12 of the best restaurants in Surrey
12 of the best restaurants in Surrey
From Michelin star winners to popular local hotspots, here is our guide to the best Surrey restaurants…
Main image: Starling
1
Starling
Esher
Great British Menu winner and former Tom Kerridge head chef Nick Beardshaw made an immediate splash with Starling earning a Michelin star in less than a year of opening. Using the best British seasonal ingredients and cooked simply using classical techniques, Starling’s menu showcases the best that British dining has to offer, with gorgeous dishes like potted chalk stream trout with cucumber pickle and treacle bread, pumpkin and ginger soup, and stuffed loin of West End pork with creamed potato and devilled sauce.
2
Le Raj
Epsom
Le Raj is an Epsom institution – in fact, it was described so by the Michelin Guide! They’ve been serving up their high-class, authentic Bengali cuisine for three decades, and never circulate their menu in the public domain, so if you’re eager for a no doubt delicious surprise, be sure to book a table. Everything is prepared using the finest products and spices by their expert team of chefs, and you can enjoy your meal alongside an extensive selection of fabulous wines.
3
The Victoria Oxshott
Leatherhead
With elegant yet understated decor, The Victoria Oxshott offers the classic pub format with a gastronomic twist. Highlights of the menu include the crispy pigs head with beetroot and cashew emulsion, and pork with sauerkraut . The wine list has been curated by sommelier Michael Engelmann and showcases good quality lesser known wine producers alongside the traditional blockbusters.
4
The Clock House
Ripley
Housed in a gorgeous Georgian building right in the centre of the High Street, The Clock House is a stylish and historic restaurant. The menu is seasonal, with dishes created using simple, and sometimes unusual, flavour combinations. Some must-tries are the wild sea bass with courgette and crab and the mushroom with seaweed and Avruga. You can enjoy an aperitif at the lounge bar on the first floor with views over the walled garden, or in the warmer months sit in the garden itself, surrounded by stunning shrubbery.
5
The Anchor
Ripley
This award-winning restaurant in the heart of Ripley Village is in an atmospheric building dating back to the 16th century. The a la carte menu offers delights such as the guinea fowl breast with sweetcorn puree, bacon and crispy onion, and the roast duck breast a l’orange. There is a children’s menu to cater to the little ones, and a vegan menu too.
6
Jose Pizarro’s The Swan Inn
Esher
The first gastropub from acclaimed chef and bestselling author Jose Pizarro, The Swan Inn provides the traditional British pub ambience, while serving delicious Spanish tapas and paella. There is a wide selection of British ales, draught beers and Spanish wines. From the tapas menu, highlights include the croquetas de jamón Ibérico and the tortilla de patatas. There is also an extensive selection of BBQ tapas, and larger plates of paella.
7
The Latymer
Bagshot
Pennyhill Park’s fine dining restaurant brings guests a sophisticated experience in one of the oldest parts of the house – with plush furnishings and beautifully ornate wood panelling and beams. Enjoy Steve Smith’s tasting menus with dishes such as spenwood and truffle, Brixham crab and A5 wagyu, alongside some fine wines.
8
Dastaan
Epsom
Dastaan – translation: “a story” – opened in 2016 and quickly became one of the most beloved Indian restaurants in Surrey, now with a Michelin Bib Gourmand. Their varied and extensive menu includes a selection of chaat, from pani puri to fish and pink prawn Amritsari, and a variety of delicious kebabs and tikkas served as starters. Highlights of the main menu include a wonderful chicken Chettinad. There is also a separate vegan menu.
9
Lebnani
Reigate
Headed up by talented chef Jad Youssef, Lebnani is a popular Middle Eastern restaurant serving up flavoursome mezze and charcoal grills from their Mal Ashwa BBQ. The menu is designed perfectly for sharing, reflecting their commitment to the idea that food should bring people together. They go beyond the typical restaurant experience: you can also book their cookery classes, or get a gorgeous hamper delivered.
10
The Bridge
Tadworth
Head to The Bridge if you’re looking for a delicious small plates dining experience, from cold plates of spicy Feta dip and baba ganus to hot plates of sucuk (spicy Turkish sausage) and calamari. There is also a cocktail menu, featuring a delightful Hugo Fizz with St Germain, Hendrick’s gin, prosecco, soda water and syrup.
11
Ciao Italia
Banstead
This charming restaurant serves up a huge selection of Italian delights, beginning with an extensive list of antipasti, from seared king scallops with pancetta, celeriac and truffle puree to a divine warm goats’ cheese with beetroot, pomegranate and mixed leaves. From the pasta menu, try the linguini with a mix of seafood. Or choose from mains such as lobster Thermidor, or breaded veal.
12
Galu
Banstead
The Mediterranean cuisine at Galu is centred around the star feature of their bespoke open flame charcoal grill. From the starter list, firm recommendations are the Cypriot meatballs with tomato, chilli and basil sauce, and the filo pastry parcels filled with spinach and Feta. Sharing platters, from a Greek mini meze board to an Italian platter with cured meats and cheeses, are a popular way to delve into the menu.
