Went to the Tudor Room for lunch in early October with great expectations as it was based on a recommendation. Sadly the experience was ruined within the first few minutes when we were bluntly told at reception that they have a strict formal dress code - which was mentioned neither in the website, over the phone when making our reservation, or in the reservation confirmation email. We were then left in the lobby of the Great Fosters waiting for the restaurant manager, feeling like naughty schoolchildren awaiting our punishment.
He invited us in to dine with them anyway, we apologised for not having known beforehand, and I suggested it would be helpful to have this mentioned on the website to avoid others making the same mistake - only to be told rather condescendingly that "well, we are a one Michelin star restaurant...". I'm sorry, but we've been to several other one- and two-starred restaurants who have been more than happy to welcome us and other patrons in smart casual, which is how we were dressed that day. I don't think he meant any harm by it, but that careless comment absolutely spoiled the afternoon for us, leaving my wife petrified of committing another faux pas and unable to relax.
We should have turned and left at that point, but carried through regardless, only to find that...
The food was decent, but nothing spectacular - I did enjoy my dessert, but the starter and mains were good but forgettable. The initial experience put a massive damper on the whole afternoon. To be fair, our waiter and waitress were lovely and warm, everything you would expect from a fine dining establishment, and they were truly let down by that one unguarded comment and lack of upfront information.
I have no problem if a restaurant wishes to enforce a dress code and am happy to conform - I can totally understand that it changes the atmosphere of a dining room, and often for the better. But if you wish to do so, I think it would only be courteous to advise your customers up front (in my case, there were three missed opportunities to do so), and not make them feel like idiots, especially in this day and age where a Michelin star can be awarded not just to white linen restaurants, but to hawker stalls in busy food courts and pubs where casual dress is the norm rather than the exception.
Needless to say - we will not be returning.
