Starling

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.

GBM-inspired signature dishes at Starling Esher

• The menu features two Great British Menu-winning dishes that have become signature pieces for the restaurant: a starter called A Moon Shaped Pool (scallop with Thai green curry-inspired sauce) and the Banksy-inspired Balloon Girl dessert.

Value-forward set lunch and approachable pricing

• Starling runs a Wednesday–Thursday set lunch at 3 courses for £30, offering elevated dishes in a more accessible format; this pricing is notable for a Michelin-starred venue.

Open-kitchen, counter-dining, and intimate 40-seat vibe

• The dining room is built around an open kitchen/pass with Beardshaw on the pass, featuring four walk-in counter seats overlooking the kitchen, and a compact 40-seat space with a stylish, bird-themed decor.

Signature Ingredients

• Seasonal British produce: Starling emphasizes cooking the best British, seasonal ingredients with strong provenance and sustainability at its core, ensuring flavors speak for themselves and anchoring the menu in local farming and responsible sourcing.
• Cotswold White chicken: A premium British breed featured in the set lunch, described as herb crumbed and paired with mash and charred corn, highlighting tight sourcing from trusted regional producers and the kitchen’s craft in elevating simple, high-quality poultry.
• Creedy Carver duck (Devon): Ducks from Creedy Carver Farm in Devon are used to showcase high-grade British poultry, contributing deeper flavor and a marquee protein to the menu.
• Cornish jumbo plaice: A standout Cornish seafood item often presented with prawns, sesame and cucumber, underscoring the restaurant’s commitment to pristine, locally sourced fish and clean, bright flavors.
• Scallops: Central to the Moon Shaped Pool-inspired opening dish, featuring scallops in a Thai green curry-style preparation; this ingredient symbolizes Starling’s seafood finesse and ability to transform elegant, delicate seafood into bold, contemporary plates.
• Himalayan salt-aged beef: A key technique on beef mains, where Himalayan salt aging enhances depth and tenderness of the meat, reflecting the kitchen’s precision and emphasis on flavor through careful aging.
• Rib of beef / Roast beef and sirloin: Sunday roasts built around rib of beef and sharing sirloins with Yorkshire puddings, paired with heritage carrots and garlic-roasted Hispi cabbage; these offerings showcase classic British cuts elevated by sourcing quality and technique.
• Heritage carrots: Honey-glazed heritage carrots served as part of the beef roasts, illustrating the restaurant’s attention to seasonal, bright vegetable components that complement meat dishes.
• Yorkshire puddings: A quintessential British accompaniment that defines the bistro’s comfort-food ethos when paired with beef roasts.
• Truffle elements (Truffle cheese crumpets): The kitchen incorporates truffle into signature bites like cheese crumpets, highlighting luxury and depth of flavor through high-impact, small-format dishes.
• Prawn, sesame and cucumber: Components of the Cornish plaice dish that provide texture, brightness, and balance, reflecting a precise, textural approach to seafood plating.
• Balloon Girl raspberry cheesecake (signature dessert): A theatre-forward dessert linked to the GBM-winning Balloon Girl concept, featuring raspberry flavors in a visually striking cheesecake form as a memorable finale to the meal.

Tasting/Menu options

• Set Lunch (Wednesday & Thursday): 3 courses for £30
• Set Lunch option (mentioned in reviews): 3 courses for £25 – price may vary by day

Signature dishes

• Orkney scallop with Thai green curry sauce — price not listed
• A Moon Shaped Pool (Great British Menu signature dish) — price not listed
• Balloon Girl dessert — price not listed