Location: Winchester
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Most Popular European food in Winchester, England, United Kingdom
Best European restaurants nearby. Discover the best European food in Winchester. View Menus, Photos and Reviews for European restaurants near you.. Winchester is a city and the county town of Hampshire, England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs National Park, along the course of the River Itchen. It is situated 61 miles (98 km) south-west of London and 13.6 miles (21.9 km) from Southampton, its closest city. At the time of the 2011 Census, Winchester had a population of 45,184. The wider City of Winchester district which includes towns such as Alresford and Bishop's Waltham has a population of 116,800.
Things to do in Winchester
10. Hotel du Vin & Bistro
Overall Ratings
3 based on 678 reviews
The Bistro at the Hotel du Vin in Winchester is exactly where the whole stylish, witty, wine-loving hotel group began 25 years ago. Centrally located in one of Winchesters most important Georgian buildings, dating from 1715. The Bistro offers seasonal men
Reviewed By ScoobyTed
We had booked the four course tasting menu with wine flight for lunch and it was a fantastic experience.All four courses were delicious and a different wine was expertly paired with each course.We were amazed at the reasonable cost - it was excellent value for money and we would very much recommend it.
9. The Brasserie
Overall Ratings
4 based on 89 reviews
Our beautiful Brasserie is open daily for lunch and dinner, offering a stylish setting in which to enjoy our modern European menu. We delight in selecting the best of seasonal produce to offer a memorable dining experience.
Reviewed By SonicMadness
Came here as we were staying at the Winchester Hotel & Spa.The food was delicious, well cooked and presented beautifully. The service wasn't as good as one would expect it to be which did let it down.
8. The Avenue Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 244 reviews
Named after the elegant mile-long parade of lime trees which it overlooks, the Avenue Restaurant exudes old-school charm and elegance. Set in the 17th-century Lainston House Hotel, minutes from historic Winchester, this is quintessentially British cuisine
Reviewed By gotravelleruk
This is by far the best restaurant I've visited for a long time - it's really up there. I enjoyed every minute of it and it really pushed the boundaries of what would seem like just a hotel restaurant.Just to make this clear from the off, this is a proper 3-course meal sit-down restaurant and it will be expensive, so if you'd prefer a more relaxed meal that's not like that and you're staying at the hotel, try the menu for the Cedar Bar and Lounge, where you can get burgers etc. for a lower price.I ate here on the Friday night so the menu was the ordinary 3 course a-la carte dining menu for dinners. We were acquainted with some drinks in the bar before ordering from the comfort of our own seats, and then escorted through. We had some light canapes but I didn't care for them, but others would have rated them:Canapes - 7/10The first amuse-bouche was a Mushroom Cappuccino with pepper croutons accompanying it, it was very exquisitely presented, however the taste was slightly lacking flavour.Amuse Bouche - 4/5The second amuse bouche we were served was a bread basket. As far as bread baskets go, I'm not rating it because although it was fantastic, all restaurants that provide them are not going to do them badly, so...The starter, that we ordered and was not set and I went for the Hand Dived Orkney Scallops with chicken in pastry and celeriac. I myself don't eat scallops, but the rest of the meal was fantastic, and I know that the other starters my family had were absolutely great as well, and the choice of starters was extremely good and imaginative compared to conventional ones.Starter - 10/10We were soon with our chosen main course, which for me was venison as I am very partial as a meat-eater. They balanced the 4 choices so that you could have different types of fish or different types of meat, and therefore you had 4 different but similar choices at the same time. So choice in comparison with presentation and taste of the venison (which was cooked medium by default and seasoned with ragout and garlic)Main - 49/50Between this course, we had a small passion fruit jelly with a sour creamy yogurt underneath and meringue on top. I thought it was very nice and not really much more to say about it.Third Amuse Bouche - 4/5The final course was chosen to make it that we were being given a balance of a set menu and choosing but it was available as a six course tasting menu for an extra charge. I really loved my chocolate ganache but was too full to finish it but it was extremely well presented and made from the first impressions. But, the reason why I could not finish was because it was very rich, but then I guess they should be.Dessert - 18/20Overall Score = 94/100*****A fantastic meal and would recommend it thoroughly. Just note that 3 courses are £62, 2 are £52, and drinks are not included. Also, children must be over 11 and there is no kid's menu although the portions could be smaller and certain extras or sauce could be changed slightly.Thank you for taking the time to share your 94% review of our award winning Avenue Restaurant. It is very pleasing to hear how much you enjoyed your dining experience and with so much detail. I shall share your glowing feedback with both the Kitchen and Restaurant teams and thank you for your kind recommendation. We look forward to welcoming you back again in the not too distant future.Kind regards,James WebbOperations Manager.
7. The Ivy Brasserie
Overall Ratings
4 based on 773 reviews
Reviewed By eoMooneyes
We were spending the afternoon in Winchester so on the off chance decided to have lunch at the Ivy as we had recently had a great lunch at the Ivy in Cambridge. We were very lucky to get a table without previously booking. It was an excellent window table with lots of room. We were served promptly even though the restaurant was very busy. We decided not to partake of the two courses for £16.50 but instead have a just one course each. I had the open sandwich of prawn and advocado which was delish. My husband had the burger which he said was perfect. My mum had the fish and chips and she found the batter very light and the fish portion was really good. All the food was very well presented and the portions perfect. We could not find fault with any of our dishes, they were served in good time and tasted fresh and very well cooked. The service was just right, not pushy but magically there if you needed them. The atmosphere was very pleasant and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The Ivy is a delightful experience from start to finish and I would highly recommend.
6. River Cottage Kitchen
Overall Ratings
4 based on 1766 reviews
"Our menu is all about gathering the finest ingredients, nurtured and respected all the way from the farms and producers that supply us, through our kitchen, to your plate. Feast well, and in good conscience.â
Reviewed By mosmith2015
Went for a family meal was very disappointed with the quality and general taste of the food - I could have done a better meal at home - the service was poor although the food was hot but just lacked something - we had to wait a long time for drinks staff were not attentive and just chatting amongst themselves - the toilets were not very clean itâs just little things that you expect and it was lacking - was so disappointed probably wonât be returning nor shall I recommend itThank you for your honest feedback; please would you email us here at the Restaurant so we can discuss in more detail?
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5. Loch Fyne - Winchester
Overall Ratings
4 based on 1473 reviews
Reviewed By Sabine B
I wanted to celebrate a small occasion with a friend and we chose Loch Fyne Set Menu on Saturday lunch time. It was excellent value for money. But the best about it was the outstanding service of our watier GOPAL; very attentive, finding just the right table for us and keeping an eye on us without being intrusive, with a easygoing and very polite manner. That made the enjoyable meal a great occasion and a fabulous memory.Thank you Sabine for your fantastic 5* review!We are glad you enjoyed the Lunch Set Menu, it is a very popular one! As itâs great value for money and you can even add Wine. Thank you for your kind comments regarding Gopal, we will pass these over to the team. We really do appreciate your review, so thank you again. And hope to see you back soon.
4. Cote Brasserie - Winchester
Overall Ratings
4 based on 793 reviews
Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Cote serves simple freshly prepared French food at value for money prices. There is a lunch and early evening weekday menu at £9.95 For two courses. On the menu, guests will always find brasserie favourites such
Reviewed By TnAWorcester
The food was delicious and the team looked after us very well, they were very welcoming and friendly. We would recommend this restaurant. We were disappointed to find an automatic 12% service charge added to the bill which was then optional if you wanted to alter it. It just took the edge off the nice evening.
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3. The Black Rat
Overall Ratings
4 based on 787 reviews
The Black Rat is a quaint and quirky restaurant that is situated on the fringe of the town centre along Chesil Street. A year after opening, the team acquired one of the most prestigious accolades in catering, a Michelin Star.The food is sourced from the
Reviewed By hunger_fix
The Black Rat is a well-known eatery. Known as being Hampshireâs first and only Michelin-Starred restaurant, so we thought it worth a visit.Look and feelPositioned in Winchesterâs quaint, old-city streets. Interior is quirky, bohemian and in-fitting with Winchesterâs heritage. It has a nice vibe when you walk in.While the country-dining-room-come-cottage feel is lovely. Scratch beneath the surface and youâll find aging décor, facilities in need of repair and, to be kind, itâs slightly grubby around the edges.Our welcomeWe arrived 15 minutes early and was shown to the lounge area, where we were offered drinks â a perfect opportunity to sample some of the vast array of gins they have on offer. A bit like sitting in your grandfatherâs living room - it's nice. A good start.While we were waiting, we found the toilets. The toilet seat was all-but-falling off. In fact, as a man I had to choose between holding the seat whilst âgoingâ or sitting down to go. This is unacceptable and something I donât expect when dining out at any level. There was also no soap provided. There was a pump-action soap dispenser which was wobbly and wasnât dispensing any soap. We reported both the toilet seat and soap issues to a passing member of staff â we were informed that they are already aware and âwill fix it soonâ. This is quite a concern regarding general hygiene in a restaurant â itâs not just the cooking staff handling our food that can pass on bacteria!We waited around 35 minutes to be seated, which meant we were finally seated 20 minutes after our booking. The place wasn't particularly busy and our table was empty (although needed cleaning) when we had initially arrived, so this was odd. It must be said that the staff were very welcoming and friendly, just a little lacklustre.The main experienceWe were served by a number of different staff members during the evening. While they were all knowledgeable of the dishes and friendly, they werenât particularly engaged in giving us a pleasant experience. Service was just a bit âsameyâ all evening. In fact, one of the staff members questioned our wine choice and made two of our party feel a little awkward for wanting to order the same main course as each other â this was also a little weird and unnecessary.Food was good across all courses. Of course we had starters, mains and deserts â we had to with all the raving reviews about the food. When I say good, I mean good, certainly not great. the food is cooked sublimely and presented very well. However, some of the flavour combinations are odd. It feels a little like some of the flavour combinations are there for the sake of including certain ingredients on the plate rather marrying high quality seasonal food with perfect flavour combinations. Some of the dishes just donât work â not offensively just⦠âmehâ.Finally, the service was 'hit and miss' all evening. Our water wasnât topped up. We werenât offered another bottle of wine after finishing our first. And, we werenât âupsoldâ any special sides or accompaniments to go with our mains. Nor were we offered coffee at the end of the evening. In fact, we had to persistently ask for the bill when we were ready to leave as the waiting staff were busy tidying up (it wasnât closing time) rather than servicing the diners. It was also surprisingly difficult to find someone to take payment after we got the bill.If this was a ânormalâ bistro restaurant, it would be a perfectly pleasant experience. But, letâs be honest, people donât come to The Black Rat to say âthat was okâ.It honestly feels like this place got itâs Michelin Star some years ago and Michelin inspectors have just forgotten to come back to reassess them â because (unless pre-warned of their arrival) I suspect this isnât deserving of star-status.Not offensive. Just ok. There are better âokâ places to go to at a lower price point and with much better service.We won't be back.
2. Chesil Rectory
Overall Ratings
4 based on 1592 reviews
The Chesil Rectory is a unique and historic restaurant located in Winchester which occupies a 600 year old grade II listed Medieval house of exceptional character and charm. Independently owned since 2008 by a small group of friends who share a passion fo
Reviewed By GriswoldSalute
The food was good it just didn't blow my socks off. Had a king prawn appetizer which was best and honestly 2 days later, I cannot remember my main course. Desert involved chocolate but I dont remember wanting to die because it was so good (as one does when eating good chocolate).
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1. The Dining Room
Overall Ratings
5 based on 134 reviews
The Dining Room at Marwell Hotel is a 2 AA rosette restaurant based in Winchester, Hampshire. The Dining Room at Marwell Hotel has excelled under the watchful eye of head chef Phil Yeomans. Our award winning restaurant offers the very best of local produc
Reviewed By glutton4nourishment
There are a lot of reviews raving about a waitress called Jess. I assume that's the name of the wonderful, funny, lovely person who served us on Friday, and if so she deserves all the praise she gets. Marwell Hotel, please double her salary at once. And then double it again.To the food: We had the tasting menu on Friday - 7 courses expertly presented. On the Saturday I ordered from the bar menu because I'd chomped my way through the restaurant menu the previous night, so I had a perfectly cooked steak with wonderful crunchy chips.If forced to quibble I could agree with some other reviews that there were more small children present than I would like, but that's because I am grumpy. This is a very inviting place and all the better for it.
