The Sands Brewery Bar & Kitchen — Restaurant in Nelson

So this is only my second time ever coming to Nelson... the first time doesn't really count. Me and my wife just drove from Chch and after that long drive and a photo shoot... I was starving! So we went to Sands. Sounded good enough and the menu looked alright. They had two things that sounded good for us on the menu. So we went there specifically for these two things. Well unfortunately, we were informed that they don't serve these items anymore and they were hoping to update their website. The waitress was working by herself and we could tell she was a bit stressed. It wasn't busy at all tho. She told us to just walk to the bar when we were ready to order because she'll probably be too long to get to our table. Well it was a bummer that they weren't serving what we came for. So we decided to stay anyways and give them a go. So we went up to the bar to place our orders. The total was $111 and should've been $108. Which is not a big deal but I thought it didn't make any sense because I do math quite well and something didn't add up. Well, when we got back to our table and checked the prices again. I order a Tuatara IPA which is $11 but realised that I was charged for a Tuatara Haze Pale Ale, which is $14. My wife said don't worry about it, so I left it. When I went to get another round, I told the waitress that she charged us for a Hazy Pale Ale instead of the IPA, which was a $3 difference. She not only didn't apologise or offer to credit me my $3 for overcharging me, but she charged me for the Hazy Pale Ale again!! I said, you made the same mistake and she took the $3 off. Which technically should've been $6 since we supposed to have had a $3 balance sitting there from a mistake she made. She them slammed the efpos machine on the counter and went in the kitchen flustered, starting to cry. She seems to not be good at pressure and should consider another industry maybe. It wasn't even busy, the place wasn't slammed or anything. Then to top it all off... We had to wait over an hour to get our food! I was going to go tell them we don't even want the food anymore at that stage and ask for our money back (it wasn't cheap.) My wife talked me into waiting and giving them a chance. So we did that and when we finally got the food. No apology for having us wait over an hour. The food was tasteless and didn't have any flavor. My wife steak was drenched in horrible gravy and smothered in it. My snapper was gross and unsatisfying!! It was extremely disappointing and we will never visit this place again. EVER! I'll share the story of our horrible experience to everyone in Nelson or who's passing through. Because they don't deserve to go through anything like this while they're just trying to enjoy their holiday like we were trying to do. SERVICE...

When we walked in we were not asked for a vacation pass. when we sat down in a booth. the placed seemed like it hadn’t been cleaned in many months the cushions. It felt dirty, marks on the table, ash trays full, it was disgusting, when wait staff bought drinks out, it seem like they where not cleaned at all with marks and bits you could peel off with your finger. when we looked at the menu everything was way too over priced for what you got, even with a first table $31 for fish tacos I’ll let you be the judge of that. When the food arrived there was a massive gap on the side of the plate, this could have been filled with salad or something not just left empty. When examining the planes, they were chipped to the point where I would throw them out if they where in my own home. The salad look like it was prepared to days ago. The lettuce was wilted and most of all the salad wasn’t dressed it was just lettuce on a plate. When looking at the portion size it was tiny compare to what was stated on the menu these need to be even. the menu stats that the steak comes with Jus. Far from it, it looks like packet Gravy. Positive though chips will really well seasoned. All in all the sands needs to redo it to menu, it’s not priced appropriately, On top the place needs a deep clean, it needs to be spotless for your customer because it shows how much you care. These issues need to be addressed so this place has a chance at survival...

The Sands. My Family have made this our regular Breakfast Stop if we're in Nelson for more than a day. Excellent Food, Great Coffee an again Staff are Friendly, Polite an Professional. The Ladies are especially welcoming to my Elderly Mother who the Staff are only too happy to help with her something that I take note of and I quietly praise them and if I can I will tip as well. JUST A SIDE NOTE: (A Cafè/Bar or Restaurant could have the Best, Tastiest Food in the Country! But if the Staff even just one Staff member Disrespects an Elderly Person or any Person in my Presence or is rude an just not want to be standing there serving me because they're hungover or feeling poorly then Fake It!!!! Because I will call you out on your Attitude or Disrespect! Because I am that Girl, who will stand up for those who can't find their voice and also put on a smile 😃 You want too make your Customers feel like they matter too you! So you will bend over backwards to make sure they have an enjoyable experience) Some Staff I've encountered over the years makes me wonder why the hell they're in a 'Service Industry' well I know why really it boils down too money. Unfortunately we all need it too survive. Too the Sands Manager/Owner your Staff are excellent not one bad word too say. Keep up the good work an I look forward to visiting...