
Address and Contact Information
Address: 96A Mill Rd, Cambridge CB1 2BD, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 1223 354093
Website: https://www.fancetts.com/
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Fancett’s
Fancett’s – Cambridge – a MICHELIN Guide Restaurant
Menu – Fancett’s
Reviews
The entire team were friendly and attentive, the atmosphere was a gentle mid-week buzz and all the food we had as a table of 3, was delicious.
We had the crab salad and burrata starters, monkfish, pork and liver for main and rhubarb choux and passion fruit soufflé for dessert – all the food was beautifully presented and tastes incredible. We had a really enjoyable evening.
The service was very good! The staff were very attentive and the timing of each course was perfect.
The wine list was good, they had a very good selection of higher end wines.
The food was okay and it is possible that I ordered the wrong things but I didn’t really like most of it, except the desert that was mostly good.
For a started there was the choice of mushroom soup or mackerel on a beet. I went with the mackerel which itself was good. It was served on a very thick slice of cooked beet. It was also served with a horseradish puree the was a tad too mild given the strong flavour of that very large slice of beet. There were also apple sticks and these were a very nice addition.
For the main there was a choice between duck with lentil and a cheese soufflé. I got the cheese soufflé. It was heavy. There was a lot of cream and a lot of oil. It left me feeling over oiled. I was also hoping for more from the mushrooms, like a stronger flavour since the rest did not have a strong flavour. From what I could taste there were only normal button mushrooms. This was a letdown and I probably should have gotten the duck leg.
We got a side of french fries. They were dill flavoured. I did not like them. They were dry and didn’t have the right salt balance.
Then for the desert I got the Bakewell tart. It was a fairly basic desert but done very well with figs. This I really liked. It also had a crispy cookie that was a nice addition. The only thing that didn’t match the flavours was the ice cream. The went with a vanilla elderflower ice cream which unfortunately was not subtle.
I really wanted to love this place and make it one of my regulars (for the occasional £75 lunch). However, it sadly always came very close but missed the mark. I wouldn’t be completely off trying it again but I wouldn’t go out of my way either. People seem to love this place so it could have been just a bad menu.
The wait was worth it. A beautiful little bistro, reminiscent of the very best Paris has to offer. Having lived in Paris for a spell some decades ago I fondly remember the joy of small outstanding restaurants such as this one and Fancett’s absolutely nails that vibe – just a wonderful environment to spend a few happy hours. On a cold January evening the resataurant was full, the ambiance warm and buzzy and the space comfortable and familiar. The privacy afforded by the layout is a real plus and our table of three thoroughly enjoyed the place. Service was warm, friendly and properly professional. I greatly enjoyed the complimentary glass of bubbles (thank you!) brought over to celebrate (yet another!) birthday before loving each dish which followed. The brown shrimp cocktail was as good a piece of cooking that I’ve eaten anywhere, it was balanced, full of flavour and cleverly intertwined some texture with carefully added tempura scraps. A joy. Bread was offered in the form of a perfectly made Focaccia.
All three of us couldn’t look past the roasted fillet of West Country Beef with a Cafe de Paris butter, Roscoff Onion and red wine jus and I’m glad we didn’t as it was sublime. Buttery soft beef perfectly cooked and rested, with an outstanding butter in which each element sang, it was glorious. On the side, my Parisian days came joyfully back to life with mash on a par with that served by Joel Robuchon in one of the finest food experiences I’ve ever had more than 20 years ago. It really was that good.
Desserts included a robust Rum Baba with Diplomatico on the side ready to be splashed at will, a faultless Affogato and a Valrhona 70% Chocolate Tart boasting pastry so thin and perfectly made it perhaps might not have even been there but in fact was, ready to snap joyfully and allow the chocolate to sing. One of my things in years past was to stop at the amazing chocolatier which used to exist in Charles de Gaulle Airport for a tin of precious Valrhona, and this dessert really showcased this finest of ingredients admirably.
Wine included a range of offerings at very reasonable prices; as it was a school night the numerous options for a carafe rather than a full bottle being particularly welcome. Other drinks such as coffees etc were as good as a restaurant of this level should offer. Overall a joyous evening and one we will absolutely repeat.
Fancett’s would not be the everyday option, clearly the level is much, much higher than that, but I would add that even with small supplements on a couple of dishes the fixed price two/three course menus are extremely good value for the quality of food and technical brilliance we enjoyed. As such, five stars very worthily earned, we can’t wait to return!
All the courses were delicious. I’m vegetarian and even though it’s not a speciality vegetarian restaurant they were amazing.
Amazing chefs and all the staff were so friendly and put you at ease. It doesn’t feel too formal. Just a nice place for people who care about food.
All dishes were great but the venison pasta was so tasty and melted in my mouth.
Wine could be better, quality not the same as the food.