Farnborough Road
Farnborough
Hampshire
GU14 6EL

Tel: 01252 555890

Website: aviatorfarnborough.co.uk

Vegetarian: Yes

Parking: Own car park (valet available)

Wheelchairs: Easy

Loos: Above average

Looking further a field in Hampshire three of us decided on a day out in Farnborough to hopefully enjoy lunch and to review The Brasserie at The Aviator Hotel. The Aviator's website looked very enticing and promised to be a new experience to share with you.
 
Farnborough is just off the M3 so an easy drive but it was a little confusing finding the correct exit around the Airport.  Perhaps we were just not concentrating and talking too much, we should have listened to our Sat Nav!
 
Aviator Hotel is very stylish with ultra modern architecture, tinted non-reflective exterior windows and the interior is a sight to see even if in our opinion rather dark.  (Do have a look at their website.)  We did think there was a lack of signage and in fact we walked around the whole building before arriving at the hotel entrance!  In summer it will look quite different as the back of the hotel looks out onto the airport runways and the terraces will be set up for al fresco dining.  What a perfect location for your plane spotting partners and guests during the Farnborough Air show in August.
 
Both The Aviator Hotel and the Airport are owned by TAG.  The Aviator is an excellent venue for corporate entertainment, board meetings and private functions.  After lunch we asked to see one of the rooms; very luxurious with spacious accommodation and offering every facility including a help yourself mini-bar! 
 

 
 We were warmly welcomed and escorted to   the Brasserie on the ground floor where we selected from the daily lunch menu whilst sipping our G & T's (Plymouth Gin) and nibbling a selection of breads with a tomato & garlic dip.  Lunch is 3 courses £21.00 or 2 courses £18.00. 

As well as The Brasserie there is also a fine Deli, see left, as another eating alternative.

Our choices were:
 
Starters:  Caesar salad with smoked chicken (no anchovies); Oriental duck salad, Chinese leaf, spiced chili nuts with ginger & soy dressing; Warm Scotched egg with crisp apple salad
 
Mains: Braised daube of beef, bacon lardons, creamed potatoes and red wine sauce; Pan fried Sea Bass, chorizo and squid salad; Roast Gressingham duck breast, puy lentils and Toulouse sausage.
          
Dessert:  Coconut crème brulée with coconut cream sauce, selection of English cheeses served with apple & fig compote and walnut bread.
 
Wine:   Sierra Cantabria £17.95
 
We did enjoy our visit; the food was good, adequate servings and attractive surroundings.    
    
There is also a quick lunch menu available for 2 in 2010 for £20.10 including a glass of house wine, beer or soft drink per person.
 
Having been spotted using my camera our secret was out but it did give us the pleasure of meeting Allan Pickett, the Head Chef, who is a very important member of Aviator's team.  He told us all about his interesting career and how he now visits schools to encourage healthy eating ideas.  His trainee chefs come from Farnborough College and I am sure that under Allan's guidance they will have a chance of a great future in the catering world having worked side by side with such an enthusiastic master!
Cost ££££££

Ladies Who Lunch Scoring:

Quality of food
Variety of menu
Staff and service
Ambience, setting and decor
Value for Money

Total Yummy Factor

5/5 = Cannot be improved upon, 4/5 = Very good, 3/5 = Good,
2/5 = Satisfactory, 1/5 = Poor, 0/5 = Terrible

The higher the "Yummy" factor, the better the food & service. The higher the number of £ signs the more expensive. (Roughly one £ sign = £5 per head)