The restaurant Wild, located in Berkhamsted, is drawing attention for its commitment to a farm-to-table model, utilizing ingredients from its own regenerative farm situated a few miles away. The establishment provides its own fruit, vegetables, herbs, and eggs, and also bakes its own bread and prepares house-made pickles, ferments, and preserves.
Despite the admirable sourcing, the culinary execution has received mixed reviews. The restaurant features a spacious, light-filled dining area. Service has been described as charming, and certain dishes have been singled out for praise. These include white crab meat served on a hash brown and a panzanella salad with ripe tomatoes. A pig's head croquette and a flatbread topped with Baron Bigod cheese and the restaurant's own honey were also noted positively.
However, not all menu items met expectations. The bass crudo was noted as needing more salt and citrus, and the courgette 'tempura' was described as heavy and mushy. A particular disappointment was the lamb dish, priced at £35 for two small slices of loin, which was reportedly undercooked with unrendered fat.
The critic noted that the restaurant was not busy during their visit, making the issues with the lamb dish seem like a missed opportunity. While acknowledging the talent in the kitchen and the high quality of the ingredients, the review suggests that Wild could significantly improve with minor adjustments. The estimated cost per head is around £45.