Birch at Woburn, The Reviews

I've never been disappointed at the Birch and sometimes wonder why I don't go more often. I think curiosity and the desire for variety keeps me trying other places only to often find them wanting. So I'm booked in with friends again this weekend. I've dined there several times and the service has always been friendly and efficient as well as making you feel special. The complimentary tomato bread with olives and olive oil with balsamic dip is the best I've tasted. Mains varying from fish to venison to steaks from the grill are always cooked wonderfully and come with excellent potatoes, vegetables and where appropriate a divine sauce or jus. I'm not a dessert person but love their coffee; I raved about it so much one night that they gave me a small packet of their filter coffee to take home. The wine list is also very accessible with the cheaper range being of very decent quality even for the fussy. The bill is also usually a nice surprise and you leave feeling that you have had good value for money along with the cheery good night. A place where giving good tip is a pleasure.

I took my mum to The Birch for a birthday meal. The staff were very welcoming and attentive. The food was 'to die for' and the bill came up to £45 for two mains, dessert and drinks. Good value, excellent food and service. I would not hesitate to recommend.

My husband took me to The Birch for my birthday, had a wonderful meal in lovely settings with friendly staff. They asked when he booked if it was a special occasion so when we arrived at our table there was a birthday card for me and when my dessert arrived they had written happy birthday in chocolate on the plate, which I thought was a lovely touch and made it a more special meal. I would definitely go again.

One word can summarise our visit: disappointing. The restaurant was highly recommended so whilst visiting Woburn we walked from the village to The Birch. The first impression on the outside was not good: far too many geraniums! It was far too quaint. As we entered the restaurant, it got better inside. A friendly barman offered us drinks. It was lunchtime and sunny, so we asked for an outside table which they showed us too. Well we were expecting a lovely outside garden but instead we found an enclosed terrace with room for two tables! It was hardly like what you'd expect in a country pub/restaurant. Then the food! Two of us had for the main course Caesar salads which were very poor whilst my partner has risotto which was more like rice! We didn't hang around for any other food as I would rather have cooked my own lunch at home.

P.S. The inside decor was very strange. It felt like we had walked into a retirement home in Florida! It was hardly like what you would expect in the adorable old village of Woburn. We wished we had gone to Loch Fyne where you know what you'll get!

My fiancé’s place of work sent us for a meal at the Birch, having glanced at their website we were ready to be intimidated - but we were made to feel very welcome, the staff were very friendly and attentive without being overbearing. Although of course some of the clientele is a bit posh, I cannot say that I felt they were looking down their noses at us Lutonians - we were just another couple there for lunch!

The food was absolutely divine. I don't usually fancy a starter, as I'm quite picky, but as someone else was paying I thought I'd give Caesar salad a go - a little too much lemon in the dressing, but otherwise scrumptious. There were lots of bits of bacon and chicken, and the lovely centre crunchy bits of lettuce.

For mains we both had an 8oz steak, one with salad and one with vegetables. Oh My Goodness - the most delicious steak we have ever tasted! Perfect. It was so big though, that despite a long pause of trying to finish the rest of the wine - a dessert could not even be contemplated! Shame! I long for the day when we can go back here, but we do not have access to a car.

I was not impressed by the Birch. The young South African man who showed us to our table and the gentleman who took our order were charming, but the other waiting staff were going through the motions and lacked personality. Our wine glasses were not exactly sparkling and mine had dried food on it. I swapped it with another member of our party, who wasn't drinking wine, in front of the waitress and she didn't make any comment. Our starters were just ok. The main courses were all lukewarm. There was music playing all the time and it was far too loud. And their worst mistake - not having someone near the door to say 'goodbye and thank you'. The Black Horse at Ireland knocks the spots off the Birch. Their staff are fabulous and the chef is far superior.

I have eaten at the Birch a few times and always been very pleased with the experience. The feel of the restaurant is posh but approachable and the staff seem very nice without being too clingy. The food is excellent, I had langoustines for starter which were just the best! You can purchase food by the Oz so you can specify your steak size.

Main course I had Ostrich which wasn't that nice but not the restaurants fault, I just didn't like the meat. For pudding I had a rather nice chocolate dish that finished the meal off a treat. Marks out of 10! I'll give it 9.

I went there in a group of 4 for my birthday last year and had a wonderful meal. Their selection of steaks and fish is very impressive. Can't wait for an opportunity to go back there.