The Horse and Groom, Writtle

The worst service and meal we have ever experienced. A thoroughly unpleasant and embarrassing experience. We had booked a table but when we arrived we were firstly told that there was not a table available then the waiter changed his mind and said there was but it just needed cutlery, he pointed to a table which only had 3 chairs (there were 4 of us) the floor under the table was littered with dirty serviettes and crayons, we waited about 5-10 minutes standing by the table eventually the waiter came back and we asked for a chair and pointed to the dirty serviettes, he said if they didn't worry us then they didn't worry him and we could leave them there!!!!! We said they did worry us so WE picked them up and put them on the table and he then had to clear them.
I ordered baked salmon on sweet potato mash with green beans and a tomato based sauce.The waiter came to me after about 10 mins and said that there was no sweet potato mash, I asked if I could choose something else and he said no but I could have ordinary mashed potato. I reluctantly agreed, by this time the other 3 people I was with had been served their meals. Eventually waiter appeared again with the plate and on it was a small pile of mash with a very dry sad looking piece of salmon (looked like it had been over-microwaved) and some luke warm shredded white cabbage, one half of a large cold tomato was just plonked on the plate and no green beans and no sauce! I asked where the green beans were and the plate was whisked away. 10 mins later ( by this time my company had finished their meals) the waiter returned and said that there were no green beans would I like broccoli instead I said well I suppose I'll have to and asked if he could remove the unappetising cold tomato, another 10 mins later which must be a good half hour from when the others had been served theirs, the waiter again returned to say that they hadn't any of the sauce that should be with the dish but the chef could make another one. By this time I was hysterically laughing I really could not believe it! Ok I said so of he goes leaving the plate of food in front of me. I noticed that the big cold tomato had been replaced by a large half of a lemon not sliced you understand but just plonked on side of the plate. A good ten minutes later again the waiter hurried up with the sauce boat, by this time the disgusting plate of 'food' was cold so I said 'actually I have totally lost my appetite, please take it all away' Waiter said but you wont be charged for the meal'. No I wont because I'm not eating it! The only thing on my plate which is on the original dish on your menu is the fish everything else has changed so please just take it away!
Incidentally the other 3 meals were very poor too, my husband ordered the veg pie which came in an earthenware dish with a puff pastry crust which was so overcooked it just disintegrated when he touched it with his knife and fork . The lasagne looked like a microwave meal. The bar was totally covered with dirty glasses and bottles the whole time we were there..
A really unpeasant experience. They were lucky they got paid for anything at all. Would not recommend or ever go there again!

20 Sep 2010 09:45