Winslade Manor Restaurant & Bar — Restaurant in East Devon

1)Hidden gem that is a great gastronomic feast once found. Once found, being operative words. I have googled 'new places to eat' since 2000 and never has this delightful place appeared. A friend happened to mention they'd had tea here and I was on the case. She tried to direct us, but I got it woefully wrong, driving endlessly round an estate and then towards Topsham. I was trying to look for a sign, any sign, that said Winslade Manor but could not see one. The photos are a suggestion of the type of sign that could help. Even my SatNav and GP'S had us all over the place. Our Waitress said she had had the same problem. 2) Service. Our waitress was amusing, efficient, prompt, knowledgeable, considerate and kind. 3) Decor. The decor is amazing. It could be picked up and put down in Pall Mall or St James' and not be found wanting. It is chic, contemporary, but sympathetic, retaining original features. For a comparison of how NOT to 'renovate' I thought of the Pig at Coombe, Gittisham. An Elizabethan building totally wrecked. At least here, someone knew what they were doing and it shows. 4) Food. The food is a work of art and delicious. To present a course so elegantly, yet sufficient to satisfy a good appetite, is a real skill. No measly nouvelle cuisine here. The puddings oooh! Absolutely superb!. A word on Menus, both of us wear glasses and did struggle a bit. I don't know the font, but most fonts run from 1 to 48 or something, I would suggest if this was on 8, say, moving it to 11? Only a wee bit bigger would make a lot of difference for people with poor eyesight. I have cataracts and found it tricky. I could have asked for the waitress to read it out, but felt shy of that although sure she would have done. 5)Loos. Amazing. Decor wonderful, clean and sweet. 6) Carpark. Easy, oodles of space and well maintained. 7) Would we return. Having now...

Lovely building and decor but lacked atmosphere. We were seated early in the dining room,the only ones at first as there was no room in the bar. It felt cold and quiet at first,some nice music would have helped. We decided to choose from the lunchtime ( not the elegant menu). It seemed quite a small choice actually so 2 of the five decided to choose one of the specials. ( A £10 supplement for a very small lemon sole) It was good but not worth the extra!!! We waited ages for our food to arrive as the room filled up with customers who I think were there on business so everyone was actually eating and some finished before ours arrived!! ( I had booked the table in advance for a special birthday ,they said they would make a note. I had booked for five but they had only reserved a table for 4 ) but it was never acknowledged. Poor customer relations. The food was not really hot enough, lukewarm plates, didn't help. The room was chilly. We kept our jackets on throughout. We decided to forego dessert and have coffee in the bar. This time it was empty. Everyone except one went for regular coffee. Lukewarm!! Cold milk!! My mother wanted a Tia Maria liqueur coffee. They didn't have any!!! Unbelievable! . So she asked for a coffee with a Bailey's on the side. It was the smallest measure I have ever seen. Way overpriced. However the young barman who served us was charming and realised it was a birthday lunch and actually acknowledged this . The only one,so Thankyou.The final disappointment ( surprise) was when the bill arrived it had added on 25% vat. The prices on the menu did not say " plus vat" I do believe it should have been made clear. That's a huge extra on a £150 bill. Overall a bit disappointed. Would probably go again for a snack lunch only...

Party of 6 of us went to Winslade to celebrate my friends birthday, first off I must say we had a great evening. Few little things my starter of poached egg on black pudding was very nice.. it did have bacon on the top which was not mentioned, my wife had the squid with aoili which was very much like butter (maybe that's there take on it), my fish coarse of sea bass was delicious, mains I had Duck with honey & 5 spice sauce..cooked perfectly, I ordered a side of potatoes rosti which arrived they were very similar to chunky chips, luke warm and very crunchy with a drizzle of truffle mayo (I should of sent them back, big didn't my bad) , wifey had the salmon fishcake topped with a soft boiled egg which she thoroughly enjoyed, one of our party had plaice which he loved, two others had the chicken breast which was good. The desserts were beautiful. I feel the dinning room lacks a bit of atmosphere in my opinion, in saying that the interior is very tasteful, the service was good, to sum up lots of good positive points but a few not so good which is why I gave the experience 4...