The Poet at Matfield Reviews Summary

Ambiance

Pros:

• "The place was really warm & inviting."
• "Lovely pub located in a beautiful quiet area."
• "The pub environment adds to its charm and feels cosier for it."
• "The ambiance was cozy and inviting."
• "A really remarkable dining experience. The staff were attentive and knowledgeable, the ambience was cosy and warm and the food was exceptional."
• "The decor and furnishings are tastefully done without going OTT."

Cons:

• "Only complaint is that a cold draft continued to whip across our table on a cold autumn evening."
• "Ambiance was okay albeit we felt tucked in a dark corner."
• "General lack of atmosphere. eg. Most of the restaurant was brightly lit & the decor reflecting that of a pub chain."

Service

Pros:

• "We were met with such generous and accommodating service by Tom."
• "Service was exceptional and food arrived very quickly."
• "Our waiter was knowledgeable, friendly and attentive."
• "The two ladies running the show were attentive and very jolly."
• "Staff - absolutely faultless down to every detail. Friendly, welcoming, impeccable service and extremely knowledgeable about the menu."

Cons:

• "Service was mostly good but lacking at times, you could possibly expect more from a place with such quality food and ambience."
• "Something must have changed at The Poet? It was a Sunday Lunch... they did allude to being under-staffed for the day."
• "Staff a bit chaotic and inexperienced."
• "Dreadful customer service!... 'We can't serve walk-ins' wasn't exactly the response I expected!"

Food Quality

Pros:

• "I ordered a couple of things but the scallop with risotto really stood out."
• "Each dish had a perfect balance of flavours, textures and colours."
• "The beef roast was fantastic and the chicken roast was amazing too as well as the crispy potatoes were very very tasty!"
• "Incredible meal and all the dishes are well prepared, perfectly seasoned and beautifully presented."
• "100% Michelin star Standard the set menu is phenomenal value."
• "The food is exceptional."
• "The chef is truly a master, combining textures and flavours."
• "The flavours and textures of every dish served was just perfect."
• "The food was just amazing...as usual."

Cons:

• "One thing to note is there wasn’t much in the way of vegan alternatives."
• "I chose Lohmann Brown egg, Kentish blue, truffle and mushroom but I didn’t see any egg and it was very salty and sour taste."
• "Sunday roast mains were very disappointing with tasteless beef."
• "A tiny portion of overcooked pork."
• "The main course costing £32 I had high hopes...but was very small and overpriced."

Value

Pros:

• "The 2 course menu at £29.95 for this kind of food experience is just unbelievable value for money."
• "Set menu of 3 courses is good value at £22.95."
• "We ordered the pink fir potatoes extra which were delicious too."

Cons:

• "But considering the price of £92.00 for aged sirloin and all other sides and pricey menu, I wasn’t expecting a well-done steak."
• "We weren’t expecting to pay that much but was certainly an unpleasant surprise."
• "Quite pricey but it was more the experience that was worth the money."