Bucks &amp; Oxon

Loosen your waistbands a notch or two and tuck in a napkin because the <a href="https://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurants/best/uk-top-100-restaurants_238" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SquareMeal 100</a>, a list of the UK&#8217;s top 100 restaurants drawn up from a compilation of diner votes and in-house restaurant critic opinion, has been announced for 2025. Drumroll, please, because less than four fabulous Bucks and Oxon eateries have made this year&#8217;s cut.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="595" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/01/SATBAINS.jpg" alt="Sat Bains Square Meal 100" class="wp-image-181725" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/01/SATBAINS.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/01/SATBAINS-800x476.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/01/SATBAINS-400x238.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



First up, top of the pops nationally is <a href="https://www.restaurantsatbains.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Restaurant Sat Bains</a> in Nottingham, which has been crowned Square Meal&#8217;s overall Restaurant of the Year. This two Michelin-starred fine dining powerhouse has been at the top of its game for 25 years now, but its creative tasting menus of up to 15 courses (crab with peanut brittle bisque and duck liver muesli, anyone?), are taking it to ever-greater culinary heights.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="715" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/01/DANIELLMARGRIETCRUMP.jpg" alt="Daniel and Margriet Crump" class="wp-image-181818" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/01/DANIELLMARGRIETCRUMP.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/01/DANIELLMARGRIETCRUMP-800x572.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/01/DANIELLMARGRIETCRUMP-400x286.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Daniel and Margriet Crump</figcaption></figure>



But in our neck of the woods, the Muddy Award-winning <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/pubs-inns/review-greyhound-inn-pub-restaurant-beaconsfield/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Greyhound</a> in Beaconsfield came in highest at No. 19 on SquareMeal&#8217;s Top 100 Restaurants 2025 list. Lauded for its service and food by the reviewers, this high-end restaurant is infused with the passion of owners Daniel Crump (front of house) and wife Margriet&nbsp;(sommelier). This talented pair honed their skills at Petrus and Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, so it’s no surprise this gastropub nails all the small details, from pitch-perfect service to delicious food. Recently crowned the AA&#8217;s Restaurant of the Year in England for 2024, surely it&#8217;s only a matter of time before it receives a Michelin star.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="850" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/06/Snapinsta.app_448076188_2213554035649339_52220593118833059_n_1080.jpg" alt="Le Manoir" class="wp-image-163256" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/06/Snapinsta.app_448076188_2213554035649339_52220593118833059_n_1080.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/06/Snapinsta.app_448076188_2213554035649339_52220593118833059_n_1080-800x680.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/06/Snapinsta.app_448076188_2213554035649339_52220593118833059_n_1080-400x340.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">@belmondlemanoir</figcaption></figure>



Next up in Bucks &amp; Oxon is Raymond Blanc&#8217;s Oxfordshire grand dame <a href="https://www.belmond.com/hotels/europe/uk/oxfordshire/belmond-le-manoir-aux-quat-saisons/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Le Manoir aux Quat&#8217; Saisons</a>, confidently occupying the number 72 spot in Square Meal&#8217;s top 100. Nestled within a fairytale-like Tudor building, the twice Michelin-starred restaurant epitomises Franco-British hospitality and modern gastronomic inspiration – plus it holds a Green Michelin Star for its live-off-the land ethos. Seasonality, foraging and no waste is the name of the game here, with fruit and veg grown in its abundant kitchen garden. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="800" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/TheOarsman-19-04-23-002-copy.jpg" alt="The Oarsman" class="wp-image-172960" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/TheOarsman-19-04-23-002-copy.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/TheOarsman-19-04-23-002-copy-800x640.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/TheOarsman-19-04-23-002-copy-400x320.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



And, of course, Marlow steps up to the plate too in the top 100 restaurant rankings. The Oarsman, which is all about proper British cooking in unpretentious surroundings, came out in 93rd place (<a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/restaurants/review-the-oarsman-marlow/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">read our latest review</a>). In a town where the foodie competition is hot, restaurateurs Nigel Sutcliffe and James McLean, and The Oarsman&#8217;s head chef Scott Smith, have pulled off the perfect gastropub recipe: bistro-style dishes accompanied by small plates from the charcuterie and larder counters, with enough wine options to satisfy the thirstiest oenophile. For an even bigger feast, top chef Simon Bonwick is installed in the private room upstairs at <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/the-troublesome-lodger-marlow/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Troublesome Lodger</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/SINDHU.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-181896" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/SINDHU.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/SINDHU-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/SINDHU-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/SINDHU-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sindhu</figcaption></figure>



Stay in Marlow and you&#8217;ll reach the final Bucks &amp; Oxon entry in this year&#8217;s top 100 restaurants round-up: the fabulous <a href="https://sindhurestaurant.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sindhu by Atol Kochhar</a>. Based in the landmark Compleat Angler hotel by Marlow Bridge, Sindhu (named after the Indus River) stands as an homage to southern India, blending Kochhar&#8217;s brand of modern Indian food with quality British ingredients. Chef hats off – it&#8217;s just three places behind The Oarsman at number 96 on the latest Square Meal list.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/01/WOVENADAMSMITH.jpg" alt="Square Meal Top 100 Restaurants" class="wp-image-181846" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/01/WOVENADAMSMITH.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/01/WOVENADAMSMITH-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/01/WOVENADAMSMITH-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/01/WOVENADAMSMITH-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Woven by Adam Smith </figcaption></figure>



We reckon you&#8217;re prepared to travel to experience best-in-class restaurants though, so here&#8217;s a quartet of SquareMeal&#8217;s top 100 restaurants over the border in Berkshire to whet your appetite. Storming in to the top 100 at number 5 is <a href="https://www.dorchestercollection.com/ascot/coworth-park/dining/woven-by-adam-smith" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Woven by Adam Smith</a> at Coworth Park near Ascot (read our review <a href="http://os.co.uk/eat-out/restaurants/review-woven-by-adam-smith-at-coworth-park-ascot-berkshire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>). Smith’s meticulous technique and fondness for luxury ingredients is testament to his many years at The Ritz. Take his signature dish (which won him the Roux Scholarship): a whole turbot stuffed with lobster mousse, topped with Caviar and gold leaf, and accompanied by a champagne sauce.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="749" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/01/Seasonality-.png" alt="Square Meal Top 100 restaurants" class="wp-image-181854" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/01/Seasonality-.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/01/Seasonality--800x599.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/01/Seasonality--400x300.png 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Seasonality, Maidenhead</figcaption></figure>



Next up in Berks is <a href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/restaurants/review-seasonality-maidenhead-restaurant/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Seasonality</a> on Queen Street in Maidenhead at number 40. It&#8217;s a restaurant to have on your radar for its diverse menu, from oysters with shichimi togarashi to smoked haddock with potato fondant. While the menu changes frequently, expect a consistent level of quality from husband and wife team Wesley and Francesca Smalley.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="665" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/01/THE-WOODSPEEN.png" alt="The Woodspeen, West Berkshire" class="wp-image-181861" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/01/THE-WOODSPEEN.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/01/THE-WOODSPEEN-800x532.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/01/THE-WOODSPEEN-400x266.png 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Woodspeen, West Berkshire</figcaption></figure>



Coming in at number 88 on this year&#8217;s top 100 restaurants roll-call of fame is <a href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/review-the-woodspeen-restaurant-newbury-nerkshire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Woodspeen</a> in leafy West Berkshire, near Newbury. Housed in a 19th Century farmhouse, The Woodspeen has ditched the fuss while retaining a first-class dining experience. Head here to enjoy the theatricality of an open kitchen while enjoying fresh produce straight from the on-site garden.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="718" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/01/DAMSON.jpg" alt="Damson" class="wp-image-181864" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/01/DAMSON.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/01/DAMSON-800x574.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/01/DAMSON-400x287.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Damson</figcaption></figure>



Last but by no means least in our locale, chef Henry Kremer-Ireson’s <a href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/restaurants/review-damson-restaurant-winterbourne/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Damson</a> rounds off this year&#8217;s list as Square Meal&#8217;s number 100. It&#8217;s based in a transformed country pub at Winterbourne near Newbury and it&#8217;s all about flavour-driven creativity and seasonal menus. Attentive and personalised service and an easygoing atmosphere, plus a brilliant wine list, elevate things further.



Read Square Meal&#8217;s full Top 100 Restaurants list <a href="https://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurants/best/uk-top-100-restaurants_238" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.



Looking for some fresh eating out inspo? <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/pubs-inns/oxfordshire-buckinghamshire-gastro-pubs-fire-place/">Pubs with cosy open fires in Bucks &amp; Oxon </a><a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/pubs-inns/best-pub-roasts-england-near-me/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Best pub roasts in the Muddy counties</a>

Which Bucks & Oxon restaurants made it into the UK’s top 100?

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