Testimonials

 On the Menu - 1 December 2011

The restaurant couldn't have looked more vibrant on our recent visit to Berties. As I took my first sip of ale, while my friend buttered some delicious bread – which came in a rather novel Hovis tin. From the very outset, the small items of detail really enhance this dining experience.

I could hardly resist the Creamed Celeriac and Black Pudding Tart, which had a satisfying crunch about it. Softened by the fruity sharpness of candied apple confit, this dish provided numerous layers of palatable pleasure. Rosa chose Berties Famous Salmon Fishcakes with a poached egg and beurre blanc. "Yummy, delicate and totally different", was the verdict as she gently - and almost reluctantly - dismantled this splendid looking dish.

I continued with the Honey Roast Duck Breast, sat proudly atop a warm salad of pancetta, baby gems and peas. With an aroma that could have freshened a room, this was a feast for my nose as much as my mouth, and a real work of fine dining. With the firmness of that pancetta against the tenderness of the duck, everything about that plate of food was exceptional. Rosa was given the choice of receiving her Whole Plaice on or off the bone, which was a nice touch. Her olive and herb buttered main course was unique in its presentation, with skewered new potatoes.

With no need for a coffee to follow, I chose the Espresso Pannacotta to finish, which was – as the name suggests – full of strong flavour. With just enough chocolate sauce and cinnamon tuilles, this simplistic creation was delightfully different. Rosa had the Blueberry Crème Brulee, with Apple Crisps and Shortbread, which were ideal for dipping.

The Union Jack-themed conservatory at Berties has recently been decorated with striking Vivienne Westwood wallpaper. In light of this refurbishment, the restaurant has introduced its 'Best of British' menu, which ties in beautifully! Call today to book your Valentines dinner or Mother’s Day lunch.

 Matt, Romsey - 1 May 2011

Over the past few months Berties has been recommended to me by a number of friends, so last week I decided to drop by with the family for lunch.

I can now honestly say that this restaurant is without doubt well worthy of it's excellent reputation.

I went for the Homemade Beefburger from the lunch menu, and it was, as burgers go, top class.  My father was also hugely impressed not only by the food (he recommends the Gammon Steak by the way) but also the excellent service and charming, welcoming atmosphere that makes Berties stand out among other restaurants in the area.

I would recommend Berties for any occasion, and I am already looking forward to my next visit!

 Michdring - 31 March 2011

Berties is a must for your party!

I organised an evening meal at Berties for 15 friends and we had a superb evening.  Everything was so relaxed and so well organised from being sent the menu in advance to save time when we arrived (it is never easy to stop a group of women talking for long enough to look at a menu) to being placed in a large table in a room of our own. The service was excellent and the food superb.  As we ate from the Simply Berties menu it was also fantastic value.

We will definitely be back.  We are already sorting out a lunch date!

 Mike120741, Romsey - 6 February 2011

The food was exceptional, the best.

Enjoyed by all my party of 6 guests.   The wines were good and reasonably priced.   Service was very good, just the right amount of time between courses.

Courteous and friendly.   Dancing to Disco, in separate area.

We have used "Berties" for Lunch, Dinner and Anniversaries with satisfaction.

 Dockieboy, 5 Feb 2011

Excellent. Certainly one of the best in the area.

Whenever we eat here we are never disappointed at all. Everything is right on and nothing is too much effort.

Would always go there for a really good meal.

 Suet, London - 24 Jan 2011

I have eaten at Bertie's many times over several years. I have yet to have a disappointing meal. The cuisine is modern European with a touch of Asian.  The chefs provide wonderful combinations of flavour and texture, using many local ingredients. Fish appears on the daily specials board.

The service is friendly and efficient. The wine list complements the food well.

Overall a very pleasant experience. I would wholeheartedly recommend this restaurant.

 awa2011, Southampton - 12 Jan 2011

We visited Berties in late December for our Christmas bash. Arrangements made with David were smooth and helpful amd payment arrangements easy. On the night the atmosphere was great, food excellent, service faultless and we had a great evening, retiring quite late. We will probably enquire again to go back next year, highly recommended.

 dylanvillan Winchester- 12 Jan 2011

We were without my father for the first time this Christmas so decided to take my mum out for dinner on Christmas day. It was a very good decision! There were four of us including my 14 year old daughter. The food was very good and the astmosphere was perfect. The staff were friendly, attentive and got the tone just right. Thank you for a lovely time!

 Trevor6035, Romsey - 11 Jan 2011

On entering Bertie's we were warmly greeted and offered a drink at the bar, we decided to go straight to our table which was in a cosy side room with only six other diners. I chose Scallops and cheriso tempora and my wife smoked salmon salad, both were superb. We selected a bottle of New Zealand Cab. Sauv. to go with this, correct temperature and a lovely fruity depth. The only small critisism I had was that the scallop portion was a tad meagre for the price.

The venison for me and flllet steak for my wife were abslutely delicious, flavour, quality and presentation were all there. We accompanied this with a splendid glass of Merlot. For pud we both had good old treacle tart, again no complaints in this department.

This is the first review I have ever written on a restaurant but our experience was so good in all departments, food, wine, service and ambiance that I would encourage others to enjoy the same.

 Tom_Grieve, Romsey - 10 Jan 2011

I live within walking distance of Bertie's, I've eaten there several times and I've never been disappointed. The most recent occasion was Christmas Day lunch, which made a great change from the usual stress and mess at home. Romsey is very well-served by good restaurants, especially considering it's a small town, but Bertie's is my personal favourite.

 ksd_9, Romsey - 10 Jan 2011

We love a mid-week lunch at Berties. Salmon fish cakes are a particular favourite and service is always friendly. Going to Berties makes us feel a part of Romsey town.

 arosa646 - 10 Jan 2011

We decided to go with Bertie's for my sister's 50th Birthday party, after that decision was made everything was easy. David Birmingham was so helpful as was all the staff. I was give a comprehensive menu to chose from, which I was able to adapted to our liking, and nothing was too much trouble. On the day the room was ready early so we could do some last minute decoration.

We had the atrium too, so we had pre-dinner drinks there and then moved into the dining room for dinner. As host I didn't even notice the coming and goings of the meal. The food was hot and delicious and even they accommodated guests who wanted the soup instead of the set starter.

It was a total wonderful party and many of our guest sung the praises of Bertie's, the ambiance and food. We would have no hesitation in planning another event. This is our second event as a number of years ago we had a lunch for 30 guest for our parents 50th Wedding Anniversary, another wonderful event!

 john-hants, Romsey - 10 Jan 2011

We were here twice in December, the first time to check it out before booking a special Christmas Day lunch. Both meals were excellent in every respect - the chef's imagination, the actual taste of the food, and the service. We've eaten in all the top restaurants around Winchester and Southampton, and Berties does not disappoint. The only vaguely negative thing I can say is that it is not 'grand' in the way, say, Lainston House is, and not quite as chic as, say, Chesil Rectory. But if you want something more intimate and informal, with food of the same quality, this is the place.

 BobM99, Southampton - 10 Jan 2011

We had our very first Christmas Day lunch away from home at Berties and chose it because we had had good meals there in the past and Romsey is not only close but is a splendid small town to travel to at Christmas.

On arrival the staff were very welcoming and couldn't do enough to make our special lunch a really relaxed and pleasant experience. The food we had pre-ordered, it was cooked well and everything came as we wanted at a time that was appropriate for us. In all, a very good first Christmas lunch away from home. We plan to repeat the experience.

 wendy_savage, Eastleigh - 10 Jan 2011

We had a lovely lunch at Berties to celebrate Christmas with all our volunteers from Marie Curie Cancer Care. The service was excellent and even tho really busy, our food was delivered on time, hot and delicious.

The set menu was very good value and would definitely recommend this restaurant. Shall be returning in the New Year for lunch with my friends.

 tripsforsara , Romsey - 10 Jan 2011

We are regulars at Bertie's but this was our first Christmas Day lunch there. David and his team laid on a fabulous day. The restaurant was fully booked but, on arrival, we were greeted by David and shown to the bar for a glass of fizz. The meal, which we had pre-ordered from the fabulous menu choice, was delivered in relaxed fashion, we were not rushed and the food was excellent.

As someone who works in the speciality food & drink industry I am lucky enough to experience some wonderful restaurants and I would highly recommend Bertie's for Christmas Day lunch. The cost was £55/head for three courses plus petit fours. I think it represented excellent value for money and the quality and quantity was first class.

We left feeling very indulged, not overfull and very relaxed.

 Harrisisok, Winchester - 10 Jan 2011

We visited Berties for our Christmas Party (25 of us). I have to say this is one of the best places to hold a celebration. How do they manage to cater for us and other parties and keep the food that good? The service was efficient and polite. At the end of the meal the table was cleared and the party started - with a resident DJ who knew which party tunes to play. Overall I thoroughly recommend Berties for a celebration with friends or even a quiet meal for two. Top notch!

 Paddy Burt (The Telegraph) - 12 March 2005

In the middle of Romsey, on the one-way system, is a restaurant-with-rooms called Berties - named, it's said, after Bertie Wooster, the PG Wodehouse character.

So, where to park? Whizzing round that one-way bit again, we spot a few cars at the end of the driveway next door to Berties. That's where.

The front door leads straight into the bar area, where we meet a very young man (the son of the boss, we find out), who takes us up a steep staircase to our room. Very nice it is too, with a modern iron bed, blue fitted carpet and, on wooden poles, cream curtains with a riot of big blue flowers over them. All elegant, in an Ikea - ish sort of way.

After a while, though, it becomes decidedly frosty. No, we're not having an argument - the big double radiator, which had been chucking out heat when we arrived, has gone cold. David Birmingham, the owner, had clearly thought of this as there's a small fan heater in the wardrobe. But it's not enough. We go downstairs to explore.

There are a lot of punters down here, and there's certainly no room at the bar. There's a great atmosphere. Elegant, too. The B for Bertie logo appears on glass screens and place mats, and the restaurant and bar areas are S for stunning. There is a lot of original artwork, some painted on the plaster.

In the restaurant it seems there are two 50th birthday parties going on. Our table in the corner is perfect for people-watching and scribbling notes. We order a bottle of Chilean Sauvignon Blanc and scan the menu, which is refreshlingly straightforward - no "drizzled withs" or "presented ons". I choose confit tomato and goats' cheese tartlet with basil pesto, followed by roast rump of lamb served on a field mushroom with fondant potato and tomato and herb jus. My husband chooses smoked duck, green beans and parsnip salad with crisp pancetta, followed by fillet of pork, mashed potato and sautéed Savoy cabbage.

The waiter - his name is Dulla and he is from Croatia - says: "You are in room three, I think. I hope you are comfortable in there." All the staff are very young, slim and dressed in black.

The food is as good as the atmosphere. The portions are just the right size, the meat is tender and flavoursome, and everything has a just-cooked taste. Accompanying the main courses is a dish of crunchy green beans and mangetout to share.

My passion fruit brulée is brought, along with husband's roast rhubarb and apple crumble. The birthday party next to us hots up. A speech is made. A large, beautifully wrapped box is produced. What's inside? An exotic négligée? No, it's an Epson printer. In another box is a pair of personalised number plates.

Later, making our way up to bed after our most enjoyable dinner, we spot a slightly older man, who's clearly in charge. "I'll be doing breakfast," he says, and we agree on 9.15.

Thus we get to hear David Birmingham's extraordinary story. Four weeks earlier, he tells us, his kitchen was destroyed by fire and the restaurant décor damaged by smoke. They re-opened only the night before. "Fortunately we had builders working on our new conservatory bar, so we were able to divert them to redecorate the restaurant. Yesterday morning, the whole kitchen was packed with fresh food, but there was nothing in the fridges. The chefs worked flat out all day to prepare vegetables, meat and fish for last evening."

I ask if he has any porridge for breakfast. "No, but I can easily pop out and get some." I tell him not to bother - we'll have cornflakes. A few minutes later he returns, with an unopened Kellogg's box. "Have you just been out to buy that?" I ask. "Er, yes," he says diffidently, "but I'm afraid they didn't have any porridge oats."

Having heard his story, I now regard the matters of the TV remote and the erratic central heating as trivial, and I'm sorry I mentioned them.