BITE user comments - onslowresident
Comments by onslowresident
We last visited here 2 years ago, and little has changed.
A lovely looking pub with 3 menus to choose from.
Well kept and good ale selection.
OK, but we won't be back.
4 Sep 2011 12:44
Great location in the centre of Flushing, and a lovely spot to sit with a beer and watch the sun setting over the Fal estuary. It's right by the waterfront and by the local shop, so opportunities to keep the kids entertained with crabbing when the tide is in.
Very much geared to locals inside, which is fine, but we found no warmth or hospitality extended towards us - hardly even the basics of politeness.
Well kept beer selection (including Doom Bar - a personal favourite) and good menu, though the day we ate, the food (which was otherwise very nice) was only luke warm.
Not a patch on the Royal Standard IMHO.
4 Sep 2011 12:43
Visited a few times in the Summer of 2011 and were impressed from the very start by how friendly all of the staff were to newly arrived 2 week tourists. The Betty Stogs Heligan Honey was lovely, as was the other Stogs pint on offer.
The food is absolutely excellent and really good value for money. Lovely atmosphere and family/ dog friendly. The garden out the back was an unkempt bit of a mess which was a shame, but with the front seating area and the inside, this was little of a problem to us.
Highly recommended.
4 Sep 2011 12:40
Had a decent refurb about 4 months ago. Much nicer place to spend time than it was, and there are usually 3 real ales on at any one time, which are kept well. Worth a return visit if you remember it as it was.
7 Feb 2011 20:29
We had our return visit last night.
Everything was exactly as you would hope for. Chef was genuinely apologetic and we had a great meal including starters, main course and drinks.
I had the same dish as I had previously, and it was exactly how it should be - good quality meat well cooked.
My wife is thinking of returning for a cinema evening, so our fait has been restored.
20 Aug 2010 09:49
Well, we've had a call from the chef in response to my original and rather lengthy and cross rant, offering a replacement meal and explanation/ apology.
10/10 for retrospective customer service, and fingers crossed that our faith in what was a good pub is restored.
Well done and Thank You Chef for having the initiative and customer service to get in touch.
21 Jul 2010 20:35
Visited 17/07 after many previous good visits. I don't know whether the place has changed hands, or whether we were unlucky, but we had a shocking time.
We arrived, and were greeted well.
We were pointed towards a table next to the kitchen access, which had all manner of rubbish and clutter. There was a reserved sign, but not for us, so we wandered around til we found a table with our mis-spelt name on it. We sat down at it.
"Not sitting at that table?" asked the barman, pointing at the original table. "No - it's got a name on it, but not ours, so we sat at the one that had our name on it.". He huffed.
After 25 minutes of no service or interest, our order was finally taken by the barman, who consigned it to memory.
The starters duly arrived, and it was immediately obvious that one starter (crab) was correct and the other was wrong. We queried this with the barman who said he thought we were wrong, checked what was on the system and acknowledged his mistake. In fairness, we were offered the option to change, but as we'd already considered the one delivered in error and wanted to eat together, we accepted the mistake.
Both starters were very nice.
The main courses duly arrived. I had the Aberdeen beef at �18.95. The first thing to note was that the wilted spinnach had transformed itself it into chopped runner beans. I queried this with the waiter who strugged his shoulders before wandering off non-commitally. He duly returned to tell me that they had run out of spinnach. Surely professionalism would dictate that they mention this at the time of ordering, or at least before cooking?
The steak was the most rank, gristly, fatty, sinewy piece of crap I have ever been served. It was not what was advertised and was some other form of steak that had been folded over on itself to resemble, from the moon, the original dish.
Had the staff been inclined to actually ask how the meal was, I would have commented. As it was, and probably wisely, they kept themselves out of sight. My wife's brisket was very tasty and well cooked, but swimming in fat.
I left 90% of my crap meal, and we went to pay.
There was still no enquiry as to whether we had enjoyed our �65.55 meal for two. I paid, and then asked the barman whether he cared whether we'd enjoyed our meals. He looked at his shoes. Before he could adequately answer, I listed the problems, but to spare his blushes didn't mention that neither he, his colleague nor the waiter had demonstrated any discernable positive customer service qualities.
No allowance was made on the bill and no real apology.
We went to The Old Ship on the Portsmouth Road and I had a very nice mexican chili bowl.
I'm writing to the White Horse tomorrow, and will post a favourable comment in their defence if they reply, and a follow-up if they don't.
18 Jul 2010 21:01
This is an very, very strange pub that has a number of personalities.
During the day, it's a mix of died-in-the-wool drinkers, families and students/ youngsters. The food is adequate without worrying Michelin. In the evening on the weekend, it's rammed with people with indecent lack of clothing (which works for me!), banging music and is packed.
But, with all of this, it works. It's a great building in a handy location and the staff seem to actually care more than you'd think they might.
The beer is cheap, oh so cheap, and the it's very well kept.
29 Mar 2010 19:51
A pub with more character than you can shake a sticky stick at. Don't wear your finest clothes and jewelry, just get along, stick to the carpet and drink in the atmosphere. A great pub with centuries of history - just hoping they don't change it too much when it's re-furbed in 2010. Please - no "chain" makeover.
29 Mar 2010 19:46
Good pub, friendly staff, nice location, good beer. Recommended.
29 Mar 2010 19:43
OK, so I've reviewed this pub several times, but after what happened in January early January, I felt it worth another comment.
We got there at about 6pm and were seated in the conservatory amongst what could only be described as the untidy remains of a kids party, with something like 12 or 15 kids hooning around the place. We asked to be seated on the other side of the pub, but were gently encouraged not to.
As our orders were being taken, the lights went out. Then on again. Then out, on, and finally off for good. The only lighting was from candles and the emergency exits.
Our waiter (maitre d?) shrugged his shoulders and said "it happens the same time every night". He took the remainder of our order and wandered off. About 40 minutes later, and with the temperature dropping as the front and back doors were propped open to vent the smoke from the kitchens, the food arrived.
The chips were stone cold, the steak cold and over-cooked and the spinach tepid at best. The same was true for the rest of our group, which included my father and a friend of his.
Part of me feels that they did the best in the circumstances, but the overwewhelming part of me is immensely irritated that no offer to reduce the bill was made whatseover, and my father who was paying was too polite to request it. So, we ate �200 worth of poor quality food in a dark, cold and smoke-filled crypt. For the sake of a 25% reduction in the bill, I'd forgive them. As it is, we won't be going back, despite how much we enjoy the food there.
Fail Pub.
29 Mar 2010 19:36
We visited on a Saturday lunchtime in the middle of the cold snap in December with the snow. We sat in the barn part of the pub/ restaurant and it was freezing. All of the curtains were shut in an attempt to keep the cold out, which gave the place the feeling of a crypt.
The service was very good, the menu good, and the wine list absolutely fine. There is no childrens's menu which is a drawback, especially given how child friendly they seem.
Possibly a better Summer venue. Needs much better heating or double-glazing.
22 Dec 2009 16:42
Visited 12/12/09. Food up to usual high standard. Service slow to start, but improved until a change of staff. It may have been her first night on the job or the last, but she needs (re)training in the art of food service. Had a pint of Rocking Rudolph which was shocking.
10/10 for food. 7/10 for service. 3/10 for Rocking Rudolph.
14 Dec 2009 20:28
The Stag on the River, Eashing
Visited mid week in mid August.
Adequate but uninspiring, and expensive menu. Reasonable service, but quite a delay on food. Good pint of TEA, struggled to get a clear pint of HOP. Needs to be better to get my hard earnt cash.
19 Aug 2009 23:16
We have been here on and off for 4 years or so. Food is very good, and service usually matches. We were in last Saturday evening, and the service was very poor. Delays in food, food being delivered separately, drinks orders getting lost.
Hopefully "normal" service will be resumed soon, as we like it there.
But, �3.70 forBudweiser?!
18 Aug 2009 23:42
A bonkersly small bar with seating for 6 if the tables are in use for meals. Good beer. Very friendly staff. Large patio area. Haven't eaten here for years. Always dogs to be petted/ stroked.
18 Aug 2009 23:40
Fabulous. Atmospheric pub, great menu including locals. Fabulous location on the water/ floating jetty. Good food service. Bar service painfully slow though.
18 Aug 2009 23:38
Visited with wife and children on Sunday lunch about a month ago, arrived about 12:30. Good service, great food. Only drank a Stella and a glass of red, so can't comment on beer. Steak was up to standard, as were the other 3 meals.
My only issue is the price. Effing expensive in my view.
18 Aug 2009 23:37
I recently (mid April, Friday evening) went to the Percy Arms for a meal with my wife, children (7 and 5) and father. I was a little apprehensive, as there are very mixed reviews about it, including price and service.
We had a great time. I had a 12oz fillet steak (not often you get to chose the size of a steak) with Monkey Gland sauce, my wife and dad had steaks, my daughter had sausages and my son had the biggest plate of ribs in the world.
Yes, it was a bit expensive (�136 inc a bottle of wine), but it was worth it. The service was attentive, the wine excellent, the food spot-on and the general ambience very good indeed.
As for the previous review by "Kath"... Is this a real review, or simply a shallow attempt at a rebuttal of the previous review from an older gent with his friends? It looks for all the world like a member of staff hacking out a false review. My apologies if it's genuine.
6 May 2009 09:07
There was what looked like a staff meeting taking place last night, and the lights were on and Xmas decorations were being put up tonight (4/12/08), so it looks likely that the Astolat will re-open either 5/12/08 or 6/12/08.
4 Dec 2008 23:18
I went in recently on a Sunday evening as the Astolat is closed at the moment. It wasn't my first choice destination, but I had heard some positive things about the change over from The Weavers. It seemed OK, but I only stayed for a pint as I was driving. If you're looking for a period building, with bags of character in a bucolic setting, look elsewhere. If you're looking a for a pint, there are worse places to go. There are also better, but I've known worse.
Looking forward to the ongoing wrangle between graham78 and the BITE world.
22 Nov 2008 17:04
I asked the site to remove my comment about a month ago, as I posted it when I wasn't aware he was so ill. They haven't done so, which is a shame, as I regret posting it.
6 Nov 2008 21:58
A great pub. Good food. Good wine. Excellent beer. Easy parking. Great service. Wonderful ambience. Wish more pubs were like this.
2 Nov 2008 22:34
Polite enough service. Pretty ordinary Stella. Clean. Lots of TV screens.
2 Nov 2008 22:33
The Astolat is closed until further notice with effect from the 30th of September 2008 owing to the death of the landlord - Richard.
He was a truly nice man, and while the pub may not have been all that it might have been of late, his passing is very sad indeed.
30 Sep 2008 19:47
I am sad that after 18 months of new ownership, fewer positive things have emerged. After an initially positive start with a new landlord and some new staff, things seem to have slid.
The toilets are plain disgusting, with a broken window having gone 2 years un-fixed and a smell that has to be experienced.
I almost served myself this evening as Richard the landlord was too busy watching TV (and pissed) to help, and the bar girl (Kate?) was either doing something more interesting (looking in the mirror at her own reflection possibly) than serving the one waiting customer, or frankly could not be bothered.
Food is no longer served in the evening.
Light bulbs are out, dust is everywhere and the whole place has a feel of The Plough when it was at the end of its time.
Very sad that a man so nice as Richard can let it go this way. It will never be a gastropub, but it has much more potential that this.
7 Sep 2008 21:58
Well, after more years than most people care to remember, Richard Spall has left the building.
One can only hope that the new landlord - another Richard - can breath new life into the Astolat after 10+ years of surly, disinterested, abusive and charmless management by Richard Spall.
21 Apr 2007 14:00
Back to onslowresident's profile
The Old Quay Inn, Truro
We were last here 2 years ago when we stayed in Devoran.
Friendly enough, without being warm.
The menu was geared towards seafood, which is understandable given the location. We all had good enough meals, but they were small.
Nice enough, but we won't be back.
4 Sep 2011 12:47