The Gate, Chorleywood

I went there with by 2 sons to give my wife a night to herself, and to celebrate the end of their school term. They'd wanted to got there for ages, and from the look of it having driven past many times, so did I.

What a sorry, sorry disappointment. Although it wasn't all that busy (5.15pm on a Friday), there was a long wait at the bar while the (Aussie) barman served everyone with a complete lack of urgency. I asked about ordering food and was told that the restaurant didn't open til 6pm. What, I asked, about the fixed price menu advertised everywhere (about which more later)? That's only available at lunchtime. How about the pile of flyers sitting here, right between us, that say its available between 12-6pm? I asked. Oh, then it must be, he said at last.

Now, to me, a fixed price menu means that for a set price, say �9, you get the choice of 1 or 2 courses. On THEIR fixed price menu everything had a different price. Now, how in the name of goodness, is that a fixed price menu? Its just a menu! And another thing, and this highlights the pretentiousness that others have mentioned, they try to look sophisticated by using the French version of "fixed price" which is "prix fixe", NOT, as they spell it on every piece of advertising material I could find (and if you like I'll scan the menu and post it to the site) "Pre Fixe". That really is both pretentious and stupid.

The last straw, and what made me walk out, was when I asked for new potatoes on one of the dishes to be substituted for chips for one of my sons. I was told the dish was the dish and couldn't be altered, although for �3 I could order a bowl of chips. Surely, the chef could substitute the veg for chips for my boy? No, it is what it is. Finally, after I persisted, he relented (sarcastically adding that it was because I'd been such a good customer) he'd ask the chef. I thanked the barman and as I walked away I clearly heard him swear at me. That was it, and out i went, and I would recommend everyone to save the trouble and not even go there because if you have a discerning bone in your body you'd just walk out too.

3 Apr 2009 20:00