The Saracens Head - Shirley

The food was of excellent quality, and the ambiance was enjoyable. All our meals arrived at the same time, and there was a great selection of wines and beers. I recommend making a reservation in advance, as it’s quite a popular spot.

The menu is displayed on blackboards rather than printed cards, suggesting that the offerings may change frequently. The portion sizes for mains are generous without being overwhelming, and everything is cooked to perfection using fresh ingredients. The pub has a modern yet rustic ambiance. Service is discreet yet attentive, ensuring a pleasant dining experience. The venue operates on a reservation system for evening bookings at 7 PM and 9 PM, allowing for a two-hour dining window. We opted for the earlier seating, and although I anticipated feeling rushed as 8:45 PM approached, there was clearly no reservation following ours, so we were able to relax over coffee and stay as long as we liked.

Having visited this restaurant before, we knew what to expect. As always, the service was excellent and the ambiance was perfect. The food was enjoyable, although it didn't quite reach the level of amazing. The value for the fillet steak was somewhat questionable; however, it was cooked to perfection. We will definitely return!

We have been visiting The Saracens Head prior to the change to a 'Gastropub '. We came upon it by chance and have visited it whenever we have been in the Ashbourne area. It is a good friendly restaurant in a well heeled country area. It was quiet when we arrived and busied up as time went on with customers familiar to the area. We feel that the food quality is above average. We enjoyed our meal and will come back again. As for the pricing structure you pay for what you get neither cheap nor as expensive as it could be.

I love the menu written on blackboards on the wall, a rather novel way to choose your meal. It's not a cheap meal out, but very nice for special occasions. My husband loves coming back. Lovely village setting .