RestaurantsSomersetTauntonTA1

survey result

Summary

With its Art Deco-style interior, this local landmark’s traditional dining room provides a heartily traditional environment. It has yet to reopen for lunch and dinner post-pandemic, but is currently dedicated to the service of afternoon tea, for which – on limited feedback – it comes recommended.

Summary

£65
  £££
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.

“A great local restaurant in every way” – this highly regarded dining room (“decorated in Art Deco style”) is situated under an old archway in the centre of the town, and scores very creditable grades all round, including for Liam Finnegan’s fine cooking from a “lovely menu with lots of local ingredients”, and also for its “very professional service”.

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Have you eaten at The Castle Bow Restaurant?

Owner's description

At Castle Bow Restaurant, we want you to enjoy a wonderful evening meal.

Head Chef, Liam Finnegan is passionate about using fresh, local ingredients and handpicks all of our local suppliers for their commitment to producing the very best regional ingredients. When possible, he prefers to use organic fruits and vegetables as well as line-caught fish.   We bake our own breads in The Castle’s kitchen and make our own chutneys and jams using apples from The Castle’s own apple orchard.

Liam’s modern British classics are constantly evolving and his menu is created to fully embrace each season.  It is this quality and care that transforms every meal into a true West Country experience.

Prices

Traditional European menu

Starter Main Veggies Pudding
£11.00 £22.50 £4.50 £8.50
Drinks  
Wine per bottle £21.00
Filter Coffee £2.50
Extras  
Service 10.00%

Restaurant details

Menu,Portions
30
No dress code
32
5
Yes

The chef

Liam Finnegan, has been head chef at The Castle Hotel in Taunton since 2012. He grew up in Carlingford, Co Louth in Ireland where he spent his time as a self-professed ‘menace’. So much so that his grandmother put him to work in her kitchen, just to keep a watchful eye.

Little did she know that her intervention would grow into his lifelong appreciation for the hard work and graft it takes to cook quality food. 

Since then, Liam’s career path took him through some fantastic restaurants such as The George Hotel on the Isle of White, The Bath Priory and Gidleigh Park where he worked for Micheal Caines, and The Nuremore Hotel (Ray McArdle). When asked about awards, Liam says that a full restaurant and happy customers are more important. “Of course, accolades are brilliant, but anything we get, we receive and share as a team.”

Castle Bow, Taunton, TA1 1NF
Opening hours
Monday2 pm‑4:30 pm
Tuesday2 pm‑4:30 pm
Wednesday2 pm‑4:30 pm
Thursday2 pm‑4:30 pm
Friday2 pm‑4:30 pm
Saturday2 pm‑4:30 pm
Sunday2 pm‑4:30 pm

The 2024 Harden's Guide

2024 Hardens London Restaurant Guide

"User friendly in price, size and outlook"

Financial Times