The Bell at Skenfrith

Blunkett

My wife and I took my mother there for lunch recently, booking well in advance and avoiding both Mother's Day and Easter to ensure that it wasn't too busy. Although we were seated quickly, the service afterwards was very slow. We were hoping for "relaxed", but felt that 45 minutes between courses was unreasonable, and we had to remind the staff that we were still there in order to get a dessert menu. The food was disappointing too; starters were pleasant but unremarkable, and the main course, described as local shoulder of lamb, may well have been this but could equally well have been another cut or even another meat, as any particular flavour came from the sauce. The potatoes, vegetables and accompanying Yorkshire pudding were described (at best) as resembling those offered at the local steak house, and (at worst) as like school dinners, for people who remember these... The desserts(home made ice cream) were good, but not the flavours told to us by the waitress, and by the time they arrived we had given up on the idea of asking for coffee. Several staff were also very unhelpful when we asked for the bill, and eventually we had to go and find someone willing to accept payment. The setting and the building itself are lovely, so it was a shame that the food and service were such a disappointment. It felt as though the business had overstretched itself...

foodie@cardiff

Highly recommended for quality of food, beautiful rural location and informal atmosphere. Recipient of numerous awards. We had the lunch menu - excellent confit of duck, great steak, and also good vegetarian rissotto. Lamb shank was superb with a jus reduction that was to die for. All local or home grown sourced ingredients. Great wine list, also good beers and organic cider. Cost averaged at £30 per head for 3 course meal. Slight drawback was rather lackadaisical service, but not bad enough to detract from the food. Highly recommended.

paroak

Not the place to go if you're looking for a quick bite with the family but if you want to savour taste in quiet & comfortable surroundings, it's well worth a visit!

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