The Slab House Inn, Wells

I rang the Slab House in November 2010 to book a table for 14 guests, This was for our Family Christmas get together. I asked the person who answered the phone what dates they were open over the Chrismas period, and he told me that they were closed Mondays and Sunday evenings, I booked the table for Tuesday 28th December 2010 for 1pm lunch time, I gave my phone number and address so he could send me some menus, Menus arrived so I had no reason to think there was any problem. I rang the pub on the Tuesday morning to check if all was well, but there was no answer, so I thought they must be busy, When we arrived at the Slab House IT WAS CLOSED!!!!!!!!!!!! Some of my Family had come quite along way to meet up with us at the Slab House. We were all very angry and dissapointed as we have always had no problems with the Slab House in the past. They could not be bothered to ring me to let me know they were going to be closed that day. Well the rumours about the Slab House are true, no one knows when they are open or closed, or even if the food is any good since it changed ownership. WELL WE WILL NOT BE BOTHERING TO GO THERE AGAIN, TO EVEN TRY AND FIND OUT.

I have eaten The Slab House many times over the years and it has always had a good reputation and been busy. I didnt hesitate booking a table for our girlie christmas get together, however when we arrived, the pub was empty other than us, half of the pub was in darkness and it just felt really strange being in a big empty pub with no atmosphere. The menu looked lovely, however it was a set menu of £25 a head but we were just after good hearty pub food. The chef was accommodating and offered to adjust the menu for us, but it wasnt the evening we were looking for so we left without ordering. We were very embarrassed to have left them as clearly we were their only customers that evening but they were very gracious towards us.

Went 20th November 2010 as a birthday treat partly on the strength of the website menu, was bitterly disappointed as the vegetarian choice was virtually nil and 2 out of the 4 of my party were vegetarians.

We found the place cold, the staff were not attentive, seemed to be untrained even though the Inn appeared to be promoting an up market appearance, the food was quite expensive.

The meat course was good quality and the desserts were off same quality

The service and food was excellent.

I would go again. We were the only diners on a thursday night,not a problem for me, but may put off some people.

Maybe pricey for Wells people-(who enjoy piled plates)

Food well presented and original.

I was staying in a holiday let close to the slab house and was recommended to go as it was under new management I wasn't disappointed. I went with my partner the food service and decor was fantastic a busy Friday night. The food is amazing great presentation and taste. The service was also friendly and attentive. I would recommend it to anyone to give it a try. A fantastic night out thankyou I've never tasted food like it truly brilliant

I ate here on a firday night with my parents and we enjoyed a fantastic display of cooking and service from this recently re-opened restaurant.

The chef clearly has big ideas for turning this nice family pub into a more formal dining experience with real flair and some very imaginitve modern cooking techniques on display.

The food is a notch above any of the local pub food found in the area, and whilst this is reflected in the price, it is far superiour to most of the local restaurants.

I enjoyed a fantastic chicken and foie gras terrine, some PERFECTLY cooked pork tenderloin and a beautifly smooth creme brulee for an extremely enjoyable 3 courses from the £30 set menu. My father ate probably the highlight of the evening, a salmon dish served with a salmon skin crackling.

The service was friendly and nothing was too much trouble. I enquired about the cooking technique used on my father's salmon dish, and upon asking if it was cooked "sous vide" as I expected, I was invited into the kitchen to meet the chef, who was extremely happy to discuss his dishes with me, a real treat. He is clearly very passionate about the great food he is serving, and I think could achieve great things at this establishment.

This is a more formal dining experience than a lot of the restaurants in the area, and it is not the sort of place to go for a quick "steak and chips" as some other reviews seemed to complain. However, as someone who has eaten in many of the local restaurants, I can confidently say this is the most adventurous cuisine in the area, with the most advanced skills of any local kitchen.

Book a table before it gets too popular. You will not be disapointed!

For a birthday celabration we booked a table for 9, we also had a very young child. The service was very slow, waited for over an hour for the first course.Very expencive and very shoddy service, will not be eating there again.

After deciding on a Friday that we wanted someone else too cook tea, we called The Slab House to book a table. We have eaten there many times before (under the old management) & thoroughly enjoyed the choice & atmosphere. We had seen the massive signage stating refurbishment & heard about new owners so thought we'd give it a go. We being, my husband, me & our 3 yr old son.

On arriving, the pub was completely empty apart from a gentelman who called in for a quick drink on his way home from work (he walked in & walked out). We promptly got shown to our table & given a menu. Considering we only came out to maybe grab 'steak & chips' for a quick Friday night tea, we were absolutely shocked at the menu in that there was not much choice & the price. Prices are based on £22-25 per head for very fancy food (main course only)...don't get me wrong I really enjoy this type of food but not with a 3 yr old & not in that type of atmosphere / surroundings. The food was quite rich & pureed and I couldn't eat all of my lamb as it had been shredded & piled in the middle of the plate along with other pureed veggies...it all really tasted like babyfood and the lamb tasted as if it had been regurgitated (sorry!).

The surroundings are ok, new wallpaper on one wall, new window dressings, new chairs, paint on walls however there were still some big brass plates on the wall which just didn't go. The bar area looked bare & uninviting.

The staff were friendly & prompt until a girl appeared out of the kitchen with what appeared to be wet, long hair...surely health & safety would state all hair to be tied back??

I hate to say this as I don't like putting down people that are trying to do something different but I really wouldn't recommend this pub/restaurant to anyone. Its too big to be a fancy, intimate dining experience and if I wanted that I would to Hunstrete House or the Moody Goose to get the full compliment. Its not a place for children. It was, for us a waste of £80. Apparently some people that arrived just as we were leaving, walked out...I wish we had the guts to do this.

If you like fancy food, expensive menu & ok surroundings then give it a try, if not stick to your local.

We had heard that The Slab House was under new management and as it was our wedding anniversary decided to treat ourselves.

The restaurant was difficult to find as it was very badly lit. The decoration was poor and in the section to the side, where we were placed, was totally lacking in both ambience and customers.

The waitress was attentive but didn't have the right approach for a restaurant of this supposed quality.

The food was okay but was not to the quality that we were expecting.

The evening was fine but didn't match the fine dining experience that we were expecting. The general lack of atmosphre atmosphere didn't make you want to linger too long.

An okay dining experience!

I have never written a review before. But last night I ate some truly delicious and exciting food. We ordered the tasting menu and each course brought more imaginative tastes and creative combinations. It was cooked to perfection and visually was a work of art.

The surroundings were perfectly pleasant. We were sitting by the window. Intimate but the correct distance from the next table. I would have liked a bit more light to see my food as my eyesight isn't brilliant and I don't think I was able to appreciate fully the colours and pictures on the plate.

The service was good. Everyone was pleasant, friendly and attentive and I don't think this was because they were at a loose end as the place seemed pretty full.

I haven't ever eaten here before and have only been for a drink when it was a pub and did pub food. Obviously they are still in transition from pub to fine restaurant and this is going to take time. You can't have steak and chips and kids' dinky dinners AND parsnip ice cream with cumin crisps (amazing) all on the same menu. It just doesn't work.

It is only a matter of time before this chef gets the recognition he deserves and people are having to book far in advance to get a table. Incidentally, he came out to chat to us after the meal about the food sources and his ideas for developing the restaurant and gardens. I think this place has a great future.