Franklin_Delano_Roosevelt
Well-Known Forumite
Having lived in Stafford for a number of years until today I had never been in the place, not through any act of purpose - just because it has never really crossed my mind. Today me and Mrs FDR were out in town and met up with some friends from out of town - as they were from out of town they understandably left it to us to choose a lunch venue, and so we opted for the Vine.
OK, it is only fair to start with the positives. I was pleasantly surprised by the interior - it has a nice cosy feel about it - oldie worldie but without being manky. Obviously didn't see the rooms but thought to myself this looks like an OK place to say or recommend to anyone wanting town centre accommodation alternative to The Swan.
We found a table (the place was busy but by no means packed) and sat down, this is where things started to go down hill. We asked the waitress the most simple of questions, for example what beers do you have on, what are the specials - she just said "I dunno" not "I'm not sure, l'l go and check, come back and let you know" it was just a blank, pasty faced, vacant "dunno". We ended up going to the bar to check what drinks they had & what the was on the specials. Not a great start.
The waitress then came back to take our order, all was good - short while later the drinks were bought over, still good. Didn't have to wait too long and three of the four meals came out. The waitress apologied and said that the fourth would "be along in 3 minutes" Three minutes came and went and turned into ten, which turned into twenty, still no fourth meal. The other three weren't cold but were a little on the cool side, as if they had been sitting in the kitchen for a bit waiting for someone to pick them up and take them out into the dining room.
Eventually after the three of us had finished we complained at the bar about the elusive meal, they apologied and to be fair agreed to not charge for the fourth meal, which did eventually turn up. we then had to sit and watch the unfortunate fourth meal person eat having long since finished and run out of drinks
In conclusion not great and when you are taking friends to a place and it turns out to be not great this has added embarrassment. It not only makes you look like a plum but also makes the town in which you live look like a shambles.
Such a shame as the place and the food (if you give the benefit of the doubt over the luke warm bit) was good, good portions etc and decent value but totally and utterly destroyed by the cronic lack of service. It just isn't good enough.
OK, it is only fair to start with the positives. I was pleasantly surprised by the interior - it has a nice cosy feel about it - oldie worldie but without being manky. Obviously didn't see the rooms but thought to myself this looks like an OK place to say or recommend to anyone wanting town centre accommodation alternative to The Swan.
We found a table (the place was busy but by no means packed) and sat down, this is where things started to go down hill. We asked the waitress the most simple of questions, for example what beers do you have on, what are the specials - she just said "I dunno" not "I'm not sure, l'l go and check, come back and let you know" it was just a blank, pasty faced, vacant "dunno". We ended up going to the bar to check what drinks they had & what the was on the specials. Not a great start.
The waitress then came back to take our order, all was good - short while later the drinks were bought over, still good. Didn't have to wait too long and three of the four meals came out. The waitress apologied and said that the fourth would "be along in 3 minutes" Three minutes came and went and turned into ten, which turned into twenty, still no fourth meal. The other three weren't cold but were a little on the cool side, as if they had been sitting in the kitchen for a bit waiting for someone to pick them up and take them out into the dining room.
Eventually after the three of us had finished we complained at the bar about the elusive meal, they apologied and to be fair agreed to not charge for the fourth meal, which did eventually turn up. we then had to sit and watch the unfortunate fourth meal person eat having long since finished and run out of drinks
In conclusion not great and when you are taking friends to a place and it turns out to be not great this has added embarrassment. It not only makes you look like a plum but also makes the town in which you live look like a shambles.
Such a shame as the place and the food (if you give the benefit of the doubt over the luke warm bit) was good, good portions etc and decent value but totally and utterly destroyed by the cronic lack of service. It just isn't good enough.
