Starling

Cuisine

Modern British

Michelin

1

Price

£££

Website

https://www.starlingbistro.co.uk/

Description

The first solo opening of experienced chef Nick Beardshaw is this neighbourhood restaurant, where its lack of pretension makes it all the more endearing. The décor inside the surprisingly spacious dining room is simple yet elegant, while the menu consists of the kind of seemingly straightforward dishes that are tricky to pull off yet so easy to eat. Nick’s signature dish of Orkney scallop with Thai green curry sauce is a prime example, the technical skill and balance of flavours shining through. There’s a good selection of steaks and a great value lunch deal too.

Review score

4.2

Review count

100

Review summary

Starling in Esher offers Modern British cuisine with an average rating of 4.2/5. Food quality is a standout feature, with dishes like truffle cheese crumpets, duck main, and lobster soufflé receiving high praise. However, some guests noted issues with meal pacing and limited vegetarian options. Service is generally warm and attentive, though isolated incidents of managerial rudeness were reported. The atmosphere is relaxed and well-spaced, but poor ventilation leads to noticeable cooking smells, affecting comfort. Value perceptions vary; while the midweek set lunch is considered good value, others find the pricing high relative to the lack of traditional amenities like bread service or petit fours.

Best for

Suitable for diners seeking refined modern British cuisine who can tolerate slight cooking odors.

Restaurant facts are unified under a canonical restaurant ID; source ids are references. Commission never ranks. FlyerKey never transacts — any booking link is an off-site affiliate deep-link, and commission never influences ranking.