Nomadic Dinners — Restaurant in Great Britain

We recently visited Nomadic Dinners for the Italian night experience with Michelin star Chef Arturo Granato - "with" being the operative word. Whilst it is true, Chef Arturo Granato was present (he did a wholesome speech at the beginning of the night), the Michelin star element was not.

We arrived at 16:50 after the email stated to not arrive earlier than 16:45 however there was already around 30 people there, who had taken the limited seats around the camp fire. We also read that we'd be getting a complimentary gin cocktail on arrival but instead we were offered a Bellini (which was flat).

Next, some waiters took around some small arancini which looked lovely, although sadly my partner and I did not get any because the waiters circled the trays around the same individuals. After this, some focaccia with ham and pesto circled and again, but the same people got offered until we decided to interject ourselves. The focaccia was overly chewy, ham felt low quality but the pesto was nice and fresh. We noted that some individuals had none of the canapés whilst others had several.

We then went to the "sort of" bar (manned table) to get drinks. Choices were quite limited, especially for non-alcohol drinkers. We found the best option was to buy a bottle of red wine to last the night and thought this would pair well with the "Italian" food. We were handed the bottle and two dirty glasses.

It seemed then that it was up to us to find where we had been seated. We found our seats eventually which were next to each other and crammed on a long table with 18 others. My partner and I are far from big people and to be fair, neither was anyone else on the table, however we were all elbow to elbow.

Next we were served the starter - burrata on a bed of crushed peppers and tomatoes with a balsamic glaze. Whilst this was very nice (and probably the best course), it felt like not much talent or technique went into the preparation and I wouldn't call this cooking. The main course was a platter of ribs, chicken and sausages which has been cooked on the barbecues by the staff, served with another platter of fried veg and fennel covered in a cheese sauce. These platters were seemingly shared between eight people but was probably only enough for five and it felt uncomfortable splitting food with strangers. Perhaps if you would have visited with a large group of your own friends/family then this idea would have gone down better. The young waiters did circle around with another platter of meat after this, however only offered to people at the ends of the table, therefore we once again missed out. The sausages tasted high quality, but probably nothing more special than what we get from our local butchers and there wasn't much meat on the ribs. I didn't manage to get a piece of chicken but my partner said that it was just "okay". We didn't get any of the fennel either but the peppers were just softened with no seasoning - again, nothing special. The dessert was supposedly tiramisu - a thin square of cake, swimming in very dilute coffee, with piped synthetic tasting cream on top. The food was okay, but the style and quality is that I'd expect from a nice wedding.

The bathrooms were little huts - visually, they looked lovely. However the smell was awful, even with the candles, diffusers and air fresheners. This was obviously down to the lack of flush - a posh pee bucket.

After they were heating through coffee on the fire. This is very pedantic of me (I know) but Chef Arturo Granato stated at the start of the night that there would be cannolis - these were no where to be seen but there was a tray of sfogliatella instead (yes, both Italian pastries, very similar, but not the same). These were dry and unfortunately there was no coffee left to help wash it down. They'd hired a opera singer as a "treat" - perhaps what most of our money was spent on along with paying for Arturo Granato to show his face (and not much more) to entice people in for an average night. Not worth £129 per person. Would write more but Google reviews has...

Nomadic Dinners - A Unique Woodland Setting, But Lacking in Culinary Experience

My recent visit to Nomadic Dinners on August 10, 2024, for their Greek feast was an experience that blended the beauty of nature with outdoor dining. Located in the serene woods of Chalfont St Peter, the setting is undoubtedly breathtaking. With tables set under the trees, crackling fire pits, and a welcoming area under a tent, the atmosphere was charming and perfect for a unique dining adventure.

The ambiance was enhanced by a live band, creating a pleasant background soundtrack to our meal. While the noise level was a bit higher near the band, the rest of the dining area had a comfortable buzz of conversation from fellow guests at the communal tables.

However, despite the enchanting surroundings, the culinary experience left much to be desired. The meal was served as a fixed menu, starting with a simple Greek salad and basic bread. Unfortunately, the main course—pulled lamb with boiled potatoes—was quite underwhelming. The lamb, though tender, lacked depth in flavor, and the potatoes were less than appealing, lacking the delicate touch one might expect. The dessert, a traditional Greek cake with ice cream, was also disappointing, feeling more like a supermarket offering than a handcrafted delicacy.

While the woodland atmosphere was lovely, the quality and presentation of the food did not meet expectations, especially considering the £125 per person price tag. Additionally, the service was generally friendly, but a key disappointment was the absence of coffee with dessert, despite our request. We were told it would be served afterward, but it never arrived, leaving us with only herbal tea as an option.

In summary, Nomadic Dinners offers a beautiful setting and a novel concept, but unfortunately, the food quality and overall dining experience fell short of what was promised. For those drawn in by the stunning Instagram photos, it’s essential to know that the reality might not live up to the visual appeal. While I appreciate the effort and the ambiance, I wouldn’t recommend this experience based on the value for money. With some improvements to the menu and service, it could be a standout, but for now, it remains more of a picturesque idea than a fulfilling...

We were deeply impressed by the fantastic fine dining experience in the woods organised by nomadic this weekend (Fungi Forage Feast)

Everything was beyond our expectations. They prepared a superb vegan menu, and every meal was mouth-watering!

Decoration, service, organisation, mushroom tour, location - everything was 10/10!

On arrival, they welcomed us with grilled mushrooms and non-alcoholic drinks and invited us for a mushroom tour in the forest - which was so exciting and knowledgable! The guide was so passionate about mushrooms/fungi that I decided to buy a book about edible mushrooms and learn more :)

After the tour, we went to our table, which was beautifully decorated with little pumpkins, candles and tree branches 😍🌿✨

The staff was extremely welcoming and friendly. We had our personal waiter for the 4 of us. The food was arriving at the table straight from the oven and was incredibly delicious! All recipes were seasonal and unique 👌🏻

Here is our vegan festive mushroom menu:

Second course Chestnut Polenta, grilled ceps in chilli butter, pickled trumpet du mort, truffle. With mushroom gribiche with a wild herb salad

Main course Ember roast crown prince squash with koji glaze, smoked girolles, braised coco beans, pickled radicchio, nettle & hazelnut salsa verde

Dessert Vegan Cheesecake with Plums jam Vegan Truffles Marshmallows

We are considering booking a festive Christmas dinner with them as it will definitely be very special!

From our experience, this experience is worth every...