The Lass O'Richmond Hill, Richmond

Sorry, I've been popping in here for several years now. Sadly last nights food deserves very negative comment.

Accompanied by a vegetarian, I was embarassed by what was presented to them as a meal; a saucer sized dish containing approximately 1/4 inch of cheese sauce with two pieces of artichoke and some diced butternut squash, this in turn supporting a huge bubble of air which was enclosed by a piece of over inflated "puff" pastry. This, nearly � 8.00 "pie" was accompanied by a few meagre slices of sweet potato.

This portion size and content was not very satisfying to an adult appetite. Does whoever prepares the menu for this establishment think that vegetarians don't eat the same volume as the rest of us?

This meagre attempt at adequate catering for vegetarians focused my attention on what had been presented to myself, I had ordered the 8 oz Rump Steak with chips, tomato and mushroom @ �9.80; that's exactly what I got; one solitary meagre sized mushroom and one half of a grilled tomato all accompanied by about 8 - 10 chips.

I looked at my other companions plate, they had ordered the grilled gammon and their vegetable portions / garnish was no different.

We duly complained to the waiting staff, who were both very polite and sorry about our disappointment. They did agree to pass on our comments to their Chef and they did offer us dessert, one of us is diabetic, so we chose to pay and leave.

Enough is enough, these three (supposed) main courses and three drinks cost us the best part of �40.00 (including tip), yes we left a tip, after all it wasn't the waiting staffs fault.

It seems to me that Richmond is becoming over subscribed by the influences of the large Pub Company's policies where the ethos is to homogenise the pub culture by supplying their customers with the occasional easy chair and a "National Trust" themed decor with very little else, all of tis at over inflated prices!

When I expressed my viewpoint on their companies pricing to a staff member, a polite comment was made "yes but this is Richmond Hill". Implying perhaps that we ought to be prepared to pay a litlle bit more for eating in this location.

Living in Richmond, I fail to see how this fact should affect pub prices, for a 4 or 5 star hotel yes but a pub No!

A pub is a pub and Richmond is full of them and if the management of this establishment are in any doubt they should look at the number of "covers" they had on Saturday evening! When we left at 8.30 pm. this establishment was half empty.

Whoever is in charge of all of this, could you please get it right.

R Haydock

17 May 2009 12:34