The White Hart, Claygate

My wife & I recently moved to the Kent countryside & were trying to discover a quaint pub with nice food. We stumbled across the White Hart at Marden on the internet & thought we'd give it a go. We booked a table for 2 on a friday evening & were told we were their 1st booking. This worried me but after reading the other reviews on this site I thought it may be because it was fairly recently taken over. We arrived at a somewhat 'abandoned-looking' pub. Inside were a small group of older men huddled around the bar (the rest of the place was empty). We were taken to a large newly refurbished restaurant section where it was just us & 1 other table dining. I ordered the steak & ale pie with roasted vegetables (which was recommended) & my wife ordered bangers & parsley mash. The food when it arrived (via a heavily tatooed arrogant & unwelcoming chef) was inedible. My 'roasted vegetables' couldn't be cut as they mashed as soon as you put a knife to them...I wouldn't like to guess when they had 1st been cooked. The steak & ale pie had a 'sour' flavour & my wife's sausages had been deep-fried and her mash tasted dry, heavy and several days old. We paid & left after 5 mins! We now realise why there were no bookings prior to ours on a warm Friday evening! Shame as the pub is in a great spot.

18 May 2011 12:37