The Ramblers Rest, Chipstead

The Ramblers Rest is a Beefeater disguised as a delightful country gastro pub.
You go in there expecting good quality well cooked food in a charming enviroment, but instead get disgusting mass cooked microwaved pap with frozen veg.
There are several decent restaurants around Banstead and Chipstead. The Ramblers Rest used to be one of them. Not any more.
If you seek good quality, well cooked food....avoid this place like the plague!

3 Mar 2008 23:04

The Ramblers Rest, Chipstead

This restaurant was really bulled up to us. Good home cooking and on the up due to new management.
The reality was a bit of a shambles. The waiter, a nice lad, really didnt have a clue and was totally untrained. The starters weren't bad, mine, smoked meats was excellent. My wifes black pudding, nothing to write home about.
My main course was frankly awful. Overcooked duck in a totally anonymous sauce. They said it was fresh, but it seemed microwaved to me.I had the special handcut chips, which I left in disgust. They were soggy, cooked in dirty oil and obviously heated up.
My wifes haddock and chips werent even up to your worse chippy standard, and half a dozen soggy chips arranged artistically criss cross on her plate looked rather sad.
My wife didnt have a dessert because she had given up by this time.
Having complained about the duck and the chips, I was offered a free dessert. I had my favourite...creme brulee. My mistake.The custard was far too cold straight from a cold fridge, and the topping had obviously been put on well before service, didnt cover the dish and had no crispness at all.
I pointed out to a guy I assumed was the manager, that these errors were basic. He didn't really respond. I paid my bill and left....hugely disappointed.
Lovely place. Huge potential, reasonable menu....but the quality and execution? 2/10

10 Apr 2007 12:01