I have been coming to Isle of Wight for almost 20 years, no I don't have a relative serving a long stretch in Parkhurst, my wife has family on the island and for the last couple of years we have had a second home. In that time I have dined at The George countless times and seen various changes made to the bistro, various chefs have come and gone. Something that has not changed is the location, there isn't a better located restaurant on the island, particularly for dinner, when you watch the sun setting over the solent.
Right now I think its going through a bad patch, prices are high even by London standards and the quality of the food and the cooking doesn't merit the price. The highlight of my most recent experience there, was a friend sending a £28 piece of steak back twice! Its difficult to mess up a sirloin steak once let alone twice. Add a risotto that tasted of nothing but mint and an entirely flavourless piece of brie and it was close to being the worse dining experience of the year to date.
Its been very good before and I am sure it will be very good again, but there are now alternatives on the island so it may be a while before I return…sunset or no sunset.