The Old Vicarage Cafe, Restaurant & Bar — Restaurant in Christchurch

Good atmosphere well live music is nice Pretty building and gardens. Small parking on site. However the few times I have been they have tried to have more people than what is comfortable around the table they set up for the group bookings. 2 guests once in there seats could not get out without all 7 people shuffle seats to create room, the Last 2 on the end of the table was in the Isle (wall on the other side ) but was half off the table and all chairs could not be pushed into the table because the end 2on end of would have no table at all so made for uncomfortable sitting on edge of seat leaning forward to eat.

Worst of all They served my daughters sorbet on shattered meringue even though we advised my daughter age 2 is allergic to egg. We did find the food ordered to be good but they are not accommodating for those with food restrictions/allergies. I ordered the $25 smoked salmon lunch. This smaller cut of salmon comes with 3ish stems of baby broccoli but menu read asparagus, 5ish large baby potatoes a bacon and onion jam and hollandaise. I get violently ill if I consume carb dense food and have to be careful with what I eat (my only other half suitable option is a ceaser salad no thanks) so I asked for the potatoes to be exchanged for a small portion of salad and was advised if I want salad I have to order a side salad at an additional cost to the 25. I did not think I wanted to spend that much on lunch so I ordered just the salmon no potatoes and got half the meal for $25. Its a shame because what we received was tasty everyone of our group of about 14 felt they enjoined the food. Only we won't be back. I take dietary requirements and allergies seriously and expect the places I choose to dine at to do so as well it is a big deal. The sorbet was sorted but no apologies were given and I'm glad I noticed before my 2year old...

We booked for mother's day lunch at 130pm. They were busy but had plenty of staff on. We ordered some fries for our hungry son, so he didn't have to wait. They arrived promptly. We then waited for my mother in law and sister in law to arrive, they were a bit late as Mary is very fragile. We then quickly gave them our orders as I had to leave at 330 pm to go the other side of town. After waiting a long time, hadn't even gotten drinks or anything. We noticed other tables that arrived after us were getting there food. I asked a waitress where is our orders. Off she went only to come back to tell us the order hadn't been placed. She had lost the ticket. Buy this time its was 230pm. When the food arrived it was average, the fish and chips were so browned that it looked like the oil needed changing. The waitress had her thumb in my husband's eggs Benedict. My Korean chicken was dry and very small and brown too. In all very average. Barely an apology when I came to pay. And only after prompting did they offer any discount. Won't be...

You're kidding?! $6.50 for a tomato with the two fried eggs on toast! And not a very good one at that (see photo). I can better understand the $5.00 for two thin slides of brie (as they didn't have any parmesan or other). WHOOPS. I HAVE TO AMEND MY comments at end (see below). JUST HAD A NICE FREE CAPPUCCINO OFFERED - AND ACCEPTED. Good work Mason!

Eggs and brie good - they took 22 minutes to arrive in a very underful restaurant - the coffee only two or three minutes. You can guess which one was cold when I tried to keep the meal together by waiting a bit. More importantly, neither the staff members nor invisible 'duty manager' dealt well with my query about the price of tomato. That is, they didn't come back with anything, negotiation, price reduction, extra something to make up for it. This is not the first time I've had unpleasant, scarcely respectful experiences with the younger staff here. I've been coming to vicarage for years, but this feels like last time. Staff are not truly interested...