RestaurantsBuckinghamshireMarlowSL7
31 West St, Marlow, SL7 2LS

survey result

Summary

£77
 ££££
4
Very Good
4
Very Good
3
Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

“Other restaurants in the vicinity attract more hype – and even have stars – seemingly because they have a ‘TV chef’, but they really aren’t as good and cost much more” than Michael Mcdonald’s high-quality fixture (one of the top-100 most commented-on spots outside London in our annual diners’ poll). Some compare the experience to being “like dining in a back living room” – not all together a surprise as it’s part of a house that was in fact once home to TS Eliot – but the main events here are the “beautiful precise flavours” of the “excellent and reasonably priced” food and “wonderful polite service”.

Summary

£76
 ££££
4
Very Good
4
Very Good
3
Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

“Out-performing many more feted restaurants” – Michael Mcdonald “runs a fantastic family- run restaurant that never fails to hit the spot” at this “quiet and discreet” fixture, which occupies part of a house that was once home to TS Eliot. The dining room itself is “small, but well laid out” and buoyed along by its “very good, friendly and professional service”. “The menu is limited, but every dish is enticing” and all-in-all it provides “a proper dining experience” that’s “consistently great value” (and one of the 100 most-commented-on outside London in our annual diners’ poll).

Summary

£71
  £££
4
Very Good
3
Good
3
Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

Michael Mcdonald’s well-established favourite occupies an intimate room that’s part of a house that was, in days gone by, owned by TS Eliot. Fans continue to say its performance is “consistently excellent in all areas and amazing value”. As well as the à la carte menu, there is also now a five-course tasting option – at £60 per head for seven courses, it’s not punishingly priced by the standards of such offerings and fans say “it’s absolutely brilliant. You've got to go for it!”.

Summary

£71
  £££
5
Exceptional
4
Very Good
3
Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

“A firm Marlow favourite”“Michael Mcdonald continues to produce sublime food” at his “favourite local”, which is one of the highest-rated restaurants in the Thames Valley in our annual diners survey. The “cosy and quiet room” is only “small” (part of a house once owned by TS Eliot) but fans say “perfectly formed” and with “very efficient and welcoming as well as courteous service”. “Sensibly priced wine” of “notable quality too”“what more could one ask for?”.

For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).

Have you eaten at The Vanilla Pod?

Owner's description

Welcome to The Vanilla Pod.

The Restaurant has been awarded 2010 Regional Winner of the Good Food Guide, Reader’s Restaurant of the Year Award, The Top 100 independent restaurant by Good Food Guide 2013, Listed 92nd by Sunday Times Top 100 Hardens Guide.

Thank you for all your support over the years to which there have been a lot of changes at The Vanilla Pod.

As you may well be aware I have been working alone in the kitchen for the last 4 years, so I do apologise if I am unable to see you all but you are more than welcome to pop your head around the door into the kitchen, it would be great to see you.

Kind regards
Michael Macdonald

Prices

Traditional European menu

Starter Main Veggies Pudding
£12.00 £20.50 £6.00 £11.00
Drinks  
Wine per bottle £30.00
Filter Coffee £4.00
Extras  
Bread £0.00
Service 12.50%

Restaurant details

Highchair,Portions
Yes
8
No dress code
36

The Vanilla Pod Restaurant Diner Reviews

Reviews of The Vanilla Pod Restaurant in SL7, Marlow by users of Hardens.com. Also see the editors review of The Vanilla Pod restaurant.
David J
Beautiful precise flavours, wonderful polit...
Reviewed 10 months, 16 days ago

"Beautiful precise flavours, wonderful polite service by bunch of local youngsters. Many don't like the ambience which can be too quiet and rather like dining in a back living room, but I have come to appreciate it."

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31 West St, Marlow, SL7 2LS
Opening hours
MondayCLOSED
Tuesday12 pm‑2 pm, 7 pm‑9 pm
Wednesday12 pm‑2 pm, 7 pm‑9 pm
Thursday12 pm‑2 pm, 7 pm‑9 pm
Friday12 pm‑2 pm, 7 pm‑9 pm
Saturday12 pm‑2 pm, 7 pm‑9 pm
SundayCLOSED

The 2024 Harden's Guide

2024 Hardens London Restaurant Guide

"User friendly in price, size and outlook"

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