The Kingfisher, Chertsey

Having cycled past The Kingfisher for the past 10+ years on occasional Sunday cycles from London to Windsor, I was looking forward to eating there. Certainly it seems pretty busy. But the food�s very mediocre. I had the roast pork. The roast potatoes were white � with little hint they�d been roasted - and I was given 3 of them - 3 tiny quarter potatoes. The veg was good. The pork was good, as was the crackling, but again not much of it. But none of it was particularly hot and the portion was decidedly small. (I was visiting at Sunday lunchtime � a meal most people look forward to each week, and would assume they�d feel full afterwards.) Summary: Stingy, cool portions.

I wish I�d checked this site first. The average rating of 6 out of 10 is generous. 5 out of 10 would be more accurate. The staff are pleasant, and the beer is fine, but I can cook a better roast than The Kingfisher, and I�m no Delia Smith.

Note to Kingfisher: Get yourself some cycle hoops for cyclists to lock their bikes - this is an extremely busy cycle route on Sundays.

16 Feb 2011 06:45

The Castle Inn, Corfe Castle

I visited the Castle Inn on a Sunday - around 1.15pm. A time when everyone should be firing on all pistons - an important and potentially very lucrative mealtime during the typical pub's week.

As another reviewer has said below, the food at The Castle Inn isn't that great.

As part of what I do for work, I have to travel a lot - and have done for 15 years. So I get to eat in a lot of restaurants and pubs.

After a mix-up amongst staff whether a table I was just moving to was free or reserved, my meal arrived. The vegetables had been under a hot lamp for what looked like a week - the cabbage had just about disintegrated. The brocolli was tasteless, as were the carrots. The roast pork was good, but the roast potatoes were soft, not crispy. While I was just getting stuck in, another customer walked past with the plate of food she'd just been served - she had to explain to staff she wasn't wild about eating undercooked chicken. Though the staff were pleasant to the customer, the chatting about this behind the scenes went on for a while.

My intention was to enjoy a quiet leisurely lunch, reading my book. This was brought to a halt by the manager deciding to make a very loud phone call to a friend - right by my table. I decided to leave. I wouldn't eat there again. Don't get me wrong, it's okay, but you can get much better for the same money elsewhere.

Minor niggle: The Castle Inn is on a fairly busy cycle route - there's absolutely nowhere to chain up your bike - like the food, a lack of attention to detail.

26 Sep 2010 20:58