The Pig's Ear

Denise B. ( 40s, Female, United Kingdom )

A disappointing evening. Where to start…

We ate in the bar. We were unfortunate enough to be seated at the table nearest to the Gent's toilet. The smell of chemical air freshener wafted over us every time the door opened and closed as, apparently, we were told, there was something wrong with the hinge, and so it wasn't closing properly. The smell was so overpowering that we found ourselves shuffling along the table in the opposite direction. Not what you want when on an evening out, and eating.

The food: really mean portions. My friend had the pate and bread, circa £7. It came with one slice of bread. We asked for more and the waitress said ‘no problem’, with the stance that it genuinely wasn't; if it genuinely wasn't, why not put more than one slice on the plate?

Meanness continued: I had sardines with panzanella. There was around a spoonful of said panzanella salad. You wouldn't have wanted to blink whilst eating.

Quality of food: average. VFM? Nope. Over-priced, given quantities served. In short, tiny, nouveau cuisine-sized portions. Tres pretentious.

Service: a junior bar man who needs a bit more training. We ordered and paid for a glass of wine to go with the food. It was forgotten. We asked again. When it eventually arrived, the young man bounded over and asked us if we wanted to ‘start a tab’ for it. We explained it had been paid for.

Service continued: another bar man who was more ‘with it’ but could have tried a little harder to smile and be friendly, etc. Though when I ordered the first round of drinks, he told me that he ‘needed my credit card’, rather than asking how I wished to pay. I was paying cash.

Ladies loo: empty ‘Oasis’ soft drink bottle on the floor in one cubicle, along with paper; ramshackle toilet.

We complained. The manager dealt with the situation well, explained re the toilet door hinge and listened to comments re portion size and staff. Offered free drinks/puddings to compensate. I went for the pudding as did my companion. She got hers, I didn't get mine. When mine finally arrived, young bar man bounded over told me my desert (complementary) would be £5.75!! Other bar man shooed him away!

At least highway men wear masks and carry guns to mug you.