tek-monkey
wanna see my snake?
Out of interest what date? Burns night was great last year 
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Riverbank Restaurant - Stafford College
- Thread starter flossietoo
- Start date
My Name is URL
Well-Known Forumite
Finally managed to book in here for a few weeks time, CANNOT WAIT!!!
Just waiting for them to update the menu on the website so I can see what I might be eating. Yummy!
Oh and special mention to Ann who booked us in and was so friendly and helpful, really does make a difference.
Just waiting for them to update the menu on the website so I can see what I might be eating. Yummy!
Oh and special mention to Ann who booked us in and was so friendly and helpful, really does make a difference.
tek-monkey
wanna see my snake?
Yeah, the website, must update that....... 
I have the burns night menu if that helps! I'm going
I have the burns night menu if that helps! I'm going
Stafford College
Well-Known Forumite
Finally managed to book in here for a few weeks time, CANNOT WAIT!!!
Just waiting for them to update the menu on the website so I can see what I might be eating. Yummy!
Oh and special mention to Ann who booked us in and was so friendly and helpful, really does make a difference.
Well done and I am sure that you will have a brilliant meal. I will pass on your comment to Ann and to her line manager.
We do know how difficult it can be to get a table and colleagues in Hospitality are exploring ways to make it easier. The new restaurant is quite a bit larger than the previous one and in most cases, reservations are full before the space itself is. That is because they are limited by the number of students in a particular class and by their experience. Later on in the year they are able to take more diners, as the students get quicker in the kitchen and more confident 'front of house'.
Just to demonstrate that there is no favouritism for hungry people who work here, I have managed to get a table, too. In May. Although I suppose that could simply indicate that there is favouritism but that they don't like me. I choose to believe the former.
tek-monkey
wanna see my snake?
This is will be my fourth visit, and I think they've always been at least 6 weeks between booking and the table.
Stafford College
Well-Known Forumite
While I remember, if you have a great meal at the Riverbank, do please review it on TripAdvisor. Not you, Tek-monkey, or indeed me. We can't review because we work at the College, despite being paying customers too.
My Name is URL
Well-Known Forumite
Yeah, the website, must update that.......
I have the burns night menu if that helps! I'm going
Would love to do Burns Night but guess i'm too late again now.
Anyway get back to work and get the "spring term" menu up.... (please)
tek-monkey
wanna see my snake?
Can't today, they sent me home!
Lady Patch
Active Member
Gutted!! Booked a table for the 19th Feb...only to be told it has been cancelled because it's half term....
Stafford College
Well-Known Forumite
Oh Lady Patch, I am SO sorry. Would it make you feel any better if I told you that the same thing has happened to me? Have you been offered an alternative date? If not, please tell me how many are in your group and I'll find out when there is a table available. I can't offer an excuse. I think it is an unfortunate human error, I'm afraid. The people who take the bookings probably hadn't marked their calendar with the holiday dates.Gutted!! Booked a table for the 19th Feb...only to be told it has been cancelled because it's half term....
tek-monkey
wanna see my snake?
Just to say my meal last night was lovely, as always. Was in the Bistro this time, a bit of a different atmosphere but I liked it all the same. Still feeling fat now....
My Name is URL
Well-Known Forumite
Have the menus been permanently removed from the website now? Can't seem to see the link anymore.
tek-monkey
wanna see my snake?
I'm afraid we don't have them 
The problem appears to be that, because the aim of the restaurant is to train rather than serve, that the staff in charge aren't always sure what the students need training in too far in advance. Therefore advertising a fish main for example could be a bad move if all the students involved have got fish preparation sorted but need practice on beef (not being a chef I have no idea, I make my stuff up as I go along!).
As soon as menus are available I'll let you all know, but for now I think we're going to just have to put up some sample menus to give people an idea. I have a few plans of my own involving online booking and getting the menus mailed out when available, but I'm snowed under at the min (OFSTED are coming!) so it may be a while before I can look into these properly.
And finally, please remember I am not a spokesman for the college and as such could well be wrong in lots of things I say! I just know I don't have the menus yet.
The problem appears to be that, because the aim of the restaurant is to train rather than serve, that the staff in charge aren't always sure what the students need training in too far in advance. Therefore advertising a fish main for example could be a bad move if all the students involved have got fish preparation sorted but need practice on beef (not being a chef I have no idea, I make my stuff up as I go along!).
As soon as menus are available I'll let you all know, but for now I think we're going to just have to put up some sample menus to give people an idea. I have a few plans of my own involving online booking and getting the menus mailed out when available, but I'm snowed under at the min (OFSTED are coming!) so it may be a while before I can look into these properly.
And finally, please remember I am not a spokesman for the college and as such could well be wrong in lots of things I say! I just know I don't have the menus yet.
flossietoo
Well-Known Forumite
Another brilliant meal at the Riverbank last night. I had a sort of mushroom Wellington thing which tasted so good, I wanted time to stand still, so I could stay right there with a big glass of red wine and a lovely, rich, gloopy mushroom dinner. I am still full now.
Gadget
Well-Known Forumite
I suppose that the college has it's reasons but i'm not sure why the difficulty with the menus. After all a good menu offers a selection of several things and can usually range from fish, meat and a veggie option so no matter what the students need to work on the option is on the menu. As i say though i'm sure there are reasons but other college restaurants manage it.
*adopts 'in my day' tone of voice catering students are spoiled these days, I worked 3 lunches and 2 dinners each week one of those was a split. Then there were the practicals and lectures in between. Oh yeah no aircon and the kitchen fans were turned off during service as they were deemed noisy.
*adopts 'in my day' tone of voice catering students are spoiled these days, I worked 3 lunches and 2 dinners each week one of those was a split. Then there were the practicals and lectures in between. Oh yeah no aircon and the kitchen fans were turned off during service as they were deemed noisy.
tek-monkey
wanna see my snake?
Afraid I can't help on the menu side of things, I just put them on the website. Would a sample menu be of any use to you? In all honesty, its not like you can ever book once the menus get out anyway as they fill up immediately each term.
On another note, and a shameless plug, I linked to the tripadvisor reviews today and saw the college only had 7. Now I'm not asking for forumites to all go on and give us raving reviews, I wont even review the place myself due to my connection with it, but if anyone has been and fancies leaving an honest review I'd really appreciate it.
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restau...estaurant-Stafford_Staffordshire_England.html
On yet another side note, I've just spotted on the flickr feed that the young lady that served us on our last visit is one of the first two students to be sponsored by the Lewis Partnership. Excellent news, we certainly had no complaints.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/staffordcollege/sets/72157632526743187/
On another note, and a shameless plug, I linked to the tripadvisor reviews today and saw the college only had 7. Now I'm not asking for forumites to all go on and give us raving reviews, I wont even review the place myself due to my connection with it, but if anyone has been and fancies leaving an honest review I'd really appreciate it.
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restau...estaurant-Stafford_Staffordshire_England.html
On yet another side note, I've just spotted on the flickr feed that the young lady that served us on our last visit is one of the first two students to be sponsored by the Lewis Partnership. Excellent news, we certainly had no complaints.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/staffordcollege/sets/72157632526743187/
Stafford College
Well-Known Forumite
Thanks Tek-monkey. I can report that we have had another review!
I have also ordered a TripAdvisor sticker. I am confident that a sticker will prompt a veritable flood of reviews.
Gadget, I have passed on your comments about the menus. In all honesty, I don't know why they are no longer available online. But if I do learn why, I will let you know. I will also suggest that we turn off the air conditioning occasionally, just to remind the students how lucky they are. I am not entirely confident that the suggestion will be acted-upon.
I have also ordered a TripAdvisor sticker. I am confident that a sticker will prompt a veritable flood of reviews.
Gadget, I have passed on your comments about the menus. In all honesty, I don't know why they are no longer available online. But if I do learn why, I will let you know. I will also suggest that we turn off the air conditioning occasionally, just to remind the students how lucky they are. I am not entirely confident that the suggestion will be acted-upon.
Stafford College
Well-Known Forumite
Hi all, some extra spaces have come available in the Restaurant. If you have heard about it and haven't been able to get a table, this is a great chance to try it. If you've eaten there before and have been trying to get another table...you can now.
All these dates are for LUNCH which starts at 12 noon:
Weds 5 June
Tues 11 June
Weds 12 June
Tues 18 June
Weds 19 June
Thurs 20 June
Fri 21 June
To nab a table, call 01785 275481 and ask for Kirsty or email her on trainingrestaurants@staffordcoll.ac.uk If you are reading this now-ish, I happen to know Kirsty has just gone back to her desk.
Ready...
Steady...
GO!
All these dates are for LUNCH which starts at 12 noon:
Weds 5 June
Tues 11 June
Weds 12 June
Tues 18 June
Weds 19 June
Thurs 20 June
Fri 21 June
To nab a table, call 01785 275481 and ask for Kirsty or email her on trainingrestaurants@staffordcoll.ac.uk If you are reading this now-ish, I happen to know Kirsty has just gone back to her desk.
Ready...
Steady...
GO!