The Swimmer at The Grafton Arms, Holloway

The food looks great but unfortunately I havent got to taste it! I am allergic to cheese which was made very clear to the staff so was disappointed to find cheese in my food. Our waitress could not have made it any clearer that she was in a bad mood. When I complained I was greeted by the very large and not so friendly chef who asked if I can eat pastry, I replied yes but Im allergic to cheese as stated on ordering. There was some huffing and then my food was taken away. Food arrives back to me, I look inside the pie and there is cheese. He had roughly scraped the cheese off the pastry and put the lid back on but there was still cheese all over the inside. Im obviously pretty miffed by this point as its my health on the line should I have eaten the food containing cheese. I went back into the bar and was greeted by "whats the problem now" from the fat horrible chef. Why they let him talk to customers I will never know but then other than one bar maid who is very sweet the service here is appalling. Out pure frustration I made the mistake of using a swear word after trying to talk on a level to the staff about how its not acceptable to keep sending out food that is going to make me sick and that was it, the chef got aggressive jumping on the fact I had said a swear word (not used in a name calling sense) and was very intimidating. The barmaid shoved a tenner in my direction to give my money back for the food. And I left the pub in tears. Now, I understand on a Sunday when there are problems with power ect its stressful, I have done bar work/waitressing before but there was no offer of something else I could eat, the fact he sent it back out a second time containing and ingredient I made very clear makes me sick baffles me. Why not just say sorry, we cant help due to some problems with the power, here is your money back and a drink on the house for your bother, or offer 10% off your next visit just SOMETHING! You do not half scrape off the cheese, send it out again then shout and be rude to the customer once you have been discovered to not have dealt with the food properly. I have never been pushed to tears and intimidated by a massive man after a valid complaint about a meal, shocking really. To make matters worse this is not the first time I have been in this pub and left with an empty stomach due to staff incompetence. I will NEVER set foot in that pub again, I suggest The Landseer up the road, super friendly, great food, great selection of drinks and a really great atmosphere!

8 Apr 2013 11:17