The Brasserie at Darleys — Restaurant in England

April 2023 Food and wine 4 star; service (and follow up) 1 star.

The text below "We were impressed..." was provided after my wife, daughter and son-in-law and friends booked a table and visited on 22 April 2023. I wrote to the co-owner Mr Ellis, personally hand delivering the letter to Darleys on Fri 28 April, had to follow up on 14 May by email asking if I could expect a response. I received a reply by email on 18 May addressing points raised, thanking us for our feedback and "...and hope you do decide to give us a chance to prove that we can indeed get it right...". Sorry Mr Ellis, I think it unlikely I will be visiting Darleys again. Very disappointing.

We were impressed with the food and the English wine though were extremely disappointed with the service received. There appeared many staff on the floor (most of whom appeared quite junior) and we waited some time for our drinks and food order to be taken. When we did receive our starters, mine had an item missing, was returned to the kitchen and had the black pudding placed on the plate I had started eating.

We felt ignored by the sommelier, though the older gentleman who brought the second bottle of wine was much more approachable as was the young gentleman who delivered and topped up water. The waitress whilst not unfriendly did not develop a rapport with our table and many aspects of the evening felt very “transactional”.

We appreciate catering for the public can be difficult and understand the difficulties sourcing staff who wish to pursue a career in hospitality were disappointed with the service offered, particularly for this establishment and at these prices. The following day we went to a farm shop near Duffield and the service from equally young people was excellent (to the extent that I...

Darleys has been a cherished part of our festive tradition for the past four years, but unfortunately, this year did not meet the high standards we’ve come to expect. While there were some highlights, the overall experience left us feeling underwhelmed.

The food was fine but not exceptional. Starters and mains were decent but lacked the flair we’ve enjoyed in previous years. However, the dessert was the standout—an incredible tarte tatin that I’d happily have again.

The service, sadly, was where the experience faltered. The wait time between starters and mains was fine, but there was a significant delay before dessert. While the dessert itself compensated somewhat, other service issues persisted, we had to ask for service after waiting 10 minutes with the aperitif menu, and our table wasn’t cleared before coffee arrived. The coffee itself was cold, and to top it off, the petit fours that should have accompanied it were missing—a detail we only realized after leaving. (£8 for a cup of coffee on its own raised the question)

The service this year didn’t match the exceptional levels we’ve come to expect. Considering the price point, this experience fell short, and we’ve decided to break our tradition and look elsewhere next year. While Darleys has been a highlight of our festive season in the past, this visit left us feeling...

The first time I visited Darley's Restaurant & Terrace was for dinner. It was a bit of a messy experience, however, it was kind of expected with the restaurant only just reopening after their refurbishment, so an instant review was excused.

My second visit was for an evening meal. It was a mediocre experience, with the food being up to par, but I just didn't feel the service was what you would expect from an establishment of this manner.

My third & most recent visit was for lunch & our occasion was faultless. The food was very well presented, with a vast amount of creativity put into each dish, with a generous proportion sizes & the finer details duly noted. As for the service received this time round, it really was impeccable. I felt my third experience at Darley's warranted its feature on the Michelin Guide & it's double AA Rosette award.

In conclusion; Darley's offers a great view out over the river & the weir. It is a stylish place with eye-catching décor; & if you can, try for a table on the narrow terrace or beside the window on the upper level for the perfect views.

If I had had my third experience twice over, this place would be a 5/5 star, however, due to my previous experience, I will have to give this a 4/5 star, however, if my fourth visit is as the third, I will change my rating...