We had a lovely meal here for my wife's birthday on December 20th - a rare occasion for a night out without the kids whilst we were on a pre-christmas break in Wales!The venue is lovely, the restaurant (and hotel) being set in a pretty georgian building in the countryside. Other than not quite knowing where the entrance was, once in we were welcomed warmly and shown to our table. Decor and ambiance were perfect for a dark winter night, and whilst reasonably busy, we never felt overlooked or that we didn't have privacy.We chose the 5-course tasting menu, and we had no regrets. Along with the 5 courses, we were served an initial amuse-bouche plus a post-dessert sweet treat, both of which were large enough to have really counted as additional courses!Each course was a real adventure in unexpected ingredients coming together in oddly successful ways! Given the somewhat cryptic menu, you naturally are a little trepidatious about what you might end up eating, but certainly for us there were very few "fails"!The whole evening is pulled together by the friendly, enthusiastic (and adorably nerdy) staff, who make a real effort both to explain both the food and it's provenance (pretty much EVERYTHING is locally sourced), but also do so in a way that demonstrates real enthusiasm and love for what they do.Initial trepidation was reinforced when the early course contained ingredients that traditionally I'd avoid like the plague, but in the spirit of adventure I tried anyway - to be pleasantly surprised! Eggs and Eels were transformed by the addition of strong pesto-esque basil, Parmesan became tolerable with the addition of (I think) licorice (which is normally the devil's own foodstuff) and pine nuts and AMAZING bread? (my memory is fuzzy!)Our highlights were "The Kings Estate" and the desserts. I won't ruin the surprise in case you decide to go, but both were utterly heavenly. As was the Mango cake/Mousse thing from the second dessert course!What I will say is that, excluding the dessert, it's probably the most "savoury" meal I've ever eaten. I like that, but if you prefer a more even mix of sweet and savoury flavours in your dishes, then the menu on the night we went might not be for you. In addition, the menu has very obviously had a lot of love and care put into it, and there are flavour themes that seem to run through many of the dishes - I'm recalling basil, lemongrass, licorice being particular standouts. As a consequence, if you have a particular hatred of any of them, you might not get much respite through the meal (although I generally do not eat cheese OR licorice and had a wonderful meal!). There are other menu options such as a vegetarian and vegan tasting menu though, so you have options.Overall, I think this is one of my favourite meals I've ever eaten. It was memorable for the interesting and creative food we ate, and it was augmented by really charming service from, primarily, the Head Sommelier and (if my memory serves) our server who was called Tilly (?). The fact I'm remembering names tells you much about the impact of good service.It's not a cheap restaurant, but you leave feeling like every penny was well spent. If you find yourself in Pembrokeshire, there are no shortage of great restaurants, but I'd probably recommend taking a drive out to Fernery vs booking at the more obvious sister restaurant Coast in Saundersfoot (although I bet it's lovely there on a summer night)Dietary restrictions: Vegan AND Vegetarian menus are available.Parking: It's a hotel, there's loads of parking a short walk from the building.
h5dunlop
Mind blowing and very clever, the chef is making food with a smile on his face. Each course had a bit of humour in it and some very sophisticated cooking, his technique is all local and very about the flavour of each item. I was amazed and each course was skilful and clever. A cheese course that was a Parmesan case carrying a cheese sorbet. Fantastic .
travelplannerUK
We ate here when staying at the Grove. This was the second time we have eaten here. We had the 5 course taster menu which was fantastic. The service was a combination of friendly, informative and efficient. We had our sweets in the lounge and our leftover wine was brought out to us. Will be returning
Chris Osborne
Superb food & service. Follows "you pays for what you gets" maxim.Parking: tethered ev charger points
Camile H
The Fernery Restaurant is a true hidden gem in the area. The top-class food and impeccable service make it worth the extra cost. I celebrated my partner's birthday there and had a fantastic experience. Highly recommend!
Nicu B.
Everything was superb. Tank you.
Thomas-Patrick Herren
A wonderful enjoyable evening. The service was highly professional. I think the first Michelin star can be achieved soon. Good luck and keep it up. Thank you again for a great evening!
Adrian Wolfensberger
Delicious.
Jules S
What a fantastic location, hotel and especially the restaurant. We had the 8 course tasting menu and pairing wines, and all I can say is that it was fantastic. All 8 courses were exceptional in flavour and presentation and how they do not have a star I have no idea. Honestly one of the best menus we have ever had. The staff we lovely, attentive but most of all they we themselves and their personalities were very evident. We will be returning very soon
Kieran Smart
Impeccable service and food in a lovely, calm atmosphere.All the staff and Geoge the restaurant manager, exceeded all expectations.Highly recommended!
Stunning experience from start to end. We opted for the 8 course option which was very indulgent. (I ate the pescatarian menu whilst my partner had the meat)A laid back but still elegant atmosphere in beautiful surroundings. It needs a Michelin star!Staff were lovely and each course was totally different, a fantastic mix of flavours. I loved how most items on the menu were either grown on site or from the local area.Also a big thank you for being able to cater for my gluten free needs, It felt like it was no issue for them which made me feel totally relaxed and welcomed.Would highly recommend.Vegetarian options: Vegetarian and Pescatarian menus both available.Dietary restrictions: Great for gluten free. They had made me bespoke items.
Bryan J Harris
My wife and I had an extraordinary dining experience at The Fernery last night. The food surpassed Michelin-starred dinners we've had in the US, London, and France. Each dish was a masterpiece, bursting with flavors that delighted our senses. Impeccable service and flawless presentation added to the remarkable experience. The Fernery is a hidden gem deserving of international recognition. We highly recommend it for an unforgettable culinary journey and bonus points if you have the opportunity to stay onsite at The Grove hotel
eatingplf
Hands down one of the best dinners we've ever eaten. Eight outstanding courses and exceptional service throughout the evening. The lobster and prawn dish was just outrageously good. No Michelin star tells you more about Michelin than it does about the restaurant. Go eat here if you can!
We had a lovely meal here for my wife's birthday on December 20th - a rare occasion for a night out without the kids whilst we were on a pre-christmas break in Wales!The venue is lovely, the restaurant (and hotel) being set in a pretty georgian building in the countryside. Other than not quite knowing where the entrance was, once in we were welcomed warmly and shown to our table. Decor and ambiance were perfect for a dark winter night, and whilst reasonably busy, we never felt overlooked or that we didn't have privacy.We chose the 5-course tasting menu, and we had no regrets. Along with the 5 courses, we were served an initial amuse-bouche plus a post-dessert sweet treat, both of which were large enough to have really counted as additional courses!Each course was a real adventure in unexpected ingredients coming together in oddly successful ways! Given the somewhat cryptic menu, you naturally are a little trepidatious about what you might end up eating, but certainly for us there were very few "fails"!The whole evening is pulled together by the friendly, enthusiastic (and adorably nerdy) staff, who make a real effort both to explain both the food and it's provenance (pretty much EVERYTHING is locally sourced), but also do so in a way that demonstrates real enthusiasm and love for what they do.Initial trepidation was reinforced when the early course contained ingredients that traditionally I'd avoid like the plague, but in the spirit of adventure I tried anyway - to be pleasantly surprised! Eggs and Eels were transformed by the addition of strong pesto-esque basil, Parmesan became tolerable with the addition of (I think) licorice (which is normally the devil's own foodstuff) and pine nuts and AMAZING bread? (my memory is fuzzy!)Our highlights were "The Kings Estate" and the desserts. I won't ruin the surprise in case you decide to go, but both were utterly heavenly. As was the Mango cake/Mousse thing from the second dessert course!What I will say is that, excluding the dessert, it's probably the most "savoury" meal I've ever eaten. I like that, but if you prefer a more even mix of sweet and savoury flavours in your dishes, then the menu on the night we went might not be for you. In addition, the menu has very obviously had a lot of love and care put into it, and there are flavour themes that seem to run through many of the dishes - I'm recalling basil, lemongrass, licorice being particular standouts. As a consequence, if you have a particular hatred of any of them, you might not get much respite through the meal (although I generally do not eat cheese OR licorice and had a wonderful meal!). There are other menu options such as a vegetarian and vegan tasting menu though, so you have options.Overall, I think this is one of my favourite meals I've ever eaten. It was memorable for the interesting and creative food we ate, and it was augmented by really charming service from, primarily, the Head Sommelier and (if my memory serves) our server who was called Tilly (?). The fact I'm remembering names tells you much about the impact of good service.It's not a cheap restaurant, but you leave feeling like every penny was well spent. If you find yourself in Pembrokeshire, there are no shortage of great restaurants, but I'd probably recommend taking a drive out to Fernery vs booking at the more obvious sister restaurant Coast in Saundersfoot (although I bet it's lovely there on a summer night)Dietary restrictions: Vegan AND Vegetarian menus are available.Parking: It's a hotel, there's loads of parking a short walk from the building.
Mind blowing and very clever, the chef is making food with a smile on his face. Each course had a bit of humour in it and some very sophisticated cooking, his technique is all local and very about the flavour of each item. I was amazed and each course was skilful and clever. A cheese course that was a Parmesan case carrying a cheese sorbet. Fantastic .
We ate here when staying at the Grove. This was the second time we have eaten here. We had the 5 course taster menu which was fantastic. The service was a combination of friendly, informative and efficient. We had our sweets in the lounge and our leftover wine was brought out to us. Will be returning
Superb food & service. Follows "you pays for what you gets" maxim.Parking: tethered ev charger points
The Fernery Restaurant is a true hidden gem in the area. The top-class food and impeccable service make it worth the extra cost. I celebrated my partner's birthday there and had a fantastic experience. Highly recommend!
Everything was superb. Tank you.
A wonderful enjoyable evening. The service was highly professional. I think the first Michelin star can be achieved soon. Good luck and keep it up. Thank you again for a great evening!
Delicious.
What a fantastic location, hotel and especially the restaurant. We had the 8 course tasting menu and pairing wines, and all I can say is that it was fantastic. All 8 courses were exceptional in flavour and presentation and how they do not have a star I have no idea. Honestly one of the best menus we have ever had. The staff we lovely, attentive but most of all they we themselves and their personalities were very evident. We will be returning very soon
Impeccable service and food in a lovely, calm atmosphere.All the staff and Geoge the restaurant manager, exceeded all expectations.Highly recommended!
Restaurantji Recommends
Fabulous food, interesting wines, great service
Stunning experience from start to end. We opted for the 8 course option which was very indulgent. (I ate the pescatarian menu whilst my partner had the meat)A laid back but still elegant atmosphere in beautiful surroundings. It needs a Michelin star!Staff were lovely and each course was totally different, a fantastic mix of flavours. I loved how most items on the menu were either grown on site or from the local area.Also a big thank you for being able to cater for my gluten free needs, It felt like it was no issue for them which made me feel totally relaxed and welcomed.Would highly recommend.Vegetarian options: Vegetarian and Pescatarian menus both available.Dietary restrictions: Great for gluten free. They had made me bespoke items.
My wife and I had an extraordinary dining experience at The Fernery last night. The food surpassed Michelin-starred dinners we've had in the US, London, and France. Each dish was a masterpiece, bursting with flavors that delighted our senses. Impeccable service and flawless presentation added to the remarkable experience. The Fernery is a hidden gem deserving of international recognition. We highly recommend it for an unforgettable culinary journey and bonus points if you have the opportunity to stay onsite at The Grove hotel
Hands down one of the best dinners we've ever eaten. Eight outstanding courses and exceptional service throughout the evening. The lobster and prawn dish was just outrageously good. No Michelin star tells you more about Michelin than it does about the restaurant. Go eat here if you can!
We had high tea. Superb experience.