The Black Rat Restaurant Reviews

Delicious! Friendly relaxed atmosphere with an interesting seasonal menu which tasted fantastic. A must-visit Michelin star restaurant.

This was quite honestly the best meal I've had. The service was impeccable, friendly but not overbearing. Nothing was too much trouble. A good amount of time was left between serving each course which I feel makes a world of difference, and gives you a full evening. All in all, excellent.

Not what I'm used to in a Michelin starred restaurant, but really nice food.

First restaurant visit in a long time, and this was bsolutely amazing experience. We had our own outside seating that was covered and heated. Menu was very interesting, desert was the highlight. Don't forget to have pre drinks at the nearby Black Boy - also truly unique

The staff make you feel welcome as soon as you arrive. One of the few michelin restaurants that serves great food in a casual environment.

Very attentive staff, tasteful decor, extensive wine selection. Had the set lunch menu, which was very nice, although much too rich for me. As a Michelin restaurant I expected better, but menus vary and maybe on another day it would have been a different story.

Super venue, excellent food and brilliant service. I will definitely go back.

Outside heated booths were fabulous for romantic anniversary dinner. Very safe covid measures in place. Delicious food and the usual great, friendly service with brilliant wine recommendations.

Absolutely amazing food!!!! Cannot wait to go back here post lockdown.

Never failed to have a great meal here. Intimate on an evening, more relaxed for Sunday lunch.

Amazing food in a lovely setting, would highly recommend.

The Black Rat is one of the best restaurants I've ever been to. The food is unique, beautifully plated and sooooo flavoursome! The service is excellent! My boyfriend and I were beyond satisfied with our dinner here :) We will definitely come back soon!

Great Food, nice relaxed environment, brilliant service from all the team.

It was a lovely experience and 95% of the food was absolutely delicious. We tried the tasting menu with paired wines. The paired wine option didn't quite flow for me as it wasnt an individual pairing to dish but a red and white option that flowed with all the dishes. Had a great time and the staff were fabulous - personally I like a bit more of an 'experience' at Michelin star restaurants so wont rush back. But it's a very good restaurant and I'd recommend trying it.

A return and a third visit to the Black Rat on Friday 09 March 2018.
4 of us had Dinner there last Friday night and unfortunately and disappointingly the food was really not that special.
Our starters of Ham Hock terrine, Trout and Smoked Eel were fine, but what followed was not.
The Brill was tasteless, the Chestnut Gnocchi nothing that wonderful, the Pollock was overcooked and dry, the Brandade was not a Brandade but was presented as dried up flakes of Salted Cod, a very unpleasant concoction.
Having finished our starters we waited 1 hour for our main courses to arrive , probably because the kitchen was busy cooking and serving a large party upstairs.
A pet hate, why train your "servers" of wine to continuously overfill wine glasses, especially when you're drinking chilled wine? The wine just warms up in the glass and becomes less enjoyable.
Otherwise, service was great.

Disappointing for the money. Food was ok but not amazing, service was a bit fussy and the restaurant lacked atmos - fake flickery lights and felt more like your gran's living room than a michelin star eaterie. Toilets were grubby. Love the Black Boy and The Black Bottle but the Black Rat is a let down.

Disappointed. Service excellent. Food very good, but not outstanding. Amount of food poor. A case of style over substance. Price exorbitant.

The food was delicious, very well cooked, and beautifully presented but the portion sizes were really too small (my main felt like a starter). The staff were attentive (maybe too much at times) and the place exudes quality. You pay for the experience and even though we enjoyed it I'm not in a hurry to go back.

Wow!! Fantastic food, great value 3 course set lunch menu. Highly recommended.

Had a wonderful dinner here courtesy of my other half, for my birthday.

We arrived, were greeted warmly and had a choice of tables, though the restaurant soon filled up.



The Aber Falls Marmalade gin was wonderful and the wine list was extensive and eclectic.

We started with some wonderful bread rolls and accompaniments, I then while I had the Asian Duck my girlfriend had the quail egg starters. Both dishes were delicious. Probably the best piece of duck I have had, and the spring roll was crispy and tasty.

We followed these with the scallops & squid ink pasta and the Wagyu beef. The Way beef dish was the star of the culinary experience for me, everything was cooked to perfection with mushroom and a veal brain croquette. Utterly fantastic.

We ordered a robust Pinot Noir to accompany this dish which just enhanced the experience.

For dessert we respectively had the pressed apple terrine & woodruff brulee and followed these with truffles and coffee.

The food was out of this world, the service perfect and the evening, just so special. I would love to return and thank the staff for making my birthday so very special.

A highly recommended experience.

Lovely homely building at atmosphere. Staff were friendly and helpful, happy to talk through the menu. We went for the tasting menu, and it was amazing. Each course tasted and looked amazing. Particularly enjoyed the John Dory!

Excellent experience. Laid back Michelin star dining.

Beautifully quirky restaurant with a lovely cosy vibe. Mine and my boyfriend's starters of duck and quail were exceptional; the ox heart main and iberico pork main were both delicious and well cooked, although I felt there was too much More

The food is unusual, adventurous and delicious. We went for lunch which is 2/3 courses and very reasonable. The drinks were expensive and there is a set service charge however. But it was a special experience.

Name "Rats" speak for itself, no surprise visitors, injoy some tails from the rats in any of the plates

My 3rd visit to the Black Rat was unfortunately my worst. The food was still really good, just not as spectacular as it used to be.

New Forest Pony on the menu.... Not nice and very pretentious!

As a friend memorably said upon entering "aah, it feels like home". Great relaxed atmosphere, and new chef is doing great things - expect it to retain that star.

Incredible food and service! It was the best restaurant food we ve ever had! Gareth and Jose really looked after us. Can t recommend this place enough for an unforgettable evening!

The staff, service and ambience were all superb but let down by the beef dish. 2 of our party ordered the beef and both were disappointed as the meat was tough and the sauce was very 'oxo'y'. Not what you expect from a Michelin Star restaurant.

The food was delicious and I love the homely interiors. They also have these really cool round houses outside which are heated and you get little blankets too so it s super cosy and romantic!

The food was superb and the service best I have ever had . The desserts were amazing the chocolate dessert with truffle and mushroom is hands down the best thing I have ever eaten please.visit and enjoy
. I have been a chef for twenty years and can not touch what these guys are producing . Thank you the black rat and team

We have been dining at the Black Rat since it opened but our recent visit was disappointing, the dishes where over complicated to the detriment of the ingredients. Servings were consistently chopped into small pieces with dressings that submerged the quality of the individual components. The bill was more expensive and we went home hungry as well. Felt like a restaurant trying too hard to get 2 stars. Will probably eat in the New Forest next time (The Pig, Lime Wood or Montagu Arms).

Food was ok but not Michelin star level and was very disappointed to see veal on a modern menu - obviously ethics doesn't count for much at this place. Also, one of our party was vegetarian for which choice was very limited. All a bit 1980s.

Really lovely welcoming staff and some of the best food I have had the pleasure of eating. Yes, it is expensive, but worth it.

Such an excellent restaurant! Great ambience, the best professional and friendly staff, plus wonderfully interesting food. I was fortunate to be treated to an evening here recently to celebrate my birthday, and it was perfect.

Superb! Great , unpretentious service and amazing food

Pretty good dinner here, in rustic antique decor. Some delicious moments like the cod in sweet potato chowder. Wasn't that impressed with the apple terrine dessert. Appreciate the hard work and effort in each dish, I guess it comes down to personal tastes.

The food was just beautiful, portions were obviously slightly smaller than most restaurants, but it only made you savour the meal even more. Pink peppercorn sorbet was absolutely mind blowing. Definitely recommend

We were bought a gift voucher as a wedding present and went last night. The choice of food was very varied and made the choice a little dilemma.our choices are as in the pictures and were excellent. Wine list is extensive. Attentive staff. If you like gin they have separate menu for that. Lots of different gins. It's not a cheap experience as you expect but would definitely come back, I understand they have heated outside seating so maybe try that.

If I had any criticism which I didn't really but it would be the lighting which was quite dark and it made it difficult to see what we were eating.

Lovely modern British cuisine, with some really interesting ideas, pigs blood bavouir for dessert anyone!? ( It was silky smooth and delicious).
Reasonable price for a Michelin star too. But beware - there are no substitutions on the tasting menu, so if you have any dietary preferences or allergies you may have an issue.
The building itself is a lovely old timber framed cottage, uneven floors and incredibly low doors abound, makes for a pleasent quirky setting and after sampling the wine and cocktails and reasonable obstacle course for those of us over 6ft!

Attentive and friendly staff, amazing food, and a cosy atmosphere

Lacks ambiance. Food OK but expected more from a Michelin 1 star restaurant

Great venue. Does more than it says on the tin. Been many times which I guess says it all. You simply have to try...

Visited to celebrate my wife's 40th for lunch. 3 course set meal.
The menu was small but perfectly formed, with a very good selection of wines and beers etc.
The food was excellent and the service matched too.
It was an experience and we didn't feel rushed, with time between courses to enjoy our time there.
I look forward to booking again once the second lockdown is over!

Wow. Had an amazing night. Incredible food, fantastic service, just a 5 star experience. Every part of the meal was exceptional, Will definitely be back.

Michelin restaurant and food as expected - amazing. Though not child friendly so families be warned you may go there for romantic nights rather than for family meal.

Balance, harmony, excitement - all ingredients for an unforgettable evening. Had trout with bisque ice cream and ox heart and cheek - unique experience :)

Wonderful restaurant. The standard of the food was very high as you would expect. The selections of gin available was great and I really enjoyed trying some new varieties. The service was very good and the staff attentive. The set lunch menu is reasonable especially given the quality of the food and how tasty it was. The setting is a little quirky as it is an old building and the restaurant appears to have been a old pub or tearoom at some point.

Really amazing food , great menu and the staff are knowledgeable and passionate

Beautiful ambience, perfect service, menu was changed to meet dietary needs at only an hours notice. 5*

Service and food were impeccable, staff really went the extra mile!

The service is a bit on the slow side but the Sunday set menu is amazing value for money. Probably not worth a Michelin star but it would be good to try the a la carte menu

Service was a bit slow which took a bit of the shine of our experience here. However the food was very good and capably cooked - pleasant flavours. My partner had a chowder which was very good.

Absolutely wonderful. Staff amazing. Service spot on. Food truly excellent. Great wines. Haven't tried the Gin selection yet, but I bet it's good. Lovely decor and sweet outdoor area with little huts

Taken years to try the Black Rat, wow it totally exceeded all expectations. Highly recommend.

Been here 3 or 4 times now, most recently in May 2019 on a sat eve. Food has always been standout and certainly 1 star worthy. It s not theatrical or molecular - what it is, is delicious, well presented, well portioned, interesting food in a cozy atmosphere with excellent, friendly and informed staff. Comparing to other 1 or even 2 starred restaurants it easily holds its own. If you re in the local area / staying within a reasonable drive, then this is a must eat for anyone who enjoys their food. Scotch egg, rabbit, and lamb all fantastic and the madeleines are a must have (a bit of a speciality of the black rat). Extensive gin menu too here. Certainly recommend.

Incredible food. Locally sourced and not cheap but great for a special treat

Stunning food and very professional staff. Highly recommended and will definitely be returning.

The food is exceptional and the service is exemplary.

Such a wonderful evening. Staff were attentive, knowledgeable and make us feel so welcome. Food was glorious, and so reasonably priced for what you get. Not our first visit, and certainly not our last.

Relaxed. Homely. Beautiful food in both flavour and presentation. Exceptionally knowledgeable staff. Can't wait to return.

Amazing place, staff are fantastic and have great measures in place for covid. Went for my birthday recently in July and had a wonderful lunch. Thank you

Very enjoyable tasting menu. Fairly expensive but a lot of work and imagination went into the food. Needs a better wine pairing experience which they are planning to arrange apparently.

Loved the relaxed atmosphere. Food is of the interesting variety. Each mouthful is carefully planned and thought out. You can't just go stuffing your face at this place. Food worth thinking about.

Me and my partner came hear to celebrate our engagement. We found that nothing was to much for the staff who knew everything about the menu. They where very obliging to and couldent do enough for us. We are definitely coming back!!!

The quality of the food was spectacular, presentation was astonishing, and the garden setting was so romantic on the warm summer evening.

Excellent customer service. Covid protection excellent.

Hidden away in the ground floor of what might've been a rooming house - we'd have liked to have read about the house - we were warmly greeted and given a choice of tables. The Ambience was wonderful, quite a romantic place or somewhere to take a small group of friends, it had a warm country feel to it whilst having the service/table sophistication one would expect with a Michelin Star restaurant . We elected the Tasting Menu and half bottle Wine Match per recommendation. The food was well presented and tasty. Some combinations we weren't so sure about and I resisted the urge to season my dishes as I respect this is how the chef wants their dishes tasted tasted. My favourite was the dessert with macaroon.
Overall an enjoyable experience but we weren't *amazed* which is our usual feeling from at least one dish when visiting Australian chef hat restaurants.

Friendly staff, lovely atmosphere and delicious food. We had the scallops and salmon to start, pork for main and figgy pudding and cheesecake for desert. The pork was particularly delicious. Truffles with the bill were a nice touch too!

Great service and setting. Food was excellent wine a great wine selection too. Good for a special night when you aren't watching the pennies!

Delightful set menu, hardest part, deciding what to have for each course. Staff were very helpful and happy to accommodate our needs.

Amazing food with a romantic setting! Definitely worth a visit if you're visiting Winchester.