Review: The Bird in Hand – Knowl Hill

The Bird in Hand is a hidden gem located in Knowl Hill near Maidenhead. It is a 14th century country inn with a history that spans 600 years. Not only is it the perfect place to sit next to a fire and enjoy a quiet drink but you can also have a comforting meal in the restaurant. If a warm meal with friendly service is what you are after then The Bird in Hand could be your answer.

My husband and I visited the venue one Friday night. It was our first visit. We walked in through the pub entrance and were escorted to the restaurant, which has a very cosy but modern feel with tables lit by candles. It was a very romantic setting.

The menu at The Bird in Hand caters for all. There are a large number of hearty dishes – especially for those, like me, who are vegetarian.

For starters, I ordered a Warm Goats Cheese & Onion Marmalade on a Walnut Crouton with Mixed Leaves & Roasted Beetroot. The portions were excellent and dishes presented beautifully. The beetroot was a great addition to the dish and its sweetness complemented the goats cheese very well.

My husband was presented with a large portion of mussels in a creamy white sauce, which he said was full of flavour but not overpowering. The mussels were cooked to perfection and were complemented by the garlic and parsley sauce. He was very pleased with the starter and after devouring the mussels he was left with the sauce, which doubled up as a soup. He finished it off with the crusty bread that was provided. Overall our starters were superb.

For my main meal I knew I wanted something warm on this cold wintery evening. After asking our waiter for a recommendation, I went for a Nut Roast Wellington with Chestnut Cream Sauce, New Potatoes & Vegetables. The nut roast was full of flavour with mushrooms and the cream sauce was delicious - I only wish there was more of it to dip my potatoes in.

My husband is on a mission to try a steak in every restaurant he visits so I wasn’t surprised to hear his order: An 8oz Fillet Steak with Creamy Paprika & Mushroom sauce and Thick Cut Chips. The fillet steak was cooked medium rare as requested and the flavour was excellent. He said the sauce balanced with the flavours of the steak superbly and the chips were cooked just how he liked them - crisp on the outside and soft in the middle. A side dish of cabbage was also provided which added a fresh crunch to the dish. Overall the dish was very satisfying.

We were so full by this point but knew we had to make room for dessert. As a chocolate lover I headed straight for the Pure Decadence in a Sunken Drunken Chocolate Cake served with Ice Cream. This is a beautiful dessert - rich but balanced with vanilla ice cream.

The husband bizzarely does not love chocolate so he ordered a Bakewell Cheesecake with Vanilla Ice Cream which I was quick to also taste. It was delectable - soft and creamy with a crunchy biscuit base. The topping of almonds was an interesting addition but worked well with the richness of the dessert.

We had such a lovely meal that we decided to stay for a drink next to the ambient fireplace in the pub.

The venue, which provides newly refurbished accommodation, offers a relaxed environment to enjoy a quiet meal or drink. It is in a peaceful location. It is easy to forget where you are when you are in The Bird in Hand and we would highly recommend it.

I am looking forward to next visiting the Bird in Hand during the summer.