Anchor Ripley - Woking

Wonderful set 5 course menu for New Year's Eve. Inspirational food.

Imaginative food well cooked in a comfortable and informal environment. Service is both professional and friendly. Excellent value for the standard of cooking

We had a super set menu lunch, generally truffles always worth a try and starter was excellent, beef main was superb!

Food was exquisite but like so many 'fine dining ' restaurants I felt that the portions were a bit mean. In particular the absence of vegetables unless you have side orders at £3.50 a throw (plus 10% 'discretionary ' service charge). Also the only potatoes on offer were chips or croquettes. Far better surely to include with the main course a dish of freshly cooked seasonal vegetables to share. When I mentioned this discreetly to the waiter as we settled the bill (I did pay the discretionary 10% as overall the meal was very good) he wanted to argue the point rather than a simple 'I will pass your comment back to the chef ' which I found rather irritating. I have been to the Anchor three times now and have ordered off both the fixed price and a la carte, and have left each time feeling the same stingy! Clearly I am not the only one if you read the reviews on tripadvisor.

I've eaten with 3 friends in the anchor last Thursday. we were warmly welcomed, but had to wait for our courts to come. two of the party had chosen the burger, two the venison, the very attractive on the map. the venison came on cold plates quite a past after the burgers. the court looked nice, but was cold. it was taken away and replaced, on slightly warm tellers, but eating was best tepid. the two who eat the burgers said that their meals were not as hot as this. the side dish of the fritten was hot and perfectly acceptable. Those who chose the pears for pudding have chosen themselves well. it was delicious! we spoke our disappointment about the main courses and were not accused for them. that was a welcome and generous gesture. I can only accept (and hope) that there was a problem in the kitchen this day and that the anchor normally serves warm dishes that pierce hot on hot plates. we are happy to have a restaurant in the good food guide in front of our doorstep and look forward to a happier experience at our next visit.