The Fat Duck

The Fat Duck is a restaurant in Bray, Berkshire, England. It is run by chef proprietor Heston Blumenthal, and was first opened in 1995 in a 16th century building which had previously been used as a public house. Despite first serving food similar to that of a French bistro, it has become well known for serving dishes using molecular gastronomy principles. The number of staff in the kitchen has increased from two when it first opened to 42, resulting in a ratio of one chef to one customer. In 2004 it was awarded three Michelin stars, and in 2005 it was named the best restaurant in the world in the list of the World's 50 Best Restaurants. In 2009 the restaurant suffered from the largest ever recorded norovirus outbreak with over 400 diners falling unwell.

The restaurant is known for its menu of unusual dishes, created following the principles of molecular gastronomy including egg and bacon ice cream, an Alice in Wonderland inspired mock turtle soup involving a fob watch dissolved in tea, and a dish called the "Sounds of the Sea" which includes an audio element. Blumenthal dislikes the molecular gastronomy label, and prefers to think of his food as a combination of cooking techniques and tricks on diner's perceptions. The restaurant has an associated laboratory where Blumenthal and his team develop new dish concepts. Reviews of the restaurant have been mixed, with some critics disliking particular dishes such as a mustard ice cream in a red cabbage gazpacho soup.