Loch Fyne - Guildford

Sarah Cavender (27 August 2008)

I pre-booked a table for six for Saturday at 8.30 pm. We arrived a few minutes late and when I gave my details to the waitress she looked confused. A further member of staff came over, who later turned out to be the temporary assistant manager, and showed us to our table. The restaurant was not very busy yet it took half-an-hour to obtain service. The starter special of trout was not as expected and the assistant manager spent a long time discussing why it looked and tasted like salmon but was trout! The main courses on the special menu of sea bass were so overcooked that two of us asked for replacements, which they readily obliged. One main course of fish curry was not up to standard - I have eaten and enjoyed it previously - as my friend who chose it described it as lacking in taste and substance with little fish, not fresh. There was no waiter or waitress service throughout the meal and it took until after 10pm to bring the main course, even though the restaurant was nearly empty by then. We left at 11pm having spent a large part of the time trying to get some service. As all faults were noted at the time, the assistant manager gave us a free bottle of wine and free desserts. We have been regular customers of this restaurant since it opened and have even attended the first year’s anniversary dinner and a New Years Eve special. The service has always been the weak point in this restaurant but we remained faithful because of the quality of the food, however we now need to be convinced if our recent experience is now typical.

John Harrison (8 August 2008)

The restaurant was clean and the food was served quickly. However, I felt the food was terrible. For starters the mixed salad dressing was truly unpleasant and the mussel and crab soup didn’t look good and smelt just as bad. For our main course, the bream was pretty average, served on a bed of 'okay' garlic mash. The only vegetarian option was a chick pea casserole, which was orange and salty. The staff, while attentive, showed no knowledge of the dishes. Our waiter didn't know what a bream was, or what was in the salad dressing. When I said, with a look of clear disappointment, that we'd leave the desserts, I received a curt ‘fair enough’.

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