Gordon Ramsay's new restaurant at The Mere in Cheshire has opened, and our reviewer headed along to see if his famous £60 beef wellington lives up to the hype. The verdict: it's culinary magic, and the meal was worth every penny of the £174 bill for two.
First Impressions and Starters
The evening started well, with friendly staff guiding diners through the rich red and terracotta dining space to booths with views across the Mere lake. The £90m transformation of the golf and spa resort into Fairmont Cheshire impressed, with public spaces making the most of the lakeside setting.
Starters included a huge prawn cocktail (£19) stuffed with jumbo prawns and shrimps in a light Marie Rose sauce, and a Marinated Heritage Tomato Salad (£14) elevated by a whipped tofu and red pepper tapenade at its centre.
Mains: The Signature Dish
The beef wellington, described as "Gordon's signature dish," was served medium rare with a rich, golden, crispy pastry casing, a layer of mushroom and truffle duxelles, and a divine champ mash with a rich red wine jus. Our reviewer called it "perfection" and "literally what the term melt-in-the-mouth was intended for."
Across the table, a friend opted for Charred Chicken from the Josper Charcoal Grill (£40), a huge portion, with sides of sautéed broccolini chilli (£7) and truffle parmesan fries (£8). The fries were described as "something else."
Dessert and Overall Verdict
Despite being stuffed, the sticky toffee pudding (£14) was a must-try. The light, moist sponge, slathered in sticky gooey sauce, with clotted cream ice cream, was "elevated to something extraordinary."
Our reviewer found "literally nothing to complain about"—service was warm, food outstanding, wine perfectly matched, and the setting superb. The restaurant also offers a children's menu and allows dogs on the terrace. The only thing missing was Gordon himself.
The full food bill for three courses (and sides) for two came to £174, and our reviewer said it was worth every penny, having already booked a return visit. Gordon Ramsay at The Mere is open daily for breakfast, evening meals (from 5.30pm), and Sunday lunch and dinner.
