Seating just 12 people, MO has now re-opened, welcoming diners from around the world to what must be the most intimate and exclusive tasting restaurant in the Cotswolds.
Described as ‘one of the UK’s top, top tables’, MO is set within Dormy House on the Farncombe Estate, near Broadway, just over the Gloucestershire border.
It first opened just before lockdown in 2020 and has remained closed until this summer – with its exceptional reputation now beginning to grow amongst discerning foodies from across the UK and beyond.
Open to both hotel residents and non-residents, diners are seated in a single evening sitting at MO, with the immersive experience centred around watching the chefs as they give a fascinating insight into the ingredients and how each of the eight courses has been expertly prepared.
The chance to meet and talk with fellow diners seated around the top table – including not one, but two couples who had got engaged that day on SoGlos’s visit! – also really adds to the special dining experience.
Under the careful guidance of culinary director Martin
Burge, sustainability and seasonality are said to take centre stage at MO, with
each dish on the regularly changing menu given a deceptively simple name.
On SoGlos’s visit the ‘egg course’, for example, consisted of a confit egg yolk, with parmesan custard, white balsamic and black olive – all created with enormous time and precision and served in an egg cup with feet!
Other courses included an incredible sweet caramelised scallop with sliver of smoked eel; plump, barbecued lobsters, served with miso parsley butter, lobster tortellini and an unctuous Thai consommé; juicy heritage tomatoes with smoked crème fraiche; and a tender lamb loin, with morels and wild garlic oil.
For dessert, chocolate soufflé was delivered fresh and fluffy from the oven and was served with candied orange, star anise ice cream and plenty of impressed ‘ooohs’; and this was followed by a sensational selection of cheese shaved into florets in front of enthralled – and, by then, rather full – diners.
And while the eight courses of exceptional cuisine was undoubtedly the star of the show – some of the best fine dining dishes we have enjoyed in a long time – a special mention also has to go to the excellently-paired wine flight, which was expertly and thoughtfully described by the sommelier.
The tasting menu at MO is £130 per person, with the wine flight £85 per person.
MO is open Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, with private lunches and exclusive bookings also available on request.
For more information, and to make a reservation, call Dormy House on (01386) 852711.
