Paul Clerehugh has run The Crooked Billet since 1989 and lives on his smallholding nearby, rearing beef and sheep and growing produce for the menu.
Today, The Crooked Billet retains the unspoilt rustic country charm that made it famous. A large and varied daily changing menu, specialising in local and British produce – buffalo milk and honey ice-cream (there’s a Buffalo farm next door and Paul keeps bees), beef, lamb, hogget and mutton from Paul’s farm, good seasonal British seafood and a legendary annual lobster festival. A blackboard on the front door encourages guests to swap their home grown delicacies for lunch.
Legendary hospitality, rustic big flavours and the rough edges of Paul Clerehugh’s cooking, have earned him an enviable reputation. He deserves his success, gaining it the hard way, not through Ready Steady Cook or publishing, but through great food.
Fantastic food, generous portions but a little pricey. The sauce that the mussels come in was beautiful - tastiest mussels I’ve ever had. The scallops were great but the black pudding could have been warmer. Duck, calamari and burrata all tasty. The ciabatta was a little dry. The interior needs a bit of a clean - a lot of cobwebs and the chair fabric is quite tatty. However, it’s an unusual and cosy place to have a meal. Service was excellent. Service charge not added to the bill - so refreshing. Definitely going back.
Superb outside dining experience here with some friends from US. Really friendly and efficient service. Great menu, hard to choose just one dish per course! Went for the luncheon set menu. Mussels were perfectly cooked in a very rich tomato sauce. My perfectly cooked duck had nicely rendered crispy skin, toothsome beans and rich sauce balanced by the samphire and smear of salsa verde. My guests were amazed at the beautifully executed chicken liver parfait which we all shared. The curried quinoa cakes really worked and my friend’s fillet steak and scallops hit the spot for him. Overall it was a lovely, quiet and traffic-free location; I’m only sorry we hadn’t been before! Highly recommended.
I went with a fee friends to see some live music. The show was ace. The food was outstanding with a great variety of dishes on the menu. Loved the building and it is steeped in history. Some very interesting old classic French cars in the rear car park.
We had the most incredible wedding at the Crooked Billet and cannot recommend Paul and the team enough. The food was incredible (everybody told us it was the best food they've ever had at a wedding!), the service was faultless (and so friendly, what a team they have here!) and they created the most relaxed and amazing day!
We had a fabulous family meal on Sunday, the service was exemplary from the moment we arrived. The Sunday roast and Sea Bass did not disappoint and the desserts were delicious. I also discovered the best wine I’ve ever sampled.
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Stoke Row, Henley-on-Thames, RG9
4.6/5
500 year old pub/restaurant/accommodation in Stoke Row. Comfortable, friendly, cosy and welcoming. Fantastic décor, pretty garden. Well kept ales, wines and fresh seasonal monthly menus. Locals, families, dogs, walkers, cyclists, all welcome. Come!
Checkendon, Reading, RG8
4.8/5
