Reviews of The Chinnor Indian, Chinnor
Review by JLM on 3rd September, 2009
Add your review Date visited: August 2009
I'm still not sure what to make of this restaurant. I went here in August to celebrate my 2nd wedding anniversary. Beautiful summer day - tick. Impressed by the website and Guardian review - tick. Hungry and eager to visit - tick.
We arrived and were directed to the garden with our drinks. Very nice as gardens go, although the nude female statue on the lawn is somewhat odd and there were wasps aplenty (though the hosts could hardly be expected to do much about that).
After 20 minutes we were led to the table in the outside area. The waitress was pleasant enough, and the food arrived 15--20 minutes later.
The food was good, not exceptional. We shared a starter of which I have no recollection, fine but not outstanding. For main I had the lamb which was done perfectly, some roast potatoes, carrots etc. My wife had the beef.
The dessert was shortbread with raspberry. This was a simple dish but by far the most enjoyable part of the meal.
1 starter, 2 main and 1 shared dessert with 2 drinks + 12% gratuity: £86. Not terrible, not extortionate, but certainly not suitable for all budgets. I don't feel there was value for money.
The owner lady came around to chat with a few customers, but didn't break a sweat trying to be warm and welcoming to everyone. A query as to whether they are open over Christmas was met with a response one expects when discovering a stool on your shoe.
Overall, a pleasant enough experience but if I were ever to venture back it would solely be to take advantage of the weekday offer. Nothing more, nothing less.
Review by V Dawson on 17th December, 2007
Add your review Date visited: 15 Dec 07
I agree with the previous reviewer. For a restaurant as expensive as this, we expected much better service. We arrived, nobody greeted us, we had to hang our coats up ourselves and sit ourselves in the bar. The service was rushed and like the previous reviewer the meal was over very quickly. Worst of all though - the ladies in the party were FROZEN. Really it was like sitting in a wind tunnel! You would think the owner would enquire if everything was OK when the ladies are sitting in their husband's jackets shivering..but no...the only time she spoke was when she came to collect the money. Good wines, otherwise very overpriced, very disappointing.
Review by SJC on 6th December, 2006
Add your review Date visited: 1st Dec 2006
Pretentious establishment and 'average' service and food (though the wine was very good). Having had a great meal at the Charles Napier around 4 years ago, we decided to treat ourselves to a meal last week. The owner hurried us from the bar to our table to make room for incoming customers, and then she asked us to take our coffee in the bar so that the table could be reset for the next clients. The entire experience, from our arrival, was over within 90 mins. My calves liver was tough and overcooked - I did mention this to the waitress who apologised ... no comment from the chef or the owner ... well they didn't have to pay for it, did they?? Many of my friends and colleagues refuse to return to this place and now I understand why.
Review by SJC on 5th December, 2006
Add your review Date visited: 1st Dec 2006
Pretentious establishment and 'average' service and food (though the wine was very good). Having had a great meal at the Charles Napier around 4 years ago, we decided to treat ourselves to a meal last week. The owner hurried us from the bar to our table to make room for incoming customers, and then she asked us to take our coffee in the bar so that the table could be reset for the next clients. The entire experience, from our arrival, was over within 90 mins. My calves liver was tough and overcooked - I did mention this to the waitress who apologised ... no comment from the chef or the owner ... well they didn't have to pay for it, did they?? Many of my friends and colleagues refuse to return to this place and now I understand why.
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