The Old Boathouse Reviews Summary

Service

Pros:

• "Staff couldn’t do enough for us 👌🏻"
• "The staff were very attentive."
• "Overall the service is friendly and efficient."
• "Service was spot on."
• "The staff happen to be really pleasant as well and the head chef controlling the servery was very helpful and really knowledgeable too."
• "Service is always friendly and efficient and unobtrusive."
• "Service was friendly and considerate throughout."

Cons:

• "Service left a little to be desired and had to be reminded several times about drinks."
• "The service was a little slow- when I booked the website said we only had the table for 2 hours."
• "No-one came over to check if we were ok... although we were asked at the end 'was it alright?'."
• "Slow service."
• "Service charge added to your bill, discretionary or not 👎."
• "We waited over 45 mins for very average starters."
• "Poor service and overcooked fish, one meal sent back with grit in and the butter sauce missing off both fish dishes."

Food Quality

Pros:

• "The seafood was fresh and amazing."
• "The fish and chips were both excellent, great fish, very light batter, chunky double fried chips too."
• "Very tasty, freshly made seafood and home-made dressings."
• "Mussels were possibly the best we’ve had in a long time with a deliciously rich creamy sauce."
• "The sea bream was amazing, as were the mussels."
• "The food was beautiful, really well seasoned, juicy pearly white fish, creamy chowder with a lovely kick of black pepper and smoke from the fish in the thick broth."
• "The fish was fantastic, and really well cooked."

Cons:

• "Positively the most expensive and worst fish and chips ever. Greasy, tasteless, mushy peas you could slice and chewy, rubbery chips."
• "The lobster was dry."
• "Unfortunately the lobster was tasteless and as an ex subaqua diver who has caught and eaten many, I know."
• "The dressed crab presentation was disappointing and masked by what can only be described as two large blocks of bread which covered a very ordinary salad."
• "Soggy thrice cooked chips, fish tasteless and bland."
• "The sea bass was cooked at too low a temperature, so the skin was soggy and the fish actually not cooked."
• "Scallops with Cauliflower was a disappointment as Cauli was chunks of raw cold cauli lying in a puddle of vinaigrette - should have been cooked or marinated - unpleasant texture."

Atmosphere & Location

Pros:

• "Generous waiter and other staff allowed us to site despite we didn't book which we had no idea of, amazing ambience."
• "Lovely atmosphere, staff attentive and food lived up to its reputation."
• "The restaurant is located right at the harbour front and the decor is lovely."
• "The view was particularly special, looking out over the sea, estuary and sand dunes."
• "The restaurant is next to the pods on the harbourside and has lovely views."
• "Cosy atmosphere lacking any corporate rubbish and full of local artefacts and artwork."
• "Loved the atmosphere of the place, right on the harbour."

Cons:

• "We were sat near the door inside which is okay but further into the restaurant would be more desirable."
• "Service charge added to your bill, discretionary or not 👎."
• "Rude greeting as we arrived of 'Have you booked?'"
• "The only downside for me is all the people who think they can just walk in and use their toilets.....pretty rude really and the staff are too nice to say anything."
• "It’s far too commercialised now!"
• "The service was poor, prices undeservingly high."
• "It was also really loud in the place... Quite high energy music was playing and I struggled to hold a conversation with my partner."

Value for Money

Pros:

• "Portion sizes were ample and the good prices, too!"
• "Generous portions and not ridiculously expensive."
• "Prices were reasonable and this is certainly somewhere we’ll come back to."
• "Very reasonably priced for the quality of the for and really good portion sizes."
• "The food at The Old Boathouse is amazing, one of the best seafood places we’ve ever eaten at and very reasonably priced."
• "Seafood platter bring an appetite, definitely value for money."
• "Great food and service."

Cons:

• "The food / experience does not equal the price bracket which you would ordinarily expect to pay at a stylish brasserie or fine dining experience."
• "For £17 felt this was overpriced for what it was."
• "Annoyingly, the service charge was automatically included."
• "Considering the bill came to just over £52, it was a waste of money and it will be a long time, if ever, we will be back."
• "For our family of 4, it cost £84+. For, essentially, fish and chips for 2 adults and 2 kids meals, with a few drinks (non alcoholic)."
• "£14.50 for a bowl of mussels with two slices of bread in my view was overpriced."
• "Our bill was over £100 and it wasn’t value for money :("