Orwells
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Inspector comments
"A welcoming country restaurant with top drawer cooking."
Overview
Standing on a country road in the bucolic charm of Binfield Heath, Orwells looks like a modest, whitewashed Georgian inn. Once inside, it’s clear that the place has taken a more contemporary tack, although low beams, rich teal blue hues and vibrant artwork retain the feel of an upmarket country-chic restaurant. Liam and Ryan Simpson-Trotman have their hands firmly on the tiller, both front of house and in the kitchen, where ingredients of the highest order – their own small holding supplies most of the fruit, vegetables and honey – are handled with respect, imagination and confidence. Highlights from the tasting menu are Isle of Skye lobster raviolo with crushed peas, puffed rice, caviar and a sublime bisque, and flawlessly executed Himalayan salt-aged duck, tender with crisp skin and fat well rendered alongside smooth carrot purée, slow cooked beetroot and an intense sauce finished with Port and Madeira.
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Ratings & awards
4 Rosette Award for Culinary Excellence
Our inspector loves...
Rural Setting - Oxfordshire country road, close to Binfields Heath
Whitewashed Georgian pub - Inside, low beams, rich teal blue hues and vibrant artwork.
Beacon of Gastronomy - Modern cooking with many of the ingredients coming from their small holding
Range of menus - A la carte and tasting menus available
Wine list of note - High quality options from around the globe
Features
- Facilities
- Seats: 35
- Private dining available
- On-site parking available
- Food and Drink
- Wines under £30: 15
About the area
Located at the heart of England, Oxfordshire enjoys a rich heritage and varied scenery, with Oxford’s elegant streets a highlight for visitors. The landscape encompasses open chalk downland, picturesque rivers and attractive villages, while northwest of Oxfordshire is home to the sleepy backwaters of Abingdon, Wallingford, Wantage, Watlington and Witney that reveal how Oxfordshire’s old towns evolved over the centuries
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