http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/marlow/bar-pub/1o6oo7/the-hand-and-flowers <b>The Hand & Flowers</b><br />Marlow, West St, SL7 2BP, United Kingdom en http://trustedplaces.com/uploads/placepics/trustedplaces.comaPlacePic['name']}.140.jpg http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/marlow/bar-pub/1o6oo7/the-hand-and-flowers http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/marlow/bar-pub/1o6oo7/the-hand-and-flowers/199iu7
Review by Scottishgal1962

Rating: 4.00
Tags:
Ask someone what they think of an idylic British pub. I bet you that perhaps their vivid imagination will pick up some of the great features here at the H&Flowers pub. Its purely British in all its pride, or Scottish! The pure target of the staff at this place is to make good food, and often my decision to come here for an afternoon lunch is money well spent. Iâ¬"ve never not had a smiling waitress or waiter here, which I think really improves the morale of all the staff, including chefs etc. I havenâ¬"t been for a while, but Iâ¬"ve had some of the best â¬Üfarmhouseâ¬" style food such as Bangers and Mash here, along with the others. Interior great and cosy!]]> Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:47:39 +0000 /review/uk/marlow/bar-pub/1o6oo7/the-hand-and-flowers/199iu7566217562 Scottishgal1962 51.570188097309 -0.78153133392334 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/marlow/bar-pub/1o6oo7/the-hand-and-flowers/1r98b8
Review by oogywawa

Rating: 5.00
Tags:
The Hand and Flowers and Marlow are good bedfellows - confident in their own skin, prosperous and thriving.

This place avoids all the cliches of the homogenised gastro-pub and delivers the Michelin Star winning formula of wonderful surroundings (stone, oak and low beams), a relaxed friendliness and blinding food. Attentive without being overpowering the host was charming and service slightly on the slow side but the food was worth every tardy minute. The menu is eclectic without being schizophrenic and the emphasis is on cooking simple ingredients perfectly. That's not to say that the flavours are not complex - the jus that adorned my slow cooked beef had been reduced to produce a deep velvety liquor. The poached salmon was equally treated with a delicate hand that ensured that it retained its moiture rather than the oft overcooked variety that sadly is all too the norm. Pork, Pigeon, Rabbit and Duck "Mains" are also present to ensure there's little chance of running out of options.

The deserts are equally assured and the highlight is undoubtedly the Vanilla Crème Brulée which was wonderully fresh & creamy and exuded a lovely pungency that only vanilla pods can. The Dark Chocolate Torte should have been accompanied by a priest so sinful it felt - delivering dark, deep, wonderfully heavy notes to the tongue.

All in all thoroughly satisfying. The tables could have been a little better spaced but I guess with the clammer to eat here they're keen to maximise the number of covers. That probably explains the slightly slower than necessary service but hey - these are piffling inconveniences compared to the elated feeling you leave with...]]> Mon, 05 May 2008 20:15:57 +0000 /review/uk/marlow/bar-pub/1o6oo7/the-hand-and-flowers/1r98b81921023841 oogywawa 51.570188097309 -0.78153133392334