The Cross Keys, Pangbourne

After visiting this pub a few times, both on week days and weekends, unfortunately it has not once impressed.
The bar/restaurant manager (a rather disgruntled middle-aged chap, with to be honest terrible social and customer service skills) has been usually a rather large part of the let down.

The first occasion I recall of this establishment, was a polite comment from one of my party regarding a slightly over-priced sandwich (he ordered a club sandwich, which very unusually came with no mayonnaise or butter....so was of course rather dry....it was also considerably smaller than the lower priced sandwiches on the menu)....which a polite passing comment to the very pleasant waiter resulted in the above mentioned bar/restaurant manager coming up to our table (we did not request whatsoever to speak to a manager.....just to provide feedback regarding the food.....something freely within a consumers rights to do....again politely....especially when asked the very common question of "how is your food?").
The manager came to our table asking the member of our party "I believe there is a problem with your food.......what appears to be the problem??", we of course were trying to eat at this point, and to create a mildly intimidating discussion full of general defensiveness made it not a nice experience at all.
Explaining that the bread was homemade and therefore increased the price of the sandwich really wasn't any excuse for not being a particularly good sandwich.

The last (and probably going to be the last) visit to this establishment was when I was with a group of eight people (on a sunday.....looking for a lovely sunday lunch, of course)......which resulted in a 1.5hour wait to be seated.....this of course was something that we were all ok with.....and it was understandable that places get busy and delays are of course inevitable.
Well I say "OK", but really we it became increasingly worse.

Waiting at a bar, you again would understand that it would be busy, but when the bar staff were really rather rude, and ended up pretty much throwing your drinks in your direction, you can imagine this is increasingly pushing you in the direction of really disliking the place.

We were eventually sat at our table, which was very pleasant and sat there discussing our food choices.
The waiter (also...again the above mentioned bar/restaurant manager) when coming to take our food order, decided then this was the appropriate time to tell us there were numerous things no longer available on the menu, forcing the whole party to in the end completely disregard having a starter at all.

We all gave our orders for main meals, and waited for 30-40mins for these to arrive.

Not one person was actually satisfied with what turned up......a medium-rare "gourmet" burger came medium-well done, another "gourmet" burger came with all the addings that were requested to be removed during ordering, a gammon with parsley sauce came with added gravy (interesting!), pretty much there was either something missing or something not requested, and all of the meals were not hot whatsoever, and were all luke warm.

This pub is not an average 'scampi and chips' pub......but maybe sticking that kind of pub would be more advised in comparison.
So in summary.......not particularly great food (considering the price), and not particularly great service....so therefore....not particularly happy customers.

It is a terrible waste of such a lovely pub, in a great location.
Maybe see this establishment as a drinking pub rather than a eatery or a place to expect great service.

13 Sep 2009 17:15