Reviews The Old Vicarage

Upon return to South Yorkshire, I was trying to find a fine dine restaurant for a Saturday Evening. Unfortunately, trying to find a fine dine restaurant in Sheffield is about as easy as trying to crack an ancient Greek puzzle. In the end, the nearby county of Derbyshire came to the rescue.

The Old Vicarage couldn't be more far removed from the journey through Sheffield which takes you there. You must traverse the "stony rubbish" of the steel city, passing by the Manor Estate, to find yourself in the peaceful Derbyshire village of Ridgeway. For anyone acquainted with the Northern country side, it would be a very ordinary setting, where you might expect a public house cooking home grub or a small homely cafe for passers-by, not a former Michelin star restaurant.

The fact AA Gill finds the restaurant "on the idiosyncratic edge of eccentricity", seems strange. The exposed wooden flooring, the long windows looking out onto the garden and the floral canvasses on the walls all reinforce the charmingly quaint vibe, certainly not an eccentric or idiosyncratic one. The Old Vicarage seems to have deliberately eschewed any fads of modernity, and has a resolutely traditional, country house ambiance. On a Saturday evening the restaurant is full, yet there is almost eerie silence in the dining room which I'm sure for many might be disconcerting; however I find the solemnity a welcome change from the tumult of voices and music in most city restaurants.

The amuse-bouche to start left our table divided. I found the beetroot macaroon unpleasant (nearly as off-putting as the Waiter's stale breath). The acidity of the beetroot made me grimace and was not adequately balanced out by the goat's cheese. One of my dining partners however found it quite acceptable. The second amuse bouche of onions in filo pastry was a hum-drum and dry affair.

That introduction out of the way, the food started to shine. The Butternut Squash Veloute was rich and smooth and the burnt butter drizzle adding a nutty taste to the soup (4/5). The sauteed St George mushrooms with herb polenta and sage, was joyous. The quality of mushrooms commendable and the cream sauce well executed (4.5/5).

We were filled with trepidation looking at the hotch-potch main course of "spiced potato croquettes, Haloumi & lemon and pepper yoghurt". Potato croquettes bring back the worst memories of school dinners, and haloumi with a yoghurt dressing puts you firmly in Pret A Manger office lunch territory. However, this was the surprise of the night (5/5). The potato croquette was light and crisp beyond comparison and the spices worked beautifully with the potatoes (we were told a mix of cumin and garam masala amongst others).

The transition course, a goats cheese cheesecake of sorts, with strawberry and black pepper meringue (4/5) was a novel concept and some neurological rewiring necessary to accept a half sweet/half savoury dish. The dessert was textbook. A classic combination of poached fruit (apricots), shortbread and sorbet (4/5)
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The disappointment of the evening was the service. Whilst unquestionably friendly, from the warmth of the introduction or Tessa's genuine attempts to engage at the counter, it is rather unpolished. For example, plates are stacked high at the table when cleared (carrying multiple plates in one hand is the first lesson of any waiter). Having to check with the kitchen regarding the Prestige Vegetarian menu seemed unnecessary after I specifically requested this upon booking. Finally, a live beetle running loose in the dining room was off-putting (I wonder if it's a common event with the open wood fire?)

Overall, the food at the Old Vicarage is, by and large, flawless. However with the bill coming to around 80 pounds a head, with 2 glasses of wines, a more refined service would be appreciated.

AA Connoisseur

Absolutely loved this, the food was delicious, and came out looking sensational. We went for the prestige meal, which is 7 courses. The staff were amazing couldn't do enough for you. Will definitely go again.

Although Tessa Bramley has been Chef Patron at The Old Vicarage for over thirty years, my relationship goes back even further, in fact another decade, so there’s a long history of fine dining, and I can honestly say things only get better. Swerving the three course option we choose the Prestige menu, a six course tasting option, with matched wines. Every course is a delight, exquisite flavours, elegantly matched and beautifully presented.

Attended the wedding of my sister today ..what a beautiful venue idyllic scenery and amazing food. The service was second to none. Thankyou so much for your hospitality and making the day magical

The meals are so very good. It’s so like a Michelin star restaurant . And the staff are so very nice.

We had the prestige menu and loved every single mouthful. Waiting staff were amazingly attentive and very nice. Explanations with every course were a really nice touch. We didn't choose the full wine flight as we don't drink a lot but had 2 glasses of wine from the flight which were beautiful, well chosen wines. If you want a real treat this is the place to go in Sheffield

This has to my favourite restaurant of all time, the food is always amazing and the Andrew's wine knowledge is breathtaking and he is so passionate. The food packs so much flavour and texture in every dish. This is a gem in not just Yorkshire but the UK

Fine dining experience, excellent food and services well worth a visit. Highly recommended

Opted for the prestige menu with wine pairing which was an amazing experience. Food, wine and service exceptional. Great for that special occassion! Went back again this weekend and everything was exceptional again. Love this place!

This was a real dining experience. The surroundings are beautiful and tasteful and the dining area is small, cosy and select. We had the tasting menu with the matching wine flight and it was all delicious and very flavoursome. The seven courses were quite small with the exception of the main roe deer course, but we felt comfortably full after we had finished. The ingredients complimented one another and the presentation was second to none. Compliments to the chef. The waitresses were polite and everyone was knowledgeable about the food and the accompanying wines and they were all able to answer questions we asked about both the food and drink. It isn't a cheap dining experience but certainly an experience to behold, be it a once in a lifetime visit or for an occasion to celebrate. You are made to feel special. The only slight criticism we had was with the Sommelier who tended to speak about the wines to my husband rather than to the pair of us. Even when I asked a question about the wine, he addressed the answer to my husband. I am equally as interested in wine as he is, and am especially knowledgeable about France and the regions he was talking about, having lived and worked in France for a year, so I was particularly bristled by his lack of awareness in this field. Otherwise, we would totally recommend the experience to anyone who wants to enjoy and celebrate any occasion in a unique way.