Trying to find the best restaurants in Surrey, approved by experts-in-the-know, look no further than this handy guide by our resident foodies. Lying to the south west of London, Surrey remains a hotspot for urban commuters. It’s a county that gives residents the best of both worlds: here, you are in reach of the city yet able to enjoy its bucolic spaces, such as the Surrey Hills Area of Natural Beauty.
When it comes to the county’s culinary scene, it goes without saying that up and down its high streets are the usual quota of chain offerings: whether that is Gail’s or Giggling Squid. These are not to be sniffed at for a quick bite with friends or family, of course, but with the capital so close, many locals have more discerning tastes. As a result, there is a thriving culinary scene that makes the most of the region’s home-grown produce – whether in a gourmet dish or a hearty Sunday roast eaten in a country inn.
While it has its fair share of sought-after, fine dining restaurants, some of Surrey’s most memorable spots are little insider gems that locals hold dear. The Barn KT19, for instance, is a rural farm close to Epsom and home to a wellness space and glamping facilities. Go for a summer’s walk across the fields, and you’ll find an artisan café on site, complete with restaurant-standard cakes and patisserie. What’s more, head there on a Tuesday evening, and you’ll also discover the cool Dough Boyz’s street food van serving steaming hot pizza slices and oozy calzone, which you can eat sat on a haystack as the sun goes down. Sometimes, it’s the simplest places that have a lasting impact. Here are the best restaurants in Surrey right now for a delectable feast.
Latymer
Best for: The three-hour-long tasting menu
Dish to order: The tasting menu is based around a ‘surprise’ concept, so dishes vary, but you’re in luck if they serve the bite-sized, cheese and truffle choux puffs to kick off proceedings
Found in a wood-panelled room in the oldest part of Pennyhill Park Hotel (it dates back to 1849), Latymer has held a Michelin Star for the past 20 years. Multi-award-winning chef Steve Smith oversees the inventive kitchen, which also boasts 5 AA Rosettes. This is old-school fine dining – with a twist. There is no menu as such, the choice is either a four or six course feast, called a ‘discovery menu’, with the surprise element the focus. The menu is regularly updated, but you can expect it to start with a series of small snacks crafted to perfection, such as slender slithers of yellowfin tuna or a tiny cup of Jerusalem artichoke cappuccino. The highlights are the Brixham sea bass served with cauliflower, grapes and razor clams and Aynhoe deer which comes with beetroot, parsnip and hibiscus. Leave room for the final flourish – a chestnut and Hukambi chocolate choux. You can opt for the wine-pairing or ask head sommelier, Gabriel Lee, for his thoughtful suggestions.
