Osip

As a passionate food lover, I made a special trip from London to dine at Osip in Bruton for my friend 69y birthday , drawn by its Michelin star and reputation for excellence. Unfortunately, what was supposed to be a memorable fine dining experience turned into a major disappointment — the entire restaurant was swarming with flies. From the moment we were seated, we noticed multiple flies buzzing around the room. Initially, we assumed it might be a minor issue, but throughout the entire meal, the flies continued to circle our food and drinks, landing on the table, plates, and even the cutlery at times. It was deeply off-putting and unhygienic. For a Michelin-starred establishment, the very least one expects is a clean and sanitary dining environment. Regardless of whether the restaurant embraces a “farm-to-table” or countryside concept, there is absolutely no excuse for such poor environmental hygiene. The overwhelming number of flies severely compromised both our enjoyment and our sense of food safety. What made matters worse was the staff’s reaction when we raised our concern — we were met with a vague response along the lines of “It’s hard to avoid in hot weather,” with no apology, no acknowledgment of the severity of the issue, and certainly no corrective action. We felt ignored and frankly disrespected. This experience was extremely disappointing and raises serious questions about whether Osip still meets the standards expected of a Michelin-starred restaurant. Diners paying for a premium experience deserve a setting that is at the very least clean and comfortable — not one where they have to swat away flies while trying to eat. I sincerely hope the management at Osip takes this feedback seriously and addresses the hygiene issues immediately. I also urge the Michelin Guide to re-evaluate how such establishments are monitored to ensure that they consistently meet the expectations associated with their stars. Otherwise, the credibility of the Michelin system itself risks being undermined.