Farnham Restaurant Tips by annase

Blubeckers Mill House: Restaurant in an old mill

This is a restaurant that is located in an old mill, with the mill wheel still in situ. The setting is very nice and there is a river (Whitewater) flowing through the grounds as well as a boating lake (complete with swans and ducks around). They also have croquet facilities as well as an outdoors and indoors children's play areas. The indoor play area is sort of a kids dungeon (a padded cell in the basement) where they tend to place noisier family type parties.

Food is good and service is friendly. The menu includes ribs and burgers as well as more British and continental dishes.

The atmosphere is lively and when I visited, it was very busy, but not excessively noisy though. It tends to get quite busy especially at weekends, so it is advisable to book. Prices are a little above pub type restaurants.

Food Served:
Mon - Thu 11am to 10pm
Fri - Sat 11am to 10:30pm
Sun and Bank Holidays 11am to 9:30pm

Address: The Mill House, Hook Road, Odiham

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: It's just off the M3 motorway.

Phone: +44 (0)1256 702953

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 3

Theme: Other

Thai Lord: Central Thailand cuisine

Thai Lord is run by a charming couple called Mr and Mrs Roong who are in their 50s or 60s or something. It offers authentic Thai cuisine that has not been adapted to appease the local tastes unlike many other places. The style of cooking is from the central Thailand, with emphasis on Bangkok. Dishes are mostly medium in spicy strength although they can be adapted according to taste, if necessary.

The interior is traditionally Thai with lots of elaborate wooden artefacts.

Starters around £4, mains about £7-£10

Set menus and take away available

Opening hours
Lunch 12 Noon-2.30pm Sunday - Friday
Dinner 6pm-11pm (7 Nights a week)

Favorite Dish: Mixed Starter (Sateh, Toong Tong, spring roll, fishcake, Goong Hom Pa and Kamom Pang Na Moo)

Address: East Street, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 7TH

Comparison: about average

Directions: A few doors down from several car showroom places. You can park on the road after 6pm. There is also a public car park just off Dogflood Way.

Phone: 01252 716584

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 4

Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific Rim

The Plume of Feathers: Local pub in a small village

The Plume of Feathers is set in a 500 year old hostelry that still has old oak beams and inglenook fireplaces in place. Apparently, there is also a ghost in the pub... They offer pretty wide menu with innovative modern cooking such as guinea fowl, rack of lamb, char-grilled steak and duck breast. There is a proper restaurant bit in the back as well as a bar in the front and the menus for these two bits are different. The bar menu is more a traditional Pub Food. In summer, they also do BBQ's. They serve wines, champagnes, real ales and cocktails. The pub gets crowded in the evenings and at weekends, with the locals crowding the bar. Booking is highly recommended at weekends.

All food is homemade and prepared from local fresh ingredients. I had a very nice salad with salmon and herbs and their glutein free chocolate dessert from the bar menu. The food was very very nice. The kitchen is open Mon-Sat 12noon-2.30pm & 7pm-9.30pm. Sun 12noon-8.30pm.

2 Patio Areas
Quiet Area
Children Welcome
Parking for 30 cars
Coaches Welcome (by appointment)
Switch / Cash Back & Credit Cards accepted.
Accommodation available (Call for full details).

Opening Times
Mon-Sat 11am - 3pm & 6pm - 11pm.
Sun 12noon - 10.30pm.

Address: The Borough, Crondall, Farnham, Surrey, GU10 5NT

Comparison: about average

Phone: +44 (0)1252 850245

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 3

Theme: Local

Lobster Pot: Sea food in the suburbs

The Lobster Pot opened its doors in May 2005 in a renovated pub that was empty for quite a while before that. Although Lobster Pot looks like a pub from outside, it’s really a highly specialised fish restaurant. Their menu includes over 30 starters, 25 meat, 20 fish and 12 vegetarian main courses. It is almost difficult to choose from so many choices on offer.

The food is very good and you can tell that is freshly produced there and then when you order it. None of that "Let’s just unfreeze and microwave it" business. Their meat is sourced locally and they prepare all their desserts themselves on the premises. Local real ales are an added bonus.

Regular theme evenings such as Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian as well as St Georges etc.

They also do so called 'Early Bird Discount' which entitles you for 10% discount off any meal ordered between 6 pm and 7 pm (excluding drinks).

Lunch for 4 (including 3 beers and 3 soft drinks) was just under £60

Favorite Dish: Although it is a pub specialised in sea food, chicken is my number one choice in most restaurants. I had butterfly chicken which was very nice. I loved their Tiramisu which wasn't on the menu.

Address: 40 Upper Hale Road, GU9 0NS

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: Upper Hale

Phone: 01252 716616

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 4

Theme: Seafood

Website: http://www.the-lobster-pot.co.uk

Prezzo: Italian

There are at least three other places in Farnham that do very similar menu as Prezzo (pizza, pasta, risotto, salads and chicken meals). They are also similarly priced, so when I had a chance to try something else than your average Pizza Express or Chez Gerard, I decided to try Prezzo instead.

I went there for the first time in August 2007 and I must say that I enjoyed the restaurant. I am a fussy eater because of several food intolerances, but I was able to find a suitable meal on the menu and the waiting staff was very helpful in telling me whether there was either dairy products or glutein in the meal that I had set my eyes on. The food was of a high standard and the menu included more than just 3 main course salads.

Address: 7 The Borough, Farnham, GU9 7NA

Comparison: about average

Phone: +44 (0)1252 737849

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 3

Theme: Italian

Gulshan Tandoori Restaurant: My local Indian

You'll be glad to know that every time you go to this restaurant, you'll get whatever you order made in the exactly same way as before and will probably taste exactly the same as well. This is because Gulshan still employs the same chef as did when it was established in 1989. I was wondering why…

The restaurant doesn't look much from outside as it is set in a row of buildings housing an electric shop and laundrette outside the town centre, but it is the nearest one I go to and I think they're great. The dining area is only very tiny. There is seating up to 50. The room is divided into smaller private alcoves. The Sunday Buffet lunch is a bargain at £6.95 for adults and £3.50 for children.

Bookings are advisable. They also do take away meals.

Favorite Dish: I've got many favorites such as 'Chicken Biryani', 'Chicken Tikka', 'Tandoori Mixed Grill', 'Vegetable Dhal'. I think they're great. The meat is good quality, very tasty and

Address: 53 Farnborough Road

Comparison: about average

Phone: 01252 322822

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 4

Theme: Indian

Website: http://www.surrey-online.co.uk/gulshan/index.htm

The Mill at Elstead: Beautiful riverside setting

The nice little pub is located in a converted historic mill along a river. The water wheel is still working and can be viewed inside the pub. They have a large beer garden overlooking the water. I would imagine it’s very popular wedding reception venue and they have recently acquired a civil wedding license.

Service is very friendly and generally fine except that they just do not do table service (not even the drinks when you are having a meal), which is the most ridiculous thing about this place. It’s a pity that the food was pretty average.

Monthly BBQ and Hog Roast in the garden.

Food is served

Monday-Thursday 12pm-9.30pm
Friday and Saturday 12pm-10pm
Sunday 12pm-8pm (Sunday roast from the carvery between 12pm-3pm)

Address: Farnham Road, Elstead, Godalming, Surrey, GU8 6LE

Comparison: about average

Directions: 4 miles from Farnham towards Elsted (B3001)

Phone: 01252 703333

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 0

Theme: Pub/Brewery

Website: http://www.citypublife.co.uk/Site/pubintro.php

Shepherd and Flock: A local pub with great food

This pub is set in the middle of a roundabout(!). It's easy to miss it when you ride on the roundabout and the noise of the traffic and the exhaust fumes from the cars can be a bit off putting, but this is pub is great for real ales (including many local beers), fresh, good quality food and friendly staff. The whole pub is non-smoking due to the recent law banning smoking in all public places. The little sheep figures for table numbers are rather cute! ;-)

The menu consist of the usual pub favourites to some more exciting varities and specials of the day. All of the food is fresh and very well presented. The dessert menu is rather impressive with lots of cakes and choclaty things. Prices are competitive with a main meal costing between £8 and £15. There is also a good selection of wine and some interesting imports such as South African cider.

The pub has a large outside seating area at the front (facing towards the traffic) as well as a secluded rear garden. Food served (Monday to Friday 12-2.30pm and 5pm to 9.30pm), Sunday roast (12noon to 4pm). Booking is advisable, especially at weekends.

Facilities: TV, fruit machines, dogs & children allowed, late licence, credit cards accepted, cash machine, car park, wireless internet access, air-co, coach parties welcome, disabled access

Address: Moor Park Lane, GU9 9JB

Comparison: about average

Directions: Shepherd and Flock roundabout

Phone: 01252 716675

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 4

Theme: Pub/Brewery

The Darjeeling: Indian is the new English food ;-)

I have visited the Darjeeling a few years ago. I can't remember much about that visit except that there was nothing wrong about the food, service or anything else. I visited the restaurant again more recently and did not find anything wrong this time either.

The resturant was recently extended to the neighboring property that used to function as a Chinese take-away. Because of this, they now have substantially more seating. There is also a real sitar in one of the corners of the dining room to which I had an unlimited view and couldn't keep my eyes off. What a great idea! Unfortunately, I left my camera phone a home, so I couldn't get any photos of it.

Instead of choosing from their menu, this time I had whatever was served in their Sunday buffet. The food was very high quality and there was about 9 dishes on offer, including the usual dishes found in every Sunday buffet i.e. two types of rice, chicken tikka masala and vegetable curry. Other dishes included some chicken starter and a vegetable and a lamb main. In addition, they brought a plain naan bread to you at the table and there were some poppadums available as well.

All in all very pleasant experience. the staff was very friendly and attentive. The buffet lunch for two was £19.90 and the drinks (bottled still water and a pint of coke) £4.50

Address: 23-25 South Street, Farnham, GU9 7GU

Comparison: about average

Directions: Along the street that leads to the Railway Station

Phone: 01252 714322

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 4

Theme: Indian

Website: http://www.darjeelingrestaurant.co.uk

Slug and lettuce: On the hight street or just off it

What a charming name.. I could put you straight off if you really think about.

I have been here a few times. It delivers alright quality food and has a nice enough atmosphere at the bar as well as the restaurant bit itself. It is nothing mind pogging, but you know that the quality is there though. There are currently 62 Slug and Lettuces across the UK. All of them are on, or just off the 'high street'.

The menu inclues the favourites such as fish & chips, burgers, chicken dishes, lamb shanks, salads, vegetarian dishes, pasta etc. Their speciality are shared platters which are pretty impressive.

They also pride themselves on ethical values. Their fish and shellfish come from sustainable fish sources and have been caught in a legal and professional manner without upsetting their reproductive or natural habitat and without causing harm to other marine life (e.g. only line caught tuna). All ingredients are sourced from local suppliers wherever possible (e.g. fruit and vegetable suppliers are chosen in an aim to support the local market and insist that the veg is chemical free and produced in a natural manner; their chips are made of Lancashire Maris Piper and the burgers from ground Aberdeen Angus beef). All meats served are reared in a natural environment, fed on a vegetarian diet and slaughtered humanely.

Favorite Dish: On my first visit to the restaurant I had Cajun chicken without realising it was going to be as hot as it was (I like my food pretty mild), and thinking that I can handle it. I couldn't, so I had to swap it with my partner. The next time I got it right though. I ordered chicken salad if I remember right and it was very very nice.

Address: 9–11 East Street, Farnham GU9 7RX

Comparison: about average

Other Contact: slugandlettuce.Farnham@laurelpub

Phone: 01252 722 011

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 4

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.slugandlettuce.co.uk