Artichoke

"It was nice to return to the Artichoke which we have had the real pleasure of visiting a few times now and which is set in the delightful little town of Amersham. This is a fabulous restaurant run by Chef Patron Laurie and along with head chef Ben they produce some fantastic dishes. They also have a very friendly and professional Front of House team who really look after you throughout your stay. Our visit on this occasion was for the first of this years Christmas Sunday Lunches something they do every December. You always receive a lovely welcome when you arrive and on this occasion it was no different. We were then shown to our table which was actually the one we generally sit at and which gives you a good view of the open kitchen. While we looked at the menu we were given a nice surprise in being presented with a complimentary glass of champagne. You have the choice of three menus the A la Carte , Lunch Tasting Menu and the Full 8 Course Tasting Menu. It was the latter which we decided to choose. We started with some Chiltern Black Ale Bread with Lamb Fat Butter this was followed by a fabulous Amuse Bouche a Smoked Celeriac Veloute. Our first course was a delightful Isle of Skye Scallop with octopus , heritage carrots , pork & shellfish reduction. Followed by a fantastic Roasted Salsify with black truffle & creme fraiche dressing , toasted hazelnuts & radicchio The next two courses were equally as amazing with the first being a Pan Roasted Foie Gras with agen prune , malted almonds & puff pastry. This was followed by a great take on fish and chips. It was a fillet of Halibut with apple mussel & cider sauce , triple cooked chips & sea beet just devine Now it was time for the main course to which you are given a choice either the Venison or Partridge. We decided to have one of each. The Saddle of Venison came with a venison sausage , red cabbage purée , beetroot , potato , flowering sprouts , onion & bacon crumb & a sloe gin sauce. While the Partridge was accompanied by black pudding , morteau sausage , parsnip , kale , raisin purée , chestnuts & pear. Both of these dishes were simply amazing We then had a cheese course but with a difference as it was a Vacherin Cheese Soup this came with quince compote , spruce powder & fruit bread. This was a very clever dish and absolutely delicious We then finished with desserts with to which we started with a fabulous Rum Glazed Pineapple with candied red chilli , pistachio pastry cream , meringue & Szechuan pepper ice cream. This was followed by a Dark Chocolate Ganache with cherries , buttermilk ice cream & salted caramel ricciarelli. We then finished with coffee and petit fours which really rounded another truly fantastic lunch. During this time we were joined for a chat by owner Laurie. It's always nice to talk to ether the owner or the chefs when you visit a restaurant as you really get a feel for their passion and dedication that goes into every plate of food. This is definitely a restaurant I would highly recommend and don't worry if you think it's a little far to travel for a lunch as there are plenty of places to stay which are all quite reasonable and just a short walk away. I'm certainly looking forward to my next visit in the not to distant future"

"Are standards slipping a little? Not quite as wowed by our August 2018 visit, with a much less appealing menu. My wife overall was disappointed, although 2 of my 3 dishes were high quality. Service was a little haphazard. So very good rather than exceptional, but will give it another chance, let's see!"

"Seasonality appears to have taken pride of place over local sourcing and provenance of ingredients, but happily there still some chefs who manage to combine both factors and at Artichoke this is certainly the case. The tasting menu no longer offers a choice of main, which always seemed to us something of a throw-back, and every course was in perfect harmony with the rest to make up an extremely well-balanced ensemble. Super home-made focaccia and whipped butter preceded a chilled melon soup amuse-bouche which set us up for some brilliant, tenderly charred octopus, with oyster leaf adding a touch of minerality to the dish, and this was followed by poached, charred and pickled elements, in particular some beautiful beetroot, contrasting with green vegetables and brought together by a super dill emulsion. Outstanding foie gras with tayberries and toasted rice for the crunch brought us to a fish stew (or bouillabaisse) with classic fish, brill and John Dory, highlighted by pickled fennel, saffron potatoes and an excellent rouille. The main dish was local duck which exhibited exemplary flavours and was notable for its black garlic dressing. Three desserts may seem a bit much, but each contained just enough perfection to make you want more. Macerated blueberries with an excellent digestive biscuit crumble, an accent of lime, and viola leaf chiming in with white chocolate mousse brought us swiftly on to one of the all-time ultimate indulgences of strawberries and chocolate, lavender meringue, strawberry crème pâtissière and buttermilk sherbet strawberry soup. We finished up with a feta medita, the stupendous baked apricot backed up by intriguing puffed mustard seeds. If there is one thing you can guarantee when you dine at the Artichoke it is that Laurie Gear and Ben Jenkins will serve up a meal that will leave the offerings in many one-star restaurants absolutely standing. This has been the case for many years, and, with its style evolving and advancing on a regular basis, Artichoke continues to be synonymous with high class and delicious fine dining."