Boatyard, The

Ryan A (16 January 2008)

This restaurant looks stunning and benefits from a great position in Leigh. However, a meal last Saturday was full of disappointments. Parking is an understandable problem in the area, so we tried to use the valet parking service, only to hear that our Honda was not up to their standards. We were told to look for another parking space, but then we saw a Mercedes being parked for the owner, who I'm pleased to say, left no tip. Then, after a twenty minutes wait, past our reservation time, at the bar, we were led to a table on the mezzanine floor. Then on, the bad service started. The waitress attending us was obviously over stretched, a little in the way of manners, and provided very little help with the menu. The menu itself was, to say, confusing and uninspiring, and many of the items were unavailable. We opted for a prawn and crayfish cocktail, which was served in a horrifically dated ice-cream glass, and was of a quality, akin to that of your local Harvester. At £10 it was well, below standard. My main course of fillet steak was well done, despite asking for it rare. The vegetable, which are sold separately, were the sorriest sight I have ever seen! At £21, and something like £4 for vegetable, and £3 for potatoes, it was an extremely poor value for my money. My girlfriend's pork dish was equally poor, and the meat was very dry and almost tasteless. Overall, this restaurant was rather cliquey, as if to provide a place for the staff to impress their friends, though it definitely did not impress me! Trying to serve far too many covers, as if to be an up market Macdonalds, does not make for a pleasant dining experience.

Bob the Quiz (11 December 2007)

We've eaten at The Boatyard a few times a year since it first opened and have always been pleased with the food and the service. Last Saturday, my wife and I visited for lunch and were bitterly disappointed. The food was okay, better than okay, the salmon and monkfish pie was tasty and filling. It was the lacklustre service that disappointed, from our initial greeting through to a service by four different waitresses and plates cleared within seconds of resting our cutlery. It used to be a great restaurant; I fear it has settled on being a venue - somewhere to be seen. Pound for pound there are better places to eat in Leigh.

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