Bricklayers Arms, Hogpits Bottom, Flaunden

Gourmet dining in the picture perfect village of Flaunden.

http://www.bricklayersarms.com/

This is a restaurant for serious food lovers. I've been a few times including with Sophisticated Acquaintance, who is a critical foodie and an unabashed epicure. The menu is unexpectedly high brow for the pub setting.

The menu  is however, daunting for a vegetarian let alone a vegan. It's equally daunting for those not familiar with food presented in the French style, so if you don't know your  foie gras mi cuit from your mirepoix, I'd suggest you refresh your knowledge before taking anyone you want to impress.

That being said, as I happened to be timorously enquiring at the bar area about the ingredients of a risotto when the very stereotype of a French Chef emerged, overhearing me. He swept the waiter aside and said that if I did not mind a little wait, he would cook something from scratch for me. It would be vegan yes, magnifique.

And lo, as Sophisticated Acquaintance nodded approvingly at the presentation of his meal, the chirpy waiter brought out the chef's very own vegan risotto and artfully arranged vegetables with minimum fuss and at the end, no extra charge.

The menu may not be vegan friendly but the chef deserves particular mention for not only providing excellent customer service but a beautiful meal.

I have been subsequently and managed to make a meal from available side orders and starters. Not perfect but I get the impression that whilst they may not always be able to accommodate a vegan, they might well be able to with a bit of advanced warning.

Vegan Food : Bespoke on a good day but otherwise difficult.
Ambience: Pleasant Gourmet  Gastro Pub
Customer Service: Couldn't be faulted.