The Watermill Restaurant Review

THE WATERMILL

Following a huge transformation - inside and out - the newly renovated Watermill opened on November 30th with an upmarket, gastro pub feel to critical acclaim.

The interior makeover consisted of relocating and vastly expanding the corner bar intro the centre of the premises, an open fire, luxurious bar and living room-style seating plus at the back a plush restaurant with grand chandeliers, booths and seating areas with a vast 310 capacity; including its 3 x exterior dining areas. The outside of The Watermill, in case you haven’t noticed, is a bright, eye-catching pink which really makes this restaurant stand out.

Taking over the huge listed premises on Reigate Road was a big move. Not only is the building huge but it has the capability to be a boutique hotel with upstairs guest bedrooms that are ready to be transformed for Spring 2022, our insiders tell us.

The premises are famous for being the old Lido back in the 1960’s and have the most stunning views over Box Hill. The Watermill has stayed true to their heritage by choosing a pink painted building (as was the Lido back in the sixties) and a huge picture adorns the wall on the upper-level showcasing this.

OUR EXPERIENCE

We arrived for a Friday lunch and the restaurant was packed. There was a great fun, Friday vibe with a mixture of ladies lunching, guys who came straight off the golf course (the clubs sat next to them were a giveaway!) as well as couples and families.

We sat in the main restaurant with beautiful views over Box Hill. Our waitress Libby was fantastic explaining the new menu and the Watermill ‘Stix’ starters that offer a tapas style sharing platter instead of a traditional starter.

We heard the cocktails were impressive so ordered a Passion Fruit Martini and a French Martini. Both were beautifully presented in decadent crystal glasses and tasted superb.

STARTERS

With 9 Stix food options to choose from we opted for Crispy Pork Bites & Apple Caramel, Soy and Sesame Glazed Chicken with Spring Onion and Chilli & Lime King Prawns and they were amazing. The pork was crispy on the outside yet tender on the inside; no hint of fat and the chicken was succulent, perfectly yet delicately seasoned and melted in the mouth. The prawns were fresh and lime zingy; offset perfectly by the chilli which gave it an extra tang. The two sauce accompaniments, a spicy relish and a sweet chutney, were divine.

IN SUMMARY

MAINS

The Roast Shropshire Ross Cobb Chicken, Chorizo, Potatoes, Spinach and Saffron Alioli, as recommended by our waitress, was sublime. The flavours of the tenderly cooked chicken complimented the spice of the chorizo perfectly. We totally loved the Saffron Alioli dressing drizzled carefully over the entire dish and the vegetables were cooked perfectly in a light garlic oil dressing, making it both colourful, healthy and delicious.

The standout dish of the day for us however was the Pizza. We went for the Steak, Caramelised Sweet Onion, Blue Cheese And Rocket and honestly have never experienced a pizza like it. The base was crispy, yet the middle dough layer was thicker than a normal pizza (but not as thick as a deep pan) with an abundance of toppings - making it a truly different and sensational pizza meal experience. The steak was succulent, cooked perfectly and the sweetness of the onions and creamy blue cheese combination made it easily one of the greatest pizzas we have ever tasted.

Hats off to the chef and the creators of this amazing new menu, which also consists of Burgers, Steaks, Salads, Fish & Chips and Sunday Roasts. The Watermill are open from 9am for brunch till midnight everyday - and also do private hire if you are looking for somewhere to host an event or birthday party.

As well as the food and ambience being stand out – a special mention has to go to their amazing staff. The manager Charlotte, head waiter Josh and front of house were so fantastic, attentive and made the day that much more special and enjoyable. It’s a joy to visit a restaurant that has such a good team behind it – you can tell it’s a passion not just a job for The Watermill staff – and that really shone through.