The Smugglers Inn Reviews Summary

Staff and Service

Pros:

• "The staff although very busy during peak times were always friendly, professional and efficient."
• "Staff were absolutely fantastic, super friendly and very attentive."
• "The staff were very friendly and professional and served our meal promptly even though they were busy."
• "The staff are great and always make you feel welcomed."
• "The staff are amazing, so friendly and helpful."
• "Service was excellent and all staff were friendly and accommodating."
• "staff were very pleasant and seemed to be trying there best to organise tables etc."

Cons:

• "Customer service wise the chef was miserable."
• "The service from the get go was surly and it was not to improve."
• "Mostly new staff as well as totally disappointing after eating here for 20 years."
• "They forgot to bring our drinks over, the waitresses were miserable as was the chef."
• "Couldn't get served and when did it was without any pleasantly attached so didn't stay for food."
• "Service at Bar was not good bar man was on the phone we waited and waited."
• "Staff just walked by us and you could hear them talking about us because we were complaining."

Food Quality

Pros:

• "Food was delicious and recommended."
• "Best Carvery in the area hands down (their other food is very good too)."
• "The food was lovely and the service was amazing."
• "The meals we had were well cooked and very tasty hence our repeat visits."
• "Food was excellent. Everything cooked spot on and interesting choices of veg I have not seen at a carvery before."
• "Food was amazing, really liked how they enabled us to plate up our own carvery safely by giving us gloves, as this part of a carvery has been surely missed during covid."
• "Food was incredible and very reasonably priced."

Cons:

• "The roast potatoes were terrible - probably the worst we've eaten - very flowery & tasted as if they'd been reheated."
• "Never been so disappointed at a restaurant for a long time. Wanted steak and kidney pie, actually got pedigre chum and mushroom...."
• "Pork was very fatty and tough."
• "The carvery was cold and not fresh."
• "Food is frozen, probably caterfood, certainly not fresh. The meats on the carvery are not locally sourced, more likely from a supermarket."
• "The quality of the carvery was not very good. Meat was far too dry, and some of vegetables had a strange taste to them."
• "Our veg was undercooked and tasteless, and the roast potatoes were rock hard and appeared to have been cheap, frozen potatoes."

Value for Money

Pros:

• "Another thing the food is great value for the money."
• "Great value calvery. Fantastic meat portions and a decent selection of veg options."
• "You get plenty of food for the money!"
• "Their prices are brilliant, their staff are so helpful, professional and really lovely and the food was absolutely gorgeous and the best carvery selection I've ever found!"
• "Meals are generous portions and the Carvery is very good value."
• "Portions very large, decent value for money."
• "Prices reasonable."

Cons:

• "Instantly we were a little shocked that the carvery is now between £16-£19 each but this is life and after last year we were happy to be back."
• "I thought that the meals were over priced including the desserts at £7.95."
• "The prices are extortionate for the quality of food and service you get."
• "£7.95 for a small children's bowl of pasta which was literally tomato sauce with no flavour!"
• "When spending £16 on a carvery with 3 slices of meat you expect something with a hint of flavour."
• "Finally I would say the food is overpriced for what it is."
• "Really disappointed and over priced when the quality was so poor."

Ambiance and Cleanliness

Pros:

• "The pub itself was very clean and tidy and had a nice cosy atmosphere."
• "Food was great, and the location of the establishment gives it some amazing views."
• "Absolutely fantastic place for food. We went for mother's day with a large party of 24, we were looked after by Ruth and she and the team did an amazing job!"
• "The whole place was very clean and the staff courteous and friendly."
• "Beautiful views."
• "Lovely restaurant located close to Dawlish. Good views out to sea make it the perfect restaurant to relax whatever the weather."
• "Lovely carvery, lovely staff and an amazing view!"

Cons:

• "It describes itself as a nautical themed pub, yes it has some knots in frames on the wall but otherwise it looks like a large 1980's council house, wires in trunking, drab furniture and nasty carpet."
• "There seems to be a lack of cleanliness in some areas too, our table had a chip left under it, as did another, the walls were also dirty with gravy(?) Splashed up them."
• "pub looked tired and unloved."
• "Only reason I gave a 4☆ was because the mens toilets gave off that 'mens toilet' smell when you walked past."
• "The restaurant area was bland and in dire need of a refresh."
• "Nothing much to look at from the outside or inside."
• "Bit of a weird smell inside fortunately nice weather so sat out finished our drinks and left."

Management and Operations

Pros:

• "Arranged to stay overnight in our camper van when booking our table. Arrived at dark so wasn’t sure of the view but woke up to a gorgeous sunrise!"
• "The staff were quick to sanitise the tables and the chairs once visitors vacated them."
• "Good parking and plenty of space but book before going as it gets busy quickly."
• "Plenty of on site parking."
• "As always amazing Food from the Carvery, service was perfect and pub was amazing."
• "The atmosphere in the bar area is great and has a nautical theme."
• "Dog friendly, gorgeous setting."

Cons:

• "If I was you, don't bother!!!"
• "since it's been taken over by new management, it's completely gone downhill."
• "Since new management it’s losing its appeal."
• "Atmosphere was a final point, it seemed lacking, as If a number of customers were unhappy, it didn't seem jovial and was quiet considering the room was reasonably filled."
• "Whilst ordering food explained my son has a wheat allergy... Appalling customer service, shocking knowledge."
• "While waiting for our taxi to leave a fight took place in the car park and subsequently police were called due to a stabbing."
• "This place used to be great. Has gone down hill since the new ownership."