Clos du Marquis French Restaurant — Restaurant in Test Valley

My wife and I visited this restaurant one lunchtime last week. We chose the fixed-price menu and made our choices while sitting in the small lounge area and having our aperitifs. A nice touch was a small complimentary plate of canapes brought with our drinks. All of the menu choices were very appealing but eventually we both chose the entrée du jour which was a pike paté accompanied by a small salad; it was the first time we had eaten pike and we both liked the distinctive taste. For our main courses, I chose a traditional Boeuf Bourginon, which was the plat de saison and seemed appropriate for the slightly chilly day, while my wife chose breast of chicken. However, because she has a fungi allergy, the chef made a special sauce instead of the advertised morel & sherry sauce. We chose to have different house wines by the glass and found them very acceptable. We both thought our food delicious. We do not have large appetites and so opted to finish our meal with just coffee. Highly recommended for interesting food at a reasonable price; we look forward to...

We went with another couple for lunch and all felt it was the best experience in our recent memory which is saying something as we love eating out! Sorry I didn't take pictures of the food which was delicious from the amuse-bouche to the chocolate truffles served complimentary at the end of our meal. Champagne excellent, crab starter excellent, rabbit with mustard sauce absolutely divine. But in addition to the lovely food and wine, the owner was so very welcoming without being intrusive, served perfectly so we always felt taken care of but our conversations never interrupted. It was like the Gavroche where no one appears until you need them. To take it to perfect 5 stars, the restaurant was immaculately clean and the decorations and loos beautifully done. That is where these pictures are from as I would like to copy the idea - sorry no pictures of the well...

Thank you to the Clos du Marquis for an excellent dinner which was a belated birthday celebration and a wonderful end to a hot summer's day visiting Stockbridge Open Gardens. We really enjoyed the ambience and attentive but informal service. There are clearly good reasons why this small business endures thanks to the couple who own and run it. We found the menu concise but excellently executed. We really enjoyed the Menu du Terroir options (creole prawns and duck) and equally the A la carte choices (scallops and Dover Sole). The little added touches of the canapes and bread and the delicious chocolate to finish were appreciated. Honestly, we couldn't fault anything and hope to return one day. There are only a few tables and a single service, so book well ahead...