delicious and desert was cheesecake (best I've ever had).
HEARTY portions and as I was driving was very happy to see a great mocktail menu.
I will definitely be returning.
There can always be a sense of disappointment if you go to a restaurant that is supposed to be good and has been recommended, and then it doesn’t live up to your expectations, but this was most definitely NOT the case with the Walnut Tree. The food, drinks, wine and service were absolutely exquisite; we really were very impressed. The only thing that would make a small but significant difference in the restaurant, would be to have tablecloths on the tables - it would really add that final touch. We also stayed at the Angel Hotel, which was lovely with an absolutely fantastic breakfast! Highly recommend both places (for a special trip, of course!)
Chris Swinney (Swinster)
+5
We didn't stay rather we just had dinner in the restaurant. The food was fabulous and I would highly recommend it.
We were lucky in our reservation as I guess there had been a cancellation, but we were traveling back to South Wales from Birmingham and wanted to stop off en route. We had heard about The Walnut Tree previously so as there was an opening for the evening, we decided this would be a great stopping off point.
Each course was fabulous, and for a Michelin restaurant, you was (in our humble opinion) reasonable, but that's not to say cheap.
The location of the restaurant is a little out of the way, but if you are staying here, I'm sure it would be great.
Tbh, whilst we had read about the restaurant previously we were unaware of its Michelin star until the following day. It was clear that this was a great restaurant though.
Highly recommended.
We live 14 miles away so haven't stayed,
We eat there every now and then, and think it's outstanding, I have had much less delicious Michelin starred meals, I suspect the setting isn't grand enough for 2*s, but the food is lovely.
I'm a wheelchair user and they are always helpful in getting me seated,
First ever Michelin-starred restaurant on my first ever trip to Wales. It did not disappoint.
I've never experienced white-glove service before, and from the beginning to end of the meal the service was top notch. And the pricing was incredibly reasonable.
After the complimentary amuse bouche, we started with the john dory. I cannot get over the incredible depth of flavor that was in the dashi broth. Hands down it was my favorite part of the meal. My lady got the pork dish for her main course and I had the rack of lamb. She thoroughly enjoyed every bit of her dish and I was a big fan of mine as well. For dessert, we ended with the poached pear, which was quite delectable.
All in all, it lived up to its expectation and set the bar for all subsequent Michelin-star meals I hope to have.
Jennifer Heathfield-Lee
+5
Didn’t stay at the hotel but had a wonderful dinner.
Cocktails (including mocktails) were lovely. Amuse bouche and starters delicious. The white Sardinian wine (with starters) was excellent as was the half bottle of Chianti (with our mains).
Thoroughly enjoyed the main courses (although chilli oil on the carrots was not noted on the menu and a little spicy for our liking, and kale was rather too salty - and I usually love salt).
Only issue with desserts was which ones to have from the extensive choice available!
Great dessert wines, coffee and petit fours to round off the fantastic feast - throughout which we’d enjoyed fabulous service, too.
Will be back when next in this part of Wales, for sure!
First Michelin starred restaurant experience and it was lovely! My boyfriend wasn't a huge fan of the lambchop dish; he felt the chops were a little small and said some of the beans were too firm but I thoroughly enjoyed the pork dish. We both agree that the John Dory and dessert were wonderful. We also felt the prices were extremely fair.
One of the best meals I’ve ever had; a real highlight of our trip to Wales. Wait staff were all excellent & the food was exquisite
Outstanding food in a beautiful part of Wales. Staff were really friendly and helpful.
Amazing meal by Shaun Hill with great service from the young waiting staff in a quiet atmosphere.
We have been lucky enough to eat at numerous Michelin starred restaurants and whilst this didn't compare on experience the food offering was good and the service great.
The menu is a bit chefy but I think there's enough choice for all palettes.
We stayed elsewhere for our own preference so I cannot comment on the rooms.
We had an excellent, quality meal,in a relaxed setting. Well worth the journey from Pembrokeshire.
Excellent service, fine dining at its best. We have wanted to visit for sometime. The holy grail for any food lover. Perfectly executed dishes elegant flavours & cooked to perfection. We had the Red mullet , Sea bass & lemon sole. Sweet breads wow melt in the mouth. Heaven on a plate. We will be back soon. Thank you to Shaun and your wonderful team. First class.
We visited on new years eve and had a lovely evening. Service was great very attentive. The menu is classic fine dining executed perfectly. Everything was beautifully cooked and presented. We can't wait to visit again in the future.
First visit here and had a stunning lunch time meal.
Some of the best food we have ever tasted in a restaurant.
Parking can be difficult here when it's busy but that's a minor issue.
Would return in a heartbeat!
We came here for my birthday this evening. Lovely food, attentive and friendly staff and, a good selection on the menu. We have been to a number of Michelin star restaurants and, although this is more relaxed and traditional than most, we still enjoyed both the food and experience. Lovely place to eat.
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