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Alfresco Restaurant
Fredrick\\\'s Hotel
Shoppenhangers Road
Maidenhead
Berkshire, SL6 2PZ
Tel: 01628 581000
www.fredricks-hotel.co.uk
The gated entrance spoke volumes as we drove into the car park at this five star hotel, class, style and a great deal of experience. More evidence was to follow as Sue and I wandered through the bar, tastefully and delicately furnished, to find a seat whilst we contemplated the menu for Alfresco, the newest restaurant within the highly respected Fredrick\\\'s Hotel.
We were welcomed by Lidia Dhorne, Host Manager for the evening, with the genuine warmth that only a young French lady could offer. Within seconds we were enjoying a chilled white and a selection of classic nibbles as we closed in on our selections for the evening.
The menu is certainly not extensive, separated into Starters, Mains, Classics, Desserts and Extras, with less than half a dozen choices in each one. Prosecco, champagne and wine are offered by the glass on the Alfresco menu, with the extensive choices being found in the main wine menu.
Baby mozzarella, vine tomatoes and avocado was the order of the day for Sue, the inventive presentation equally matched by the taste and flavours of the dish. I succumbed to the lure of the wild mushroom risotto, with parmesan foam. An enjoyable dish, strong with mushrooms, rice from heaven, and complemented by the parmesan foam. I am not a huge fan of parmesan; despite this I found this to be light in flavour and an excellent culinary companion to the two main attractions, the mushrooms and the rice.
By this time the wine had been chosen, tasted and poured into our tall stylish rounded red wine glasses, an Andrew Hurley Shiraz Cabernet from Australia, one of the wines on offer by the glass at 5.20 or by the bottle at 24.00, very good value for money indeed, even more so at a hotel.
The table size in this restaurant was quite impressive, no problem with space for glasses, side dishes or breads in dipping oil, relaxing tables whilst retaining the highest professional standards from the attentive staff. The views out to the garden were highly pleasing; they will be even more so when this glass dominated restaurant reaches the warm summer months where the very name will reflect its qualities and diners will be able to appreciate the views and the surroundings.
Main course duly arrived in style, Sue\\\'s choice of Fredrick\\\'s fish and chips, sauce tartar and crushed minted peas raised more than a smile on her face, presented on a lengthy white fish shaped plate, a signature dish. Style followed by substance, a pleasing combination anywhere, even more so from the kitchen of a five star hotel. This was an authentic signature dish reflecting the essence of the hotel, the staff and the passion behind the people within it.
My main course was enjoyable in style, flavour, the combination of textures and the overall effect. The grilled lamb mignons, rosemary polenta and nicoise vegetables, more than ably supported by a side dish of thick chips was, in the phrase from a well known food and cookery programme, my kind of \\\'personal food heaven.\\\'
Replete after two highly successful courses we could not decide whether we required a dessert or not, as we often do. We then thought of the readers and, purely for review purposes, we made our choices, a selection of fresh fruits and sorbets for Sue, a selection of British and continental cheeses for me.
Were we pleased we had gone the extra plate for you?
No! We were delighted, both plates drawing gasps of pleasure in terms of the colours, arrangement and even more when we settled down to savour them.
Fredrick\\\'s offers so much behind the automatic gates, a polished and comfortable hotel, an inviting spa, elegant dining and now, with the latest arrival, Alfresco, one of the real stars of the show.
Alan McColm
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Alan McColm is QFOL's Restaurant Critic and Travel reviewer. Alan is working all over the country ... more
