Frog At Skirmett

Reviews

• Not to be trusted

  Not to contradict oogywawa's review, below, in any way - all of which is pretty much on the button - I'd like to add a couple of things about this pub, as my own experiences haven't been so good.Firstly, be aware that The Frog serves roast potatoes with everything on a Sunday for convenience, but will not trouble to tell you this when you order. Hence my liver and bacon came not with creamy mash, as promised, but with roast potatoes. Now I ADORE roast potatoes, but they simply didn't go with liver. The flavours clash in some unfathomable way. Moreover one doesn't expect short-cuts in exchange for one's hard-earned fifteen quid.Secondly, and more importantly, the landlord is not to be trusted. Via the barmaid, I booked a large group of walkers in for Sunday lunch in mid-August 2007. No problem. A few days later a man I assumed to be the landlord phoned, clearly unhappy that the booking had been taken and stipulating that he'd want to seat us all indoors instead of in the garden (okay, fine), that he'd only be able to offer my group a reduced menu (okay, fine) and that, if it weren't for us, he could fill the same tables several times over (er... no, not fine). Thinking him a rather greedy and unpleasant little man, I promptly cancelled the booking, which he seemed very relieved about.What's infinitely worse, however, is that another of my walking chums contacted The Frog a couple of months later to book the same group in, and specifically mentioned this conversation, wanting to know if we'd only be offered a reduced menu again. The landlord apparently claimed not only that my conversation with him had never taken place, but that neither he nor a member of his staff would have said that. Naturally I was spitting mad when I heard this! Presumably they're not as busy in the autumn as they are in the summer, hence the shift in attitude, but I don't much appreciate being branded a liar on top of having been inconvenienced over my booking. So will I ever go there again? Yeah, perhaps when hell freezes over.Most people won't be wanting to make a large group booking at The Frog, of course, but having seen oogywawa's good review of the place I just had to pipe up.

  Lacrimosa
  Review Date: 11/09/2008 Report review
• Wonderful country pub with excellent food

  There's an area around if you look on a map on the left hand side of the M40 that stretches from Henley on Thames up to Oxford that has what most be some of the most stunning pubs you can find in the UK. It's so selfish that they have this many - hidden along country roads in pulchritudinous villages that cry out "England's green and pleasant land..."Near to Turville, itself a much in demand TV destination (Vicar of Dibley, Midsomer Murders etc...) is the hamlet of Skirmett, itself unremarkable but pretty but lit up by a wonderfully authentic country pub that serves good food.The bar oozes oak beams and an imposing huge fireplace surrounded by a rectangular polished wooded bench for those cold nights and a roaring fire. There are well kept ales from the nearby Marlow Brewery, an excellent wine list including 10 by the glass and the food is served either formally in a restaurant or in the bar.There is a generous "Specials" board to complement the menu, with fish, duck, venison, beef and vegetarian dishes all well thought out and served with more than a little imagination. The wild mushroom and white wine jus that accompanied my chicken was divine and the sea bass perfectly cooked. It's not good enough for a Michelin star but certainly worth a Bib Gourmand. The clientele range from the well-heeled but informal locals that eat out regularly, London workers that live in the country with their Polo shirts and pullover over the shoulder to local characters fond of a pint or two to pass the time.In short, convivial and welcoming and thoroughly recommended.

  Oogywawa
  Review Date: 05/08/2008 Report review