The Dining Room at Whatley Manor launches first ‘à la carte’ menu

The Michelin-starred Dining Room restaurant at Whatley Manor has launched its own version of an à la carte menu for the first time.

 

Executive chef Ricki Weston said the move would offer “more flexibility” to diners at the Cotswolds hotel.

 

The £120 à la carte offer is available as an alternative to the Dining Room’s full 12-course, £175 tasting menu.

 

It begins with an in-kitchen experience before offering guests a choice of three of the restaurant’s signature dishes, including Orkney scallop and Herdwick lamb.

 

Weston said: “It’s exciting for me and the team to launch this new format to give more diners an opportunity to experience our dishes in the Dining Room.

 

“We’ve designed the à la carte menu with both first-time and returning diners in mind, to offer more flexibility and a more tailored experience.”

 

Weston took the helm at the Dining Room in 2022 following the departure of former executive chef Niall Keating. It has held one Michelin star for the past three years and is the only restaurant in Wiltshire to win a Michelin green star for sustainable practices.

 

Other fine dining restaurants are also introducing à la carte menus and adjusting their prices in a bid to attract more cash-conscious customers.

 

Three-AA-rosette Dean Banks at the Pompadour in Edinburgh launched an à la carte offer alongside its 10-course tasting menu this month after customers asked for more flexible options.

 

Meanwhile, the Gannet in Glasgow dropped its tasting menu this year after owner Peter McKenna told Glasgow Live he didn’t want it to be seen as a only “special destination restaurant”.