Thompson's in Isle of Wight

I went to this place after a typical night out at the pub just to find no one at the door, no one in the kitchen, and no one there to take my order. I found nothing but a neglected kitchen, longing for someone to use it. so me, being the man I am, I had to take this horrible customer service into my own hands and cook my own meal. I was not pleased with the results, I didn't like the way the food was cooked, quite frankly, I would of used some seasoning. Overall, I wouldn't recommend due to the mediocre food and bad customer service.

Really not pleased- their website allowed me to book for a table last night, but the place is shut!!!! Who does that??? Literally boards to the windows! Shut your website if you're place had closed down.

As always, an outstanding 👏 meal. Wonderful staff, super atmosphere 👌

Excellent food and service, I would recommend Thompson's and we will return.

Having received a most generous birthday gift of a "Thompson's Voucher", my wife and I finally plucked up the courage to venture into the zenith of IoW dining experiences - we were not disappointed! Magnificence in every aspect. A classy mix of contemporary / classic styles within the four walls. I dared not ask for the cutlery! - only to find a set in my own personal drawer at the table. As a bit of a "bread connoisseur", I was amazed at the quality of our starter - warm olives in olive oil and our own small loaf each. A sourdough and a rosemary focaccia, both made on site. Heavenly! A gorgeous appetiser dish followed, I won't spoil it for anyone by revealing what it was. I then had the Cod whilst Mrs F had the Risotto. This was followed by another gorgeous mini-appetiser, then the the most delicious dark chocolate and cherry dessert. People think/say it's expensive in here but the value for money is excellent. So much effort goes into the food preparation which is all done on site. Did not have wine, just sparkling water because of driving home. To sum up, do not hesitate to visit here, experience the highest possible quality of food preparation. A must for anyone who likes a classic dining experience.

Outstanding, the starters are impeccable with pastry cased Vennison made to artistic and flavourfull perfection. The roast beef sirloing melted in the mouth. Overall this is the best place to eat food that honours its ingredients. Thankyou will be back to you soon

Hubby decided to book a date night and wow what an experience! The welcome and hospitality was great. The food was amazing the chef brought each dish to the table and talk through it x the whole restaurant was beautiful and listening to the story’s behind the restaurant was so lovely to hear x can’t wait to visit again, thank you to all the staff and chefs 👍

We enjoyed a three-course lunch with champagne and wine. The food and service were outstanding and we were so pleased that they welcomed us with our dog!

Food and service was excellent, but we were sat upstairs, no atmosphere upstairs, and it was also very cold.

Superb food with excellent service from a friendly team. Not a huge number of covers, so pre booking recommended

The most memorable meal I have had! Service was great, atmosphere relaxed and buzzy. The food was among the best I have ever eaten. Each dish was executed to the highest standard, even if you were looking for faults the only fault you would find is that each dish was insanely good. From the ham croquettes appetisers to the passion fruit petit fours it was a masterclass of flavour that honestly blew me away

I have nothing but wonderful things to say about this amazing restaurant. As my wife was celebrating her 10 year business anniversary, we opted to go all put and get the tasting menu. Oh my word were we in for a treat. Not only did we get the incredible 6 dishes listed on the menu, we also got amuse bouche's and snacks. We really struggled to choose a favourite dish on the day as all of them were so well balanced and flavorful, even the bread! Even though our meal was incredible, we did cast an envious eye on the roast dinners being served up. We will be back for one for sure. Top knotch food and excellent service as usual. It's a wonderful experience in the heart of the Isle of Wight.

We recently celebrated a special birthday at Le Manoir au Quatre Saison. Their food was super - but Robert Thompson's is better! Dishes show imagination and care, the 'little extras' such as the amuse bouche offer surprise and delight. The peach melba is simply fabulous! We'll be back soon.

An absolute gem of a find….one of the best Sunday lunches we have ever had….the whole experience was first class from start to finish…staff..food & service second to none…will definitely be back if you haven’t been its a must

Excellent! If you are visiting or live on the Isle of Wight, Thompsons is a must!

Superb meal here for our wedding anniversary. Food was beautifully presented and tasted delicious. Extra small courses were wonderful. All the staff were really helpful, pleasant and welcoming. A great experience . Thank you.

Exquisite French style Sunday roast. Everything is impeccable except that my appetite is not big enough.

Absolutely fantastic food, probably the best food on the Island, with great service to boot. We’ve been brilliantly looked after so thank you, 5 very happy customers here.

Very disappointing. The chicken main course was dry, tasteless and in no way represented high end restaurant food. I have visited this restaurant on several occasions with friends in the past but I have got to say, this recent experience with Thompson’s will definitely be my last.

What an amazing experience, the food, service and menu was wonderful. I cannot recommend this restaurant enough, every single bite of food was prepared and cooked to perfection with a vast array of flavours in every dish. The chef came out to check on us and he was very professional & friendly, we will most definitely be back. Thank you for a wonderful evening😃

Food exceptional. Catering for children too. The food is high quality ingredients cooked really well.

This restaurant is wonderful. The food was just delicious, the atmosphere relaxed and the staff were charming. This was not meat and two veg. This is imaginative delicious cooking , which made choosing what to eat a problem as we felt spoilt for choice. It was fun, delicious and we had a really relaxed evening. Every single plate was scraped clean! There were. Some lovely surprises such as the cold almond soup following the starters and a pre dessert of lemon meringue in a little cup. Try the gnocchi with mushroom and spinach, or the cuttlefish, or the herb focaccia with rapeseed jam . Everything was just gorgeous. If you are lucky enough to get a table you are in for a treat

This restaurant is haute cuisine heaven! 🍽️🌟 The service is so good, it's like they've mastered the art of telepathic food delivery! Do yourself a favor and try their Spanish wine and chicken dish. It's a culinary epiphany! 🍷🍗 And despite being small, it's as cozy as a warm hug from your favorite chef. In the grand banquet of life, this place is a delicious reminder that even the smallest flavors can create the most profound joy. Bon appétit and embrace the magic of culinary coziness!" 🍽️🥂🍗🌌

Omg. What an amazing lunch. Can’t fault anything The food was absolutely fantastic, wine was great and the ambience and team there were brilliant We had a beef Sunday lunch - not like anything we’d had before!!! Real quality and they are all so lovely You have to go!!! Such a shame we live so far away - we’d be here every week!!!!

We had an evening meal chosen from the a la carte menu. Wonderful and imaginative food beautifully presented. The staff were enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Lovely relaxed ambience. Highly recommend visiting this superb restaurant.

Food is amazing good. The pork is a little bit tough. Never been to this restaurant, not get enough explanation for the manu.

Me and my partner where looking for a fine dining experience for my birthday over my holiday weekend on island.and this met our expectations , food was fantastic we were also given complamentry starters and chocolates at the end of our two courses which were wonderful and unexpected ! Thank you for the experience wonderful service and fab food and wine !

Delicious Sunday specials! Cozy dining room tables. Excellent service and wonderful food.

The food was one of the most amazing food that we ate in the Isle of Wight. The staff were kind, caring and very professional. I def recommend it

Delicious food cooked with so much passion. Very friendly service, highly recommended

A brilliant owner run restaurant that would not disappoint a gourmand. The welcome from the reception staff is sincerely palpable and this is similarly followed by the kitchen staff who are visible in the kitchen if you are sat downstairs. The menu varies with seasons and local availability of produce, although certains items have to be bought from outside the island. The downstairs dining area has 12 covers with bare tables but nice cotton napkins. There is no cutlery on the table surface as it is kept in a drawer in the table; one chooses what you need for that dish. The service from the staff is impeccable, polite and very helpful. All queries regarding the menu are promptly answered by well trained staff. The menu, wine list and explanation of the cutlery drawer is prompt. Dishes requested are produced within sight , if your downstairs, and served without any unnecessary delay. Wine list is extensive with many wines available by the glass. The restaurant is pricey but not exorbitantly. The quality, which is exquisitely light with delicious complementing tasty flavours, of the cooking fully justifies the cost of the meal. Definitely recommended.

We had an exceptional experience this Sunday lunchtime. The food, house wine (both red and white) were all fantastic. Lovely team who looked after us well One of our party required gluten free and this wasn't an issue ... including the best gf focaccia ever! Easy to park across the road. We will be back....thank you all.

Amazing experience and food that just can’t be beaten. We’ve eaten here a few times and it just keeps getting better and better.

Exceptional Sunday Roast! From the minute you walk in you are given a warm greeting and shown to your table. We had booked for a Sunday specifically for a roast but you could still order from the a la carte. Service was excellent and all the staff were very attentive. Nothing was too much for them. The roast was the best I have ever eaten! There was not one part I would change. From the perfectly cooked beef to the delicious roast potatoes it was sensational! I would highly recommend this restaurant and we will definitely be coming back to try the tasting menu.

Robert Thompson is a remarkably creative chef whose attention to detail and presentation is commendable . We enjoyed a full meal from his delivery service You Be Chef today and is outclassed most of the other providers that we have used over the past three years. Thoroughly recommended

What a totally joyous experience! It’s so awesome to see Robert back behind the reins of his own restaurant in Newport! We had the amazing taster menu, which was utter perfection! The asparagus course was as beautiful as it was delicious, as were the hake and the lamb courses. Just the perfect sizes- not too much to be too full to enjoy, and just enough to savour all the deliciousness!Everything is beautifully presented and served with great flair and attention to detail. We sat downstairs opposite the chefs, which was such fun! Fascinating to have the opportunity to watch them all perform with so much skill and relaxed professionalism!! A very happy place in every way! Such an art!! Robert himself was barman for the evening, and he made us a delicious assortment of exceptional non alcoholic cocktails, which is rare in itself for most restaurants! We are gluten, and dairy free and they accommodated that with ease! All in all a fantastic experience! Go and enjoy!! You will be rewarded! A total gem of a restaurant!

Wonderful family meal - exceeded our expectations. Thank you so much for a lovely Easter meal. We'll definitely return!

We have not been to Thompson’s for a couple of years and were really looking forward to the Robert Thompson experience again. The restaurant is the same but different! Carpet upstairs, different table arrangement and there were a lot of new faces alongside the ones we knew of old. The atmosphere was brilliant as was the service and, of course, the food. Nothing was too much trouble and it was great sitting with a view of the open kitchen. Real theatre! It is a long way from Cornwall but worth the effort. We make up for the long gaps between visits with ‘You be Chef’ deliveries of Robert’s food which are just as highly recommended as the restaurant.

Excellent Menu, limited choice but served to a very high standard.

As soon as we entered Thompson’s restaurant for our first ever visit, we could see what the fuss was all about! We were warmly welcomed into a toasty restaurant by a host of professional and welcoming staff. We were impressed with our waiter and waitress...

One day trip from London (business). Idea - let’s eat something good. I have never heard about that restaurant before. Effect: I’ll make that trip again just for the food! Something to say but not heavily criticised: staff had a problem with suggesting the right wine for the dish. Still… can’t complain about the service quality.

Fab Tasting menu and flight of wines for a great lunch!

Lovely ambience in this well appointed cosy restaurant. The staff are all super friendly and helpful. Needless to say the food is all divine.

My partner and I went here to celebrate a special occasion and we were incredibly impressed by Thompson's. The restraunt has shuttered windows and is not obvious on the outside to what it is. The inside is intimate, personal and lacking the ostentatious air you might expect from fine dining. With only six tables and a small open the kitchen, the staff from the maitre'd to the head chef were hospitable and friendly throughout. As each course was served, it was served by the member of kitchen staff who made it, sharing credit for the junior kitchen staff members as well as the head chef for the main course. Each explained what we were being served and the meal (tasting menu) was paired with an excellent selection of wines. The food was superb and it would be unfair to try and compare this to any other restraunt outside of fine dining. This was food as an art form and not simply a pastime. Combined with the relaxed atmosphere we spent three comfortable hours here and had our minds blown by the extreme quality, care and intelligence behind the flavours and wine of each dish. Privately as someone who didn't hold a high opinion of fine dining before, I left with a completely changed perspective, feeling very full and that even at the high prices we enjoyed excellent value for money. We can't reccomend enough if you are seeking something special and we hope to visit again soon when the menu changes.

If you go to Micheline stared restaurant you must expect two things, quality food, served artistically and a high price to cover the costs. Treat yourself you won't be disappointed

And we were keen to find out what the islands favourite chef was up to, having decided to go solo again after a partnership with a well known island hotel went sour… The bistro had a makeover after the pandemic- a Sonos speaker system expanded...

Absolutely sensational! So pleased that this place is finally back open, heard lots of fantastic recommendations some years ago but never had chance to visit, tonight we took the plunge and my word we are not disappointed in the slightest! Every single course was like a mouth watering rollacoaster that left you wanting more. We even had a couple of cheeky unexpected palate cleansers that really hit the mark. Only critic would be the timing of some of the wines coming out compared to the courses (a little early with the white’s meaning they had time to warm) but a minor thing, nothing stopping me giving Robert and his team 5* and we will definitely be visiting again (This Sunday for a roast) bring on the red wine and the live jazz 🎷

Came here the opening weekend with some friends & WOW. The Venison main course was epic - well it all was but that was the highlight for us. Good service - the place has had a bit of a revamp - dont think it was...

PERMANENTLY CLOSED DUE TO PANDEMIC

We have just enjoyed our last You be Chef delivery from Thompson’s. The food was brilliant and perfectly packed as previously. This service is now shutting down. Whether it opens again remains to be seen. In the meantime Robert Thompson, Ed and James are producing...

After receiving the news that my husband had tested positive for the dreaded 'C' and we were booked in to Thompson's the following day, Robert and his team made sure we didn't go without our meal. Robert made the huge effort to transform our meal...

Normally I do not review special occasion dining as this can get biased, but I have missed Thompsons since the pandemic started and whilst I have on occasions ordered a UB chef box - this is not the same Hence my review of the Valentine’s...

Thoroughly enjoyed my experience here. They even went to the extra effort of decorating a plate especially for our 4th anniversary. I cannot recommend this place enough great food, great people and a lively atmosphere with the open kitchen.

We did a ‘ Margot & Jerry’ for Christmas but with more success as our Christmas came from Robert Thompson and the team at ‘You be Chef’. We got a perfect three courses that were easy to prepare and a dream to eat. The extra...

The meal delivered was stunning from UBChef. The ingredients were the highest quality and you did not have to be an amazing chef yourself to finish cooking the courses. I was also impressed with the amount of food for the price. Would highly recommend!

‘You be Chef’ delivery to Cornwall arrived perfectly. Venison pastrami, cheese gougeres, a lamb roast and apple tart tatin were just wow. Nothing else to add but just wow all over again! If you have not had a food delivery from Robert Thompson and you...

We have come to know Robert's cooking through UB Chef, his online service started in lockdown. Having tried several ideas like this from Chefs of all standings across the UK I can say that Robert's are the tastiest, with generous portions, secure delivery and clear instructions. Do try!

The meal deliveries from Robert Thompson’s UBChef enterprise have superbly marked our personal milestones during the current COVID troubles. Christmas, Easter, birthdays and anniversaries have all been celebrated with exceptional meals from Robert and his team. I cannot speak too highly of the quality of...

We’ve been buying ready to cook meals from top flight chefs around the country since lockdown began. Unfortunately we only just discovered Robert Thompsons UB40Cchef in the last month through membership of the Great British Clefs club - great foodie website! This was the best...

Brilliant Michelin-star-styled take away (you have to finish off the dishes yourself but a video and good instructions are included) - pretty and unbelievably tasty as all Robert Thompson's cooking is. I have to say our presentation wasn't quite up to the Thompson standard but...

The man is a genius and his team are wonderful! been lucky enough to eat here several times in the relatively short time the restaurant was open. Called in to find out their plans and got to speak to the man himself. Sadly for those of us who are looking forward to eating out in May when restaurants re-open, Thompson's will not be one of them! His home delivery business under the brand name UB Chef has done so well Mr T is "pivoting" away from the standard restaurant model. He might pop up somewhere lovely and exotic- hopefully on the island- but the doors of Thompson's will not be opening in May.

We used UB Chef last weekend and what an amazing experience. We couldn't fault anything. The packaging was environmentally friendly, recyclable and reusable. The food was very high restaurant standard and so easy to reheat. The leaflet explained each course perfectly and it was definitely...

We used to visit the Isle of Wight four times a year at least to eat at Thompson’s. We now get great meals prepared by Robert Thompson and his team delivered regularly to Cornwall. We have had Christmas and Valentine’s delivered amongst many others. The...

We had the billini, it was very nice shame it got damaged in transit, bits broke off. After that the veloute soup atichoke, never thought would like that, it was amazing.Next the turbot crumb oyster tomato sauce, I ate it all not the oyster though. Getting full by this point. After a while we cooked the chicken, with dauphsnoise, and chicken croquet, very nice, they were all different sizes it seemed one bigger than the other, I was not fussed though, quite filling. It was guess work with the temperature for the oven, as it never said. Lastly we tried the choux buns and had to fill with honeycomb creme, that was not enough it filled 3 and half not fill. Needed 2 of those piping bags. Same as the dried strawberry it coated 2 . The sauce nice, gel nice, not tried the heart yet. We preferred the dinners to the pudding im afraid, let us down. We would order again, but would expect same size portions, and coverings etc to be enough. But I left the profiteroles. Not amazing sorry. Here are my pictures.

I tried the UBChef experience as it was a great opportunity to try Robert Thompson’s food without travelling to the Isle of Wight. The parcel arrived very well packaged and with ice packs. Instruction booklet was very detailed but also fun to follow the video especially for tips on how to plate up. The food was delicious and very high quality produce. We enjoyed ‘cooking’ all the courses and in lockdown it made for a great night in. Would definitely recommend f you want a fine dining experience in the company of your own home.

Robert Thompson and his team have really excelled themselves with UBChef, the food tasted as good as it does in the restaurant. Lots of thought has gone into designing food that is easy to prepare at home and yet provides all those different flavours that make dining out a treat. I love that there was enough bread and some other bits left over for lunch the next day. New flavours appeared like rapeseed oil jam for the bread, really good!The packaging and instructions were easy, with each course labelled with name and number, we just wrote the times on each pot for getting them in the oven so that all was ready on time. Nothing took longer than 12 mins. I have some dietary requirements, but have full confidence my needs were catered for. We needed quite a few smaĺl saucepans, be prepared, but the instructions said a microwave would be suitable.Definitely worth the money because of the quality and imagination that has gone into bringing top class cuisine into the home kitchen.

Because the restaurant is currently closed Robert Thompson has come up with the brilliant alternative of home delivery via his brainchild called 'UB Chef'. Food is carefully and individually packed and arrives to go straight into the oven or on the stove to be heated and finished. A completely delicious eat-at-home experience from a Michelin chef who's hit on a perfect solution for these troubled times. Will order his wonderful menus again.

Whilst staying on the IOW recently we had a meal for 4 delivered for our Saturday evening treat ... it was superb! The packaging was faultless and the instructions on how to do the final preparations for the meal were clear and easy to follow. The food was so tasty with lovely flavours. We are pleased that delivery can be made any where in the UK and will certainly use the service again.

We ordered through the new UBChef service. It was great to have choice and the six of us ordered across the menu. I was not sure about the DPD delivery, compared to the old home delivery service, but actually it worked a charm, with food arriving in the middle of the delivery hour slot. The box was in perfect condition and contents were fridge cold thanks to the insulation and chiller bag. There are written instructions and videos, the videos allow you to recreate the intended look! The fish and short rib starter were both great, bags of flavour, nice colours and textures. We had 3 different mains and a word to those who are not experienced in home cooking, I d' say we are average, it was a bit of effort to get all the dishes ready and on the table at the same time, if you are less confident think about 1 or 2 mains! All the dishes were appreciated by the guest! Beautiful desserts and the saviour bit? I had forgotten one of our guests was GF. Robert, the hero prepared another dessert and delivered it personally later in the day, well above and beyond! Thanks so much, would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys fine dining.

UB Chef is a new countrywide delivery service from Robert Thompson. The restaurant is closed because of the current circumstances, so the restaurant comes to you. We had a brilliant three course meal delivered and I just finished It off and plated it as per instructions. Cuttlefish tagliatelle, seafood risotto and a chocolate mousse might be the basic descriptions but the dishes were so much more as you would expect from such a skilled chef. I must mention the packaging which ensured a safe arrival. Everything could be recycled except the gel packs which we will certainly reuse. The food containers could be reused and we have kept some for this purpose. A brilliant and faultless experience which I highly recommend.

We had an anniversary dinner delivered from this restaurant as we could not get out to celebrate. The food was amazing and I enjoyed doing the finishing touches before serving. The written and on line instructions were brilliant. Our thanks to Chef Robert Thompson for helping to make our day really special. I highly recommend this service.

Big thanks to Robert for our 'fine dining experience' delivered to our door what an amazing meal we enjoyed every mouthful 😍😍

Our group of 8 had a lovely lunch here. The staff were great, open kitchen was an added bonus watching the chef's preparing - all quiet and calm but cheerful. The menu was interesting - we elected for the set three course lunch menu which had a choice of 3 different dishes for each course. They also had a vegan menu. We had a number of different dishes between us and all enjoyed them. We were also given an amuse bouche which was a gorgeous whipped beetroot dish. All dishes were nicely presented. Wines were by the glass and only the tiniest niggle is that we felt the wine prices were a little bit expensive but all in all a lovely visit and they very graciously decorated a birthday plate with some sweets on as a nice gesture for one of our party

We moved to the Isle of Wight from London just under 2 years ago,and I have wanted to try this restaurant since moving here We really enjoyed our experience the food is truly amazing and a real treat. Service friendly and helpful. This restaurant is a step up from most others we have tried on the island. We would return with friends but it would have to be a special occasion as the prices are quite high ( which is understandably so for the quality of cooking and food ) My 2 criticisms ! When each course is served to you you are given an explanation of what you have ordered this I felt was unnecessary. At point of order if you need an explanation you would ask for it ? And then make your choice. I did feel the restaurant lacked atmosphere I felt it was a little cold and a bit stiff I would return.

We felt so lucky to get a table without booking on a Saturday night, the front of house staff were friendly & welcoming. Unfortunately the 2 courses & accompaniments that came to our table, we’re awful. I had pork belly, with a revolting macaroni & cheese slice on the side, my partner had sepia, equally as bad . Award winning, don’t make me laugh, you’ve been watching too much Masterchef. £127.00, bill, later in the evening, left with a bad taste in my mouth & wallet.

The Isle of Wight is not a place one would normally assoicate with fine dining. I was looking for tasting menus for when we visited in Feb 20 and came across Thompsons Robert Thompson is the youngest Chef to be awared a Michelin Star. The whole experience was excellent with booking being very easy, asking to have the tasting menu and sit at the Pass, to confirming the food allergies mentioned at the time of booking. There was a very warm welcome and the menu was explained to us over a drink at the bar before we made our way to the table. On arrival at the table, there was no silverwear so we assumed it would be brought at some point; but no, it wasn't and here is one of the lovely touches the restaurant displays. Each person has a little drawer on their side of the table and all your cultery for the meal is in your own drawer!The food was prepared in front of us and it was very interesting to see how the dish was designed and created from the initial sauce to those finer finishing touches, all with exacting precision.Each dish was excellent with the lamb being perfectly cooked and just melted in the mouth.Would certainly go back!

Five of us, including one fussy teenager, visited Thompson’s on a wet and windy evening for dinner. We contacted Robert Thompson in advance and, while we had a taster menu, our picky member had a special taster menu created for him! This is extraordinary service from a restaurant of this quality. Two of us had the matching wine flight which had each wine expertly explained as it appeared just before the course it accompanied. The table and bar service was brilliant and we all enjoyed watching the team prepare our food in the open kitchen. It is a delight to have amazing food in such a relaxed atmosphere and a privilege to meet a chef/owner with such passion.

Our monthly visit on a Saturday lunchtime. A delightful refuge whilst “Storm Dennis” was raging outside. A warm welcome from Robert Thompson and his team. Each course on the set lunch menu was the finest cuisine from using local produce in innovative ways, always accompanied by home made sourdough bread with whipped butter, “amuse bouches” to commence proceedings , added to another wonderful experience at Thompson’s !

Absolutely BRILLIANT restaurant with outstanding food. Our Host, Robert Thompson was a delight and the staff and level of service second to none. We had the set menu which was outstanding value for money. Cannot commend this restaurant too highly

From the moment we walked in to the time we unfortunately left the level of service was exceptional. All the food was perfectly cooked with interesting textural elements, bursts of acidity and contrasting sweet or savoury elements balancing each dish. It really is a perfect dining experience in a relaxed atmosphere.The accompanying wine pairings were also a perfect addition to each course showing the level of detail going into constructing an overall experience.We will be back with any reason to, or most likely without one.

After a Saturday “prix fixe” set lunch in December and January this year, Robert and his team continue to introduce the most amazing and innovative menus which delight on each visit !Invariably glasses of Prosecco to peruse the Menu, and a bottle of French house white wine to accompany our choices. Each course delivered with a courteous description on what is offered by a Chef. Roll on our return in February !

This is a wonderful restaurant. The food is excellent and the staff super friendly. Each dish is made with real care and is delicious. They have little surprises along the way for you too. Great value too. Strongly recommended and thanks to the team at Thompson’s

During our hugely enjoyable break on the Isle of Wight, Thompson’s delivered the biggest surprise. In that it actually overturned our dislike of the ubiquitous and frequently disappointing “tasting-menu” concept. Our tasting-menu experiences have largely consisted of microscopic portion sizes, "challenging" flavour combinations, uninspiring wine-pairings, (allied to parsimonious measures) and pompous, (if undeniably talented), chefs. We would have ignored the tasting menu at Thompson’s, were it not for a glowing recommendation from a competitor. He passionately dispelled our negativity and promised that if we did try it, the tasting menu at Thompson’s would overturn our preconceptions – and he was right.If I listed everything good about the food, I would be here forever, so I’ll limit my comments to things that impressed us the most. I’ll begin with my favourite course, a “pressing” of smoked eel, ham hock, duck liver and apple. I have prepared many a terrine in my time and all of them turned out a little dry. So how come this “pressing” was so unutterably moist and moreish? As the course was served by its creator, (or at least part of the team that created it), I could ask. The answer was kind of obvious now I’ve been told. They cleverly utilised the natural fat content of the ingredients, to keep it deliciously moist. I’m still dreaming of that “pressing” – absolutely delicious.The second course that really impressed us was something I almost laughed out loud at – roast venison with liquorice root. My wife and I both hail from a time, where money for treats was scarce. I remember chewing on liquorice root, as it was the least expensive “treat” from the sweet shop. This course - a beautifully cooked nugget of prime venison - was pierced with a genuine liquorice stick. I was deeply suspicious that this would do anything of merit to the venison and was once again proved spectacularly wrong. Sure, the outer edges of the venison were dominated by the flavour of the meat itself. Nearer to the liquorice stick, its subtle, bittersweet flavours, started to come to the fore and complimented the game perfectly. The added bonus was having a crafty chew on the stick when finished, when childhood memories came flooding back.Every other course on the menu, (including some intermittent courses), was of the same stellar quality. From the proverbial “soup to nuts”, this was cooking on a level that put most of our previous “guide-starred” experiences to shame. Plus, we had to limit ourselves to a single course of the delicious local cheeses, as two portions would have been too much to handle. That also addresses the question of portion sizes.We also decided to go with the matching wine flight and as usual, I prepared myself for a procession of slightly oxidised, rather dreary, unimaginative, thimble-sized glasses of “disappointment”. Wrong again! The first surprise was a Spanish “Rosado” – a style of wine that usually underwhelms. Each to their own I suppose but from the upmarket delights of Whispering Angel and “Brangelina’s” Mireval - they have all disappointed. This Spanish rosé delivered on the hyperbole. There was the expected soft-fruit flavours to begin but there was also great structure and balance and - at the death - a deliciously clean finish. I’ve done some research and a case of that wine will be on the top of my list, as soon as the weather warms up. The rest of the selections were all superb matches for the food. Wine pairings at Thompson’s are a team effort and I have to say – it’s a team that knows its stuff. The final wine was the best, (in my humble opinion at least). To accompany a stupendous sea buckthorn and chocolate “delice”, (utterly moreish), was a wine from a grape unknown to me – Tannat. It utilised a production method used by makers of fortified wines; in that fermentation was prematurely halted with Brandy. The flavours were further enhanced by the introduction of some herb and spice flavours, the same as its Italian “cousin” - Barolo Chinato. Now if the food and wine were good, service was even better. Knowledgeable, friendly and attentive staff, who not only delivered their creations - but took time to discuss them. One of the many reasons for the success of Thompson’s, is the actual presence of the hugely talented Mr Thompson himself. A famous name above a restaurant door doesn’t guarantee you anything: especially if the chef/patron has the proverbial “business empire” to attend to, as well as the kitchen. Rest assured, Thompson’s could be transported to any of the world’s “foodie” cities and still impress. Newport is very lucky to have such an excellent, top-quality establishment on its doorstep.

Un ristorante molto carino .personale gentile. Ottimo menu . Prezzo adeguato alla qualità del pasto

Excellent food beautifully presented and friendly and helpful staff. Good value fixed lunch menu. Very relaxed feel and well worth a visit.

4 of us had the xmas £35 set menu it's never 3 courses theres bread pre aperiser and everything is amazing. From the cocktails to begin to the dessertZ, the service, the food it's an experience not just a meal. Try and get in the kitchen to watch the theatre of service. It was that good and that good value we are returning this week to try other dishes...just wow

Outstanding food and service. Cocktail's were fantastic, and to watch the attention to detail and craftmanship going into the food presentation was amazing. For a special occasion, thoroughly recommended.

Visited Thompsons on Friday, and as always, had a delicious meal. The amuse bouche of onion mousse was amazing. Have got to try that one at home.We went with the seasonal menu, and really enjoyed the duck liver parfait (pictured), and the haddock croquette, followed by the venison and the duck egg ravioli. We both finished with the white chocolate and passion fruit mousse. Yum!The restaurant was busy, and buzzing with Christmas cheer. Exactly what we wanted on a grey and rainy December day.

We always go to Robert Thompson’s incomparable restaurant when visiting the IoW. The food is magnificent and dishes are well presented and very creative. For example on this visit we had a pheasant cannelloni, beautiful venison, a great turbot dish and a wonderful hare with ash baked celeriac. The service is top notch, there is an excellent wine list and a great selection of other drinks. We had one meal overlooking the open kitchen and the second in the more intimate upstairs dining room. You are likely to get at least one course served by one of the chefs. It might even be Robert himself who serves you and explains a dish. This is such a nice feature of the restaurant which is fine dining without the fuss.

Top quality, imaginative food brilliantly executed - absolutely delicious. Nice space, great staff... result !

Saturday lunch Set Menu, as always warmly welcomed by Robert, Adrian and Ed behind the pass. We thoroughly enjoyed every moment at our usual table. The “amuse bouches ” delighted, with innovative first and second courses. Roll on our next booking in December!

Outstanding food and staff as ever.

Exceptional food. Reasonably priced set menus. Friendly attentive staff.

A lovely venue with beautiful food.

Good food, great drinks just not amazing

Loved it, delicious food and great service. Fine dining at its best and really looking forward to next time. We had the lobster canaloni, the lamb and the sea bream. Fish was moist and lamb was cooked to perfection. Drinks were great and we had the chance to sit by the kitchen. Definitely coming back :)

My wife and I visited Thompson's lunchtime 9th October 2019. It was a terrific experience with excellent service from a caring staff. The food was first class served in a restaurant that allowed one to witness the staff preparing our food. Full marks in every way and we look forward to returning in the future

I am normally a supporter of what Robert has done for Island dining, but last Saturday was not good. I know he has a liking for turning humble ingredients into something exciting, but this time it was a struggle.

Fascinating menu with options to be conservative or go really off line. We loved the idea of your personal cutlery in individual drawers so you took and used what you needed. There is a mixture of casual and formal about the place so that it can be a casual night out or a more formal one if you want to make it like that. Clever.

Great food great service - had a fantastic lunch and great wine pairing