The Dove Inn, Hammersmith

I'm sorry to say I was sadly disappointed by the Dove Inn today having eaten here a couple of years ago and found it pretty good. I went there for Sunday lunch with a couple of friends having booked a table the day before - we got our table by 3 but found the tabletop very sticky, and clearly needed a good clean (the paper napkins were stuck fast to it.) We told the waitress was adamant it wasn't beer, she'd tried to clean it before and would need 'hot water and soap' to clean properly -- not sure if they wax their tables but it seemed pretty filthy to us! However the solution sounded like more trouble than it was worth so we asked here not to bother. We then became aware of several flies buzzing round our heads, adding I'm afraid to the feeling of the place needing a good scrub!

The waitress took our orders for roast beef and lamb -- but didn't ask how my two friends wanted the beef cooked (pretty basic I would have thought). We had to call her back for this. When it arrived the beef was nowhere near the medium rare requested, more like well done school dinner boot leather -- not what you'd expect for nearly �14 a pop! I also asked for some mint sauce that never arrived. (In mild mitigation the parsnips and Yorshire pud weren't bad)

I've now come home to a case of severe indigestion - maybe due to a bad pint of either the ESB or the Discovery I had, or maybe just general dissatisfaction with the whole experience!

I suspect this place might ok for a passing pint by the river but the landlord needs to buck his ideas right up regarding the food and cleanliness.

I won't be coming back.

13 Mar 2011 21:12