TOP

10 of the best restaurants in Surrey

10 of the best restaurants in Surrey

From Michelin star winners to popular local hotspots, here is our guide to the best Surrey restaurants…

Pictured above: The Swan Inn

1 

Sorrel

Dorking

Chef Steve Drake’s Michelin-starred Sorrel is situated in a stunningly refurbished 300-year-old building on Dorking High Street. Sorrel’s seasonal menus fuse together a sublime mix of different flavours and textures which include dishes such as pork belly and smoked cauliflower. With elegant surroundings and dishes to match, Sorrel is continually wowing foodies from all over Surrey and beyond.

For an interview with Sorrel’s Steve Drake read here….

2 

Dastaan

Ewell

Excellent Indian cuisine is served at Dastaan which has been been awarded a Bib Gourmand and has won over the critics. Chefs Sanjay Gour and Nand Kishor worked at a host of top restaurants previously including the highly acclaimed Gymkhana. They are passionate about their craft and nothing other than seasonal ingredients and freshly prepared food will do.

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 beer battered native oysters with seaweed mayonnaise and the salt-chamber aged tomahawk steak with bone marrow, beef fat onions, chips and red wine sauce. 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 tapioca. 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 

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, the stand-outs are the linguini marinara with mixed seafood and the linguini with fresh lobster. Or choose from mains such as lobster Thermidor, and and breaded veal.

6 

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 seed-crusted venison loin with pumpkin puree, braised cabbage and pickled blackberries, and the halibut with shellfish and white asparagus. There is a children’s menu to cater to the little ones, and a vegan menu too.

7 

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 buñuelos de gambas (spicy prawn fritters) and the tortilla de calabaza (pumpkin tortilla). There is also an extensive selection of yummy BBQ tapas, and larger plates of paella.

8 

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 Brixham sea bass, Roscoff onion and smoked eel, alongside some fine wines.

9 

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.

10 

The Bridge

Tadworth

Head to The Bridge if you’re looking for a yummy 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.