The Kingham Plough

I've eaten here a few times and have always had a pleasant experience. The fillet steaks are to die for but steep at £22.00., and their thrice cooked chips are lovely and crisp.
On my last visit, a thursday evening at 7.30pm, their specials board was depleted, and I was hard pushed to find something on the menu that fitted an august evening!! I plumbed for the Lamb Pudding, which although was a suet pudding was remarkably light, and served with “black cabbage” which were spring greens by any other name. My friend's chicken did look very ordinary, although she said it was very nice. Service was a little slower than normal, and wasn't too happy with a big dog being allowed in the dining area. I know we were seated in the bar, but it's hardly a drinking pub. Bit disappointed this time around.

We decided to visit The Kingham Plough after a recommendation in The Times.

We visited on 11th October 2008. It is set in a picturesque Cotswolds village and initially has the ambience of a characterful “pub”. My parther was put off by a female chef smoking in the public garden on our arrival. I did not share this opinion, but perhaps it was an example of the lack of standards we were to experience.

Dining is subjective, so I will stick to facts:
The waitress brought the starters and presented me with something I had not ordered. She was not prepared the replace both first couses so I could have the dish I ordered & eat with my companion. Therefore, I accepted the soup, which was clearly influenced by 1980s Greek style cooking, in that is was barely warm. Good job I had not deliberated longer.
Influenced by the review we both ordered Steak & Chips for Main course. One was to be rare, the other medium/rare. The waiter appeared and asked us who had ordered the rare version (it was me). He then proceeded to present us with our plates. On cutting into the meat it was evident that we were given the wrong plates. We swapped. My meat was inconsistently cooked (i.e. cooked more on one side than the other). Also, on reflection I realise why, at home, I will cook Scottish fillet as a steak and use the Hereford variety we were served with for fajitas. It comes down the flavour & texture in my opinion.
We excited by the prospect of “triple cooked chips”. I is my view the purpose of multiple cooking is to create a particularly crispy result. These were disappointing in this department.

When I received the bill I had been charged the higher price for the starter I had accepted than the price for the dish I had ordered.
After complaining this was taken off the bill but, as I said to the waitress at the time, I would have preferred to have saved the inordinate amount of time it took to sort out and actually paid the extra to leave.

Whilst I accept that anyone can have an “off night” this experience was generally and totally unacceptable.
The price of £84.20 for a two course meal with modest wine is extortionate for this quality of ingredients & preparation. The service, which involved three different staff, was totally unprofessional.
The attitude at the end of the meal uncaring and pretentious.

Quite frankly, I wish we had stayed on the M40 coming back from Birmingham to Milton Keynes and I had cooked Steak & Chips at home. It would have been better presented and tastier.

I cannot see how peolpe can really consider this Restaurant to be of a high standard. Sometimes hype pays, or should that be “one can pay for hype”.