Sands by the Sea Reviews Summary

Category: Family restaurant Southend-on-Sea

Address: Southend-on-Sea, SS1 1EE, United Kingdom

Phone: +441702468123

Rating: 3.8
based on 134 reviews.

Service

Pros:

  • "The waiter was quite good and suggested that I try it with bacon next time."
  • "Staff were very friendly and could not help enough."
  • "Service was excellent and our food came out within 20 minutes despite being really busy."
  • "The staff were attentive, very nice and went the extra mile to do whatever was needed."
  • "The service was fast, the servers very professional."
  • "Staff are very friendly, helpful and polite."
  • "Always made sure we had enough drinks and tea pots were hot."

Cons:

  • "Had to ask for table to be cleared from the previous people twice, staff looked like they all needed a good wash!"
  • "Service took forever and whilst the food was of good quality we had to ask numerous times for our drinks to be delivered to our table."
  • "Many tables outside that hasn’t been cleaned and tidied away for a while."
  • "However, the experience with the till staff was less than satisfactory."
  • "Tables are not cleaned quickly enough and we had our dessert with all the rubbish from our mains still on the table."
  • "On a day when it was not particularly busy had to enquire when the food would be served after a twenty minute wait, for just three plates of fish and chips."
  • "Asked for a table for 3 and even though there were empty tables everywhere we were turned away as fully booked."

Food Quality

Pros:

  • "The Sandwich was quite filling and tasted great you could tell it was all fresh ingredients."
  • "Chips were some of the best I've ever had, lovely fish & chip shop style chips without the horrible aftertaste or fatty/oily coating!"
  • "The fish and chips were outstanding, and the atmosphere was enjoyable."
  • "The cream tea itself was absolutely fantastic full of choice and fresh."
  • "The calamari was amazingly cooked and the cod was very fresh."
  • "Had the small Fish and chips which was really fresh and tasty."
  • "The chips were very well cooked, soft on the inside and crispy on the outside, as was the haddock and cod fish."

Cons:

  • "Ice cream machine was not working and icecream in tubs Overpriced and over frozen."
  • "Luke warm fish & chips & small portions."
  • "Chicken Burger was not right either, not cooked properly or just cheap quality."
  • "The fish wasn't quite fully cooked, some of the batter was semi liquid too."
  • "At nearly 15 quid a pop the fish was very thin and in places the batter was thicker."
  • "Worst fish and chips ever, the cod itself was good but the breading and chips... I didn't know food could be that bad."
  • "The fish was buttered with its skin and nothing tasty at all."

Atmosphere

Pros:

  • "The atmosphere was relaxed la couple of well dressed ladies drinking wine out of a cooler on the wicker sun furniture just made it seem like being somewhere on the Rivera."
  • "Some beautiful views looking over the seafront."
  • "The atmosphere was enjoyable."
  • "Fabulous views."
  • "Delightful location and fresh modern decor."
  • "The views of the estuary are amazing too."
  • "Nice comfortable seating area outside overlooking the sea."

Cons:

  • "The atmosphere is stiff and dead."
  • "Also it was very unhygienic."
  • "Someone tell me why 99% of the children were screaming or crying."
  • "Floor Looks like it needed a good sweep."
  • "The restaurant is well appointed and in a great location - literally right on the beach."
  • "We were sat next to the window and it was lovely."
  • "Great view of the sea though."

Value

Pros:

  • "The food is acceptable seaside fish and chips etc but if you don't want anything big the cream tea (pot of tea, clotted cream, scone and jam) at £3.50 is a bargain!"
  • "Prices are a bit high than usual but you get what you pay for (main dish wise - since it was quite big)."
  • "Attended an 80th birthday celebration for 20 family members - nice spread of sandwiches, scone and cake for afternoon tea and they were also able to provide a vegan curry for my partner who could not eat the sandwiches/cake."
  • "Good food Ata good price."
  • "Friendly staff, nice food, reasonable prices."
  • "Just had a lovely afternoon tea with ten friends, would recommend this restaurant for not only a wonderful selection, but also a great view and definitely value for your money."
  • "Afternoon tea was value for money and the food was delicious."

Cons:

  • "Prices are the same but quality not as good as before."
  • "The prices doesn’t justify the quality at all. Avoid!"
  • "Even with the 20% discount you get for being an annual adventure island member, this restaurant is not good value."
  • "Very expensive especially considering its the exact same company and food as other places along the seafront."
  • "Perhaps this price is inflated due to being at a tourism location."
  • "Food is literally frozen Iceland products."
  • "So expensive!!! Around £16.0 for what you shouldn’t even pay £5.0."

Cleanliness

Pros:

  • "Clean friendly establishment."
  • "Spacious and well organised considering the amount of people there when we went."

Cons:

  • "Had to ask for table to be cleared from the previous people twice, staff looked like they all needed a good wash!"
  • "Tables are not cleaned quickly enough and we had our dessert with all the rubbish from our mains still on the table."
  • "Many tables outside that hasn’t been cleaned and tidied away for a while."
  • "Also the toilets are really disgusting."
  • "Chose to sit inside to find a hair wrapped around the pepper shaker and a hair on the table surface."
  • "Only big negative is upon arrival a lot of tables had been left with dirty plates on, requiring clearance and cleaning giving not a very good first impression."
  • "Floor Looks like it needed a good sweep."

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