Rick Stein Barnes

I need to give some background so you can appreciate why I give the scores that you see here. We have been coming to Barnes for a couple of years - my wife is a Rick Stein fan of many years. Whilst she was recovering from cancer treatment a few years ago we used to watch Ricks adventures across the world on repeat, it was very much a way of helping us to cope with the difficult times we found ourselves in. When we discovered Barnes was only about 25 minutes drive away, we had to come and our most recent visit confirms why. The waiters are superb, always polite, calm and helpful, the food - for which in this meal, shared with two of our closest friends, was mostly fish based and focusing on the lobster - was a culinary triumph, as always. They remembered it was coming up to my birthday and an unexpected slice of cake was presented to me. Barnes is a real slice of restaurant heaven for us. The seats overlooking the river, the ambience, the superb choice of wines and beers, and the non alcoholic drinks too (my wife in particular very grateful for the help in choosing drinks). Overall, always a fabulous experience and we will be coming back. I hope Rick and Jack know that they’ve created something special here. We will always be grateful for the short times we have at this restaurant, reminding us in the best ways possible of the difficult times spent on hospitals and at home when things didn’t seem so good. Thanks to the staff for a lovely Sunday out. You’re a credit to the restaurant, all of you.

Visited Rick Stein Barnes with family and really enjoyed the beautiful riverside setting. The restaurant is in a converted barn that’s been done up to a very high standard, warm, stylish and inviting. Service was friendly and professional throughout. We felt well looked after. Food-wise, there were some highs and a few areas for improvement. The fish and chips were excellent, thin, crispy batter and not greasy at all. A great classic. It would have been nice to have malt vinegar offered alongside, and the tartar sauce could have used a bit more seasoning. Starters were a mix. The salt and pepper prawns were tasty but the accompanying cucumber salad was marinated a bit too long and came out overly salty. My scallops were slightly overcooked and lacked a bit of seasoning, though still enjoyable. The Andalusian prawn fritters were crisp but a touch greasy for my taste. The tonkatsu chicken was decent, but the sauce was quite overpowering, closer to a spicy BBQ flavour than traditional tonkatsu, and the dish was served a little lukewarm. That said, the set menu pricing (two courses around £24) is very fair for the location and overall quality. Beautiful spot, great service, and good value. A few tweaks to the dishes would easily elevate the experience to a five-star meal.

A wonderful dining experience by the Thames! Rick Stein offers not only delicious seafood and beautifully presented dishes but also a warm and relaxed atmosphere. We were lucky to get a walk-in table, though I’d definitely recommend booking ahead. The live piano music added a lovely touch to the evening, making it feel special without being pretentious. Sitting by the river made the whole experience even more memorable. Highly recommend for a date night or a relaxed dinner with friends.