Doughed - Woodfired Dining Experiences — Restaurant in Windermere

My recent experience at this restaurant was overshadowed by the manager's immature behavior. Despite my friend providing an honest review, the restaurant owner initially denied its existence, falsely claiming they were referring to the wrong restaurant—a misguided attempt to discredit them. For a small establishment aspiring to grow, openness to constructive criticism is essential. It's concerning that the owner believes every negative review stems from hatred. Customers have the right to express concerns at any time, whether it's the day after or two years later. Attempting to discredit someone with a deep understanding of the cuisine, like my full-blooded Italian friend, by comparing their expertise to a mere trip to Italy is baffling. While the restaurant claims to build connections, the manager's failure to address basic issues, such as the water situation, is troubling. Responding with immaturity and making contradictory statements, such as the optional service fee charge, raises concerns about the establishment's integrity. The discrepancy between the stated six people or more on the menu and the actual group size further illustrates a lack of transparency.Such as our table having five . And the owner telling my friend we were charged a service fee due to it being festive season is incorrect as we came after the Christmas season which further proves the lack of dishonesty shown by this restaurant Using Instagram as the primary source for disseminating information, especially during festival seasons, is impractical. Not everyone has access to the app, and this oversight reflects disorganization and dishonesty. The fact that this information was not communicated to my first friend further highlights contradictory statements. Interestingly, my friends' reviews weren't deleted by them; rather, they were withheld due to them trying to edit a response to the immature attitude of the owner. Jumping to conclusions without thoughtful consideration only solidifies their negative personality and reflects poorly on the business. While I acknowledge that every business can have its off days, what truly disappoints me about this establishment is the apparent lack of understanding and accountability displayed by the owner. It's essential for owners to recognize when their business falls short and take responsibility for customer dissatisfaction. Unfortunately, this seems to be a concept the owner struggles to grasp. Ignoring or deflecting customer concerns instead of addressing them head-on only perpetuates a negative experience. A business's success relies not just on the quality of its offerings but also on its ability to acknowledge and rectify shortcomings, fostering a sense of trust and accountability with...

So this is not my pizza, not my order. I was outvoted by friends to go to a steak restaurant instead of Doughed but I insisted I get dessert from Doughed (Pistachio Canolis - if you haven't tried - you must because they are just sublime). So kudos to whomever ordered this pizza because it's a classic. I wasn't sure how to post my original message I sent to the owner which I attach below : Hi David,

Trust this message finds you and your wife, Ishara well. My name is Kirshen, not sure if you recall we dined at the restaurant this past Saturday; quizzed you about San Marzano tomatoes🙂. Bro, please forgive me for sending you a WhatsApp, for whatever reason I cannot add a review to Google which is pissing the 💩 out of me. So please accept my apologies for writing to you directly. You sir are a pizza snob. And no...that's not a bad thing, it means you take your craft seriously and like me am a Puritan when it comes to pizza 😉. My wife and I first came to the restaurant last year also at the doorstep of Winter and if I have to be honest I wasn't completely wowed by the Pomdoro pizza we had but I will say the ingredients were fresh but I suppose you guys were just starting out so I can't give you too much 💩about that. Fast forward 12 months and sir... thank you for reaffirming my beliefs in your establishment, the El Capo with Lamb has got to be the best lamb pizza I have had in over a decade and to put it in context my wife and I are married for 6 years going out for 11. The last time we shared a lamb pizza I told you was from Pizzetta in Glenwood which unfortunately closed. I scrolled through all the reviews on Google and saw the amount of shade that people threw at your restaurant and I commend you for handling the matters and disgruntlement tactfully, your replies is proof of the love and dedication and passion you and your missus put in making these bespoke pizzas. I will definitely be visiting your restaurant again and hopefully I can avail you to make me a 'Gamberi' pizza on a Friday night and not Thursday. God bless you and your family and the great job you guys are doing. With much love for pizza and respect, Kirshen. La...

My girlfriend and I went there for our 4 year anniversary. I was told by the owner I could order flowers and set the table up to be very romantic. They said they would get back to me. After I followed up several times, I eventually told them "nevermind", as due to their lack of responses, they had either forgotten or couldn't care to look into this. Not once was there a simple of message of, sorry I couldn't get to this please try and make a plan. - No communication at all.

When we arrived, the waiters seated us at the wrong table even though we had a booking. We asked for a bottle opener and after waiting 20 minutes I opened it myself. In light of this we gave our starters and mains order, thinking our waiter would forget if we didn't. Normally, they put through the order for starters and mid way then order mains. They put them through at the same time. (We'll come back to this). Our waiter then brought us a lettuce and apple salad and said, "this is something to uhm...this is for your..." And then proceeded to walk away? We never ordered it, but assumed it was for us? The lettuce was brown and again we had no idea if this was even ours. Our stater came which was actually very good. Two bites in and they brought our mains. I asked that they be sent back as they are meant to come after starters. To be told that, "no the food will get cold". We ended up eating cold food as we tried to eat both? The pasta was far too undercooked and it obviously didn't help that it was cold.

I have never experienced such horrific service. The worst part was that they weren't even busy. It was dead quiet. If anything the attention to detail should have been perfect. Our waiter brought our mains and starters at the same time and just seemed completely out if.

There was no warning about their building having no power, which really took away from the ambiance. When there is great atmosphere and ambiance, you can really get away with terrible food. However, when none of that is present terrible food sticks out like a sore thumb.

We have never felt so disappointed after an anniversary. I would not recommend that anyone goes here until Doughed steps...