please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
We were warmly welcomed by the new management and enjoyed an excellent lunch in very pleasant surroundings. Prices seem high, but then realised it was value for money.
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Went here for a meal last sunday. At first we thought meals looked a bit pricey but we changed our minds when we got our meals. I had carvery and my husband had a steak meal. I got a generous portion of meat and veg selection was good. My sister had the vegetarian carvery which she said was good. Tim's meal was very big, he didnt leave hungry!
They seemed very busy and the carvery seemed verty popular. We had very polite waitress who told us the carvery runs all week and is only �5.65 lunchtimes in the week which seemed very good value for the size meal I got. We saw a man talking to the table next to us and he introduced himself to the table as the new manager. He seemed very courteous and friendly. I couldnt manage a pudding but will certainly try to save space for one next time as they looked very nice. and when we have family to stay as it had a good sized childrens play area. We've already booked there for our Christmas party this year.
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We were a party of 8 who visited on a Sunday for the carvery. The place was very busy and the guy carving the meat wasn't exactly the quickest worker in the world. This led to a queue which at one point stretched half way across the large restaurant. Once at the carving counter the amount of meat placed on the plate was generous and the carver even asked if there was enough on the plate! A good selection of fresh, hot vegetables were available. The Sunday carvery, at �10.50 was a little overpriced.
The staff were polite and efficient, apart from the serving of the desserts, which arrived in dribs and drabs, to the point where some members of our party had finished their desserts before the rest of them arrived. All in all a pleasant enough eating experience and I would go back again.
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Oh dear. What a terrible experience I had last Friday (12 Aug 2011). Ordered a pint of local ale - Piddle. Came out really cloudy, not a good taste. Swapped it for a Ringwood Best. That was only slightly better. Sat and watched as other customers pondered over the poor quality of the beer; sat at tall sticky table. Barmaid (who had just had a "head rush") flushed through the Ringwood Best. She was so proud of her work she put a pint (that was clearing quite slowly) on the bar on front of two guys to "prove she could do it". Didn't (couldn't) stay for another.
Met local guy on bus from Weymouth on Saturday who agreed with my summary and he thinks they change management annually. He doesn't 'use' this pub.
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We visited this restaurant whilst on holiday, for a birthday meal. The staff were excellent, the food superb and great value for money. the restaurant was quite busy but we were attended on as though we were the only ones there!!! I would reccommend this restaurant to any one.
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We visited osmington last week and before we left read reviews about the sunray which were not too good. We gave it a try anyway and all of our party we very happy with the food and service and i thanked the staff ie the chef for thier effort.Do not always belive what you read.
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My Partner and I have visited this pub numerous times over the last two years and apart from being extremely busy in August, we cannot complain. The screaming children do tend to get on our nerves..... (but that is not the pubs fault)
The carvery is excellent, very fresh vegetables and a great choice of wonderfully cooked meats every time - during the day or evening. Excellent value for money.
The staff have always been very happy and willing to help. But, we have witnessed miserable customers who seem to complain about the slightest thing and nothing will make them happy! I have felt sorry for the staff on more than one occasion when customers have been rude and ungrateful for the lovely and freshly cooked food.
One evening we were lucky enough to sit right next to the grill and watch the chefs at work - they were excellent. Very hard working and their food was really tasty and fine.
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We went for a family birthday meal and we very diapointed! first of all it was the whole business with where you can and can't sit!! Totally agree with "acastle57" and would like to say you didn't miss much by walking out!!!
Our starters we rubbishy pre packed frozen stuff and the fish main was awfull!! The Service is terrible and i've heard they have a high staff turn over!
Maybe the managment need to simplify the menu to things the chef can cook and try to boost their staff morale. If the staff were happy they'd be nicer to the customers!!??
A shame really because this is my 'local' pub and I'd like to see it thrive for the sake of the village!
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Went there for my birthday and had a great time, friendly staff, excellent food and good atmosphere, family and I really enjoyed the day :)
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my family have been coming to Dorset every year for as long as I can remember. We have always called into The Sunray for a drink and the kids to play. A couple of weeks ago we returned for our hols with other friends in tow. 11 of us in total.
I was absolutely disgusted with the service in this pub and shall NOT be returning at all. The blonde waitress who seemed to be running the restaurant was rude and unhelpful. We wanted to eat in the restaurant and was told in an abrupt manner there was NO tables. Of course we were told we could sit in the bar and eat. Thinking we would be able to eat from the restaurant menu, approached the bar to ask for a menu only to be told we could only eat from the bar menu. I explained to the waitress that it wasn't our fault we couldn't sit in the restaurant and I didn't see any reason why we couldn't have our meal in the bar (which for all of us would have been a 3 course meal) I then asked if she could have found 2 tables in the restaurant, even if not together, and got "if i could have done I would have done". No sorry or nothing. We were told we should have booked, but as tourists and never have had to before, didnt know we needed to. I was really upset and angry at the service as we told our friends how good it was. DISPICABLE service and will NEVER go again!!!!!! Oh and they lost out on alot of money, their loss!!!!
If anyone is looking for a great place to eat then go a bit further down the road and visit The Springhead bar and restraurant in Preston. Service great, food even better, great surroundings and park for kids to play. Oh and one other thing....you can eat in the bar or restaurant and have whichever menu you choose. 10/10 for this place.
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My family and I went to this pub today for a carvery. We were attracted to it as it was only �4.95 weekday lunchtimes. I am really not a fussy eater, but the food was simply not very nice. Everything tasted like it had been served up twice before and reheated. The roast potatoes were slightly brown and mealy on the inside. The broccoli and cauliflower were in a cheese sauce that was very stringy and hard to serve and actually tasted of nothing. The stuffing was undercooked and slightly raw in the middle.
The meat was fine, as were the carrots and peas.
I guess you get what you pay for. To make it that cheap they have to reheat and reheat :(
However, the waitress was very grumpy and curt and did nothing to enhance our visit. We asked at the end of the meal if we should pay her or what the system was, and she basically said 'go up and pay at the till, I can't do anything til I've cleared these plates' - accusing us of being demanding! She clearly resents her job and the manager needs to have a word with her about her customer care!
We won't be returning. Who knows what the rest of the menu is like. If she had been cheerful and nice, at least we would have had a jollier time.
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We Where a party of three whent here on Sunday 25th. Two had carverys that was very short of choice only roast potatoes , Onion , and one other choice , no carrots no greens, chef asked for the pots to be filled and carried on carving, after a good 3 or 4 minutes wait we gave up and had just meat and potatoes this was at 2pm never again 2 out of 10
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Yea if you want to try somewhere else to eat then go up the road to the Spice Ship. Under new friendly management. Home cooked food and a new menu out in early feb.
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We have often visited The Sunray during our stays in Weymouth and it has always been your average pub food. However, when we went last year it had been taken over by a new Governor and the food greatly improved (to restaurant standards). He was also very obliging if you wanted something slightly different to that on the menu. We were therefore disappointed when we visited recently only to find it had changed hands and was reminisent of a 1980's Berni/Beefeater!! The menu was basic (burgers, steaks, chicken, ribs etc) and the food poor - piled high and overcooked! Definitely not a place we would return to if visiting the area.
On the plus side, the waitress was friendly and pleasant and there is a large garden with play area that's ideal for children.
Rating - 3/10
anonymous - 5 Nov 2007 19:16 |
Hmmm...again just wanted to check reviews to decide whether we will revisit the Sunray- not really convinced by the last few entries, I'm wondering whether it is the owner/ friends of the owner trying to dig them out of a really deep hole. My girlfriend knows a few 'well to do' locals in Osmington who all seem to thing that there is no way back to what it used to be during summer 2006. We are inclined to agree.
anonymous - 15 Oct 2007 19:03 |
Don't be put off by other comments about this pub. From my experience, since Nigel has taken over The Sunray has improved considerabley, the food is well prepared and the menu has a great deal of variety. There is an excellant choice of fish specials, and an impressive carvery. There is also a bar and snack menu with a wide choice of hot and cold dishes.
The Sunray is well run by friendly, polite staff and well experienced succesfull management. The pub is well situated and boasts a large play garden with two climbing frames, and a very pleasant patio area. Inside there is a resturant and a family room. The Sunray is very family friendly, however it is just as well suited to a more formal occasion. The pub has a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere and a good choice of local ales.
I would certainly recommend The Sunray to anyone living in or visiting Dorset, I would say confiendently that the negetive views of this pub are held by a minority and urge you to try the pub as I am sure you will be very pleasantly surprised.
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I want to say something positive about this place-but can't."BigAl" got off lightly.I went on a surprisingly quiet Friday night. Poor food-worse service .Dire .If someone knows where to go in this area PLEASE don't keep it a secret!!!!!!!!!!!!1
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Oh Dear we have heard so many poor things recently about this establishment and its new owners but just thought I would check the comments on this site to see whether we should try it again, but blimey, Big Al was treated very poorly- what on earth is going on. There used to be fabulous food here last year, but the owner left and is probably doing well elsewhere, where people appreciate good food. We eat at the Crab Cafe now- try it, it's superb.
This guy Nigel (the owner) we hear was a 'big wig' at the Brewery that used to be based in Weymouth- so surely he should know how to run a good business, and how to treat other human beings with 'RESPECT'- if what Big Al says is true.
Cheerio
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I have never had anything other than fantastic food and fantastic service from Nigel and his staff. The kids love the garden and play area, the atmosphere has been friendly and welcoming whenever I have visited. I would highly recommend The Sunray to anyone who finds themselves in South Dorset.
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Forgot to mention this pub has recently changed hands. The menu is now considerably down-market! And the Manager even more down market, from the gutter comes to mind!!! Embarrassed staff seceretly told us that his and his son's attitude as described by BIGAL was common practice!! Don't go near the place and tell everyone you come across!!
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My experience of this pub was very unhappy. Poor food and terrible service when we complained. The Manager clearly either did not have a background in either Catering, Pub Managment or any type of customer service environmnet. If you run a place like this you will always find some customers who are not happy it is part of that sort of industry. So live with the complaints and don't treat your customers like they are idiots!!! I would not send my worst enemy here!! Go to the Smuggler's Inn or the Black Dog much better food and service with a smile!
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THIS IS A LONG REPORT BUT NEEDS READING IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING GOING TO THE SUNRAY.
What can I say about this establishment that is good -nothing! This pub has to be the worst place I have ever eaten in my life. My family and I recently booked a table to celebrate my father-in-laws 80th birthday celebration. The evening started off by us being shown to a dirty table, crockery and glasses. After a long wait someone eventually took our order. In between being served the starters (45 minutes) drinks were brought and were clearly watered down particulalry the jug of Pimms.
Evenutally starters arrived and these consisted off cold fish cakes, gritty salad garnish and a vegetable soup which was clearly made up of the previous days vegetables. And we were expected to eat the starters with steak knives! When asked for the correct cutlery we were met with blank stares as if we were talking a different language - even getting a spoon for the soup was hard work.
IT GETS WORSE! We ordered a mixture of steaks, ribs, lamb and a childs meal of a burger - all of which were pretty much inedible. Steaks were overcooked as was the lamb and for the most part full of gristle. Vegetable were overcooked and cold and literally thrown on the plates. The childs meal consisted of a overcooked blackened burger placed between a stale bun (and nothing else) a handful of beans and even less chips!.
Enough was enough - my wife and I asked to see the manager to voice our complaint. A male who told us that he was the manager arrived at the table. My wife politely suggested that we talk in private as not all the customers might feel the same. We were ushered towards the bar area where we politely expressed our complaint. We were met with the response 'What do you expect me to do about it?'. Rather insultingly he offered a 10% discount against one of the meals which we refused.
To cut a long story short another person who we now was the owner (and father of other man) arrived and he was even more abusive and insulting than his son - his opening remarks was 'P... OFF YOU T.....S I DON'T WANT YOU W.....S IN MY PUB!!!!!
There was no reasoning with this man who became even more abusive stopping short of offering physical contact. No consideration was made towards my elderly parents nor our neice who by this time was hysterical.
We appreciate that other people may have a differing viewpoint of this eatery but you should know that we are all professional people who have eaten in many places around the world and never felt the need to complain in this manner. More shockingly we have never been subject to this tirade of abuse before.
Please take note!!!!!!
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This place is described as A "Bar & Grill" it has a BBQ area outside, with a large Garden with a Climbing Frame for the Children. It is Pleasant enough and appears to be a Family orientated Pub serving a decent pint of Butcombe Real Ale. I am sure there are better pubs in the area but did not have chance to use them. Sorry did not try thr food
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Well, what can I say apart from "atrocious"- the food is different, the service is not the same, whats happened??? It appears as if this place has changed hands- and not for the better in my friends opinion!! There was a "large gentleman" who appeared to be a Manager but not supervising anything, just sat at the bar with his Computer, a Coffee, and smoking non stop!! Ah well, I suppose it is back to the SpringHead- what a shame.
anonymous - 19 Mar 2007 16:59 |
I have just recently moved to the Weymouth area which is so beautiful but lacking any decent food establishments apart from the Crab Cafe and Perrys I am very particular about where I choose to dine. I have been asking local residents and work colleagues about where to eat and I have heard some mixed reviews on the Sunray at Osmington- but I decided to try it myself and make my own judgements- as follows:-We dined there on 02/10/06 with a couple of friends who had come down to visit us and for a Monday night it was quite busy. We had a selection of starters- Ham Hock Terrine, Sweetcorn Chowder, I had Foie Gras which really was exceptional, and our friend only wanted a Prawn Cocktail which was not on the menu- but they made us one especially- now that is superb!!!
We then had a couple of Beef Wellingtons- cooked very rare, a main course Wood Pigeon, and some beautiful fresh fish- Plain Grilled Lemon Sole, and a Red Snapper with a Thai style vegetable stir fry. The only thing that I think some people may not like is that the vegetables are always undercooked- not soggy, I suppose to retain flavour and vitamins/ minerals. I suppose that if you asked for them to cook the veg a little more they would, as they did for us with the Prawn Cocktail- they are very helpful we found. We had a few pints of exceptional St Austall Tribute, and an excellent bottle of South African Chenin Blanc. Our bill came to about �110.00 in the end but it really was superb. We are all a little suprised at some of the other comments about this place on this site, but, everyone to their own. All I can say though is that never believe all comments (just like some newspaper stories) go and judge for yourself. We have booked again for next Saturday and are really looking forward to it.
Best wishes from me to all other food lovers in Dorset.
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I disagree with what has been said about the sunray I ate there at lunch food was excellent and staff extremely helpful.The food was good value for money and it was clean and tidy unlike the smugglers where i ate the day before which was blatantly microwave food that tasted awful there were dirty plates every where and tables everywhere staff very unhelpful.
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well wish i had read the reviews before we went. This is the worst pub I have been to in dorset.
We went this afternoon. We paid over the odds for some drinks and proceeded to sit in the beer garden. Ten minutes later our 4 year old needed the loo but we found that the doors to the pub were locked. The barstaff refused to let her in as they were shut!!! Staff very rude - we went straight to the smugglers which is excellant.
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by the way this meal happened in august 2006. so don t be tempted by the under new managment sign outside.
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i ate the worst meal i have ever had here. my burger was tasteless and burnt. the cucumber relish on it was overpowering and would never have worked with the burger even if it had been properly cooked. the bun was microwaved to death, and and rigamortis. my chips were cold and overcooked, i suspect they had been refried many many times. we had to wait 45 mins for our food. my friend had sausages, burnt until they were dry and meatless. another friend had salmon, it was ok, but not particularily fresh and a bit over cooked. the entire place was crawling with flies. we had to move from a table which had a flurescent bug light above it. our new table was nt much better. at the end, no sorry, no attempt make ammends. best avoided i think.
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I agree with everything that the previous user stated about the sunray inn the food appalling and understaffed we are angry that we wasted our evening and our money at such a badly managed inept establishment and wont be reccommending it at our bed and breakfast establishment or to friends
anne murrey - 5 Sep 2004 17:41 |
p.s to Mrs Clarkes report..
you MUST go to the Smugglers Inn..which is about a mile further on the same road..
the views are fantastic..
the pub food is fantastic
and service with a smile!
Mandy Clarke - 4 Sep 2004 20:16 |
The food was appaling
they are understaffed, most staff
are foreign. This is not a problem
but an understanding of what a
knife and fork is would be useful!
paid �10.50 for a lamb shank on a
bed of "smash" that had been micro'd to a solid mass
the yorkshire - which was 75p was like cardboard
sausage and chips for my son was
swimming in gravy!
when we tried to compalin the manageress in charge just wanted to offload her problems re staff and the same problems at Haven??!!
and embarrassed the hell out of us in fron of a room full of other diners..!
no customer service and no "sorry"
stay away!!
Mrs Clarke - 2 Sep 2004 11:33 |
Had a decent pint of Broadside in here a few years back. Don't know what the place is like now but back then the staff were friendly and helpful. Place was quite busy with a good cross section of people.
John - 6 Aug 2004 05:44 |
