CHILL @ the cowshed — Restaurant in Bolton

Unfortunately we have received exceptionally bad service on Mother's Day. A number of errors without apologies or any simple smiles or ounce of good customer service which you'd expect to be a very basic thing for any cafe, shop or establishment. A table was booked well in advance for 7 people with a high chair for us to be told incorrectly that it was only for 6 so they wouldn't be able to accommodate us. Then a number of orders were wrong likely as there were 3 people taking orders and hand written notes of the orders which meant inconsistencies. That was OK, they were sorted, but just inconvenient. Next the soups that were served had one very runny and one very thick- as if the original soup container hadn't been stirred in the kitchen before decanting maybe? Then we were served cutlery with dried on food and napkins with multiple condiments stuck on them, in which clean looking cutlery was wrapped but of course who would want to use that if it was wrapped in a dirty napkin. If the staff were apologetic and smiled it wouldn't have seemed so bad but this simple customer service skill was lacking. Then we were also overcharged, which was the cherry on the cake. Lots of huffing and puffing towards us. At this point the staff made it clear they did not care, did not want to apologise and effectively wanted to kick us out as it was too much hassle for them. None of the issues raised were done in a rude manner, and it was clear they did not know how to settle a minor dispute. We knew it was busy and did not have any issues with the timings in which food or drink was brought to us. The food itself was also quite average/ below average but it was the staff attitude that was the issue. I'd be quite worried if this was my staff that they didn't have basic manners to be honest. I feel sorry for the younger ones who clearly have no good example...

I hate to give a negative review when I know that someone's livelihood is at stake, especially in this day and age, but unfortunately, I feel I have to. The food was very poor. I had soup and a sandwich for lunch. The soup wasn't too bad, but very small. The 'chicken' sandwich was sliced packet chicken on very thick, very dry bread. Literally one thin slice of chicken and nothing else - I could barely swallow it! There was a very small bucket of crisps with this that didn't need to be there , which for some random reason was all different flavours!!! Salt and vinegar. Beef. Prawn cocktail??? Very weird. All these 'delights' came on a wooden board that had seen better days. The pot of tea was nice, but when the cups and saucers were brought to our table, the waitress put her fingers all over the rim and inside the cup to put upright on the saucer - a big bugbear of mine. Please, really? I have to drink from that now! The waitresses were only young and eager to please, so I can only blame this on their training. At least Please keep it hygienic. After, I had a flat white coffee - which was lovely, with a slice of carrot cake, which was not. The portion was huge, but the cake was very dry and again, came on a wooden board that was a bit battered. All this came to approx £12.50. It really wasn't an enjoyable experience. We had already asked for a couple of things replacing and were too disheartened to bother with anything else, so we paid up and left.... I give 1 star for the tea and coffee and 1 star for the young waitresses who were trying their ...

I was utterly enchanted by this whimsical bistro with its warm friendly staff and delightful customers of character enjoying lunch and afternoon tea. Full of shabby chic charm, was shown to a table and a basic laminated menu laid out the options. Definitely on the lighter side of lunch, but to be honest this is perfect. I had soup of the day (butternut squash & something) with a cheese sandwich on the side. The bread was thick and the cheese was a nice slice. No grated muck covered in potatoes starch here!! Random little cup of prawn cocktail crisps completed the wooden board I was served. The blonde had baked potatoes with chilli, with salad on the side. Portions were generous, the food freshly prepared, the correct temperature and genuinely tasty. Aboce average coffee served here if you are just looking for a quality coffee far superior to the bland sludge served up at Costa. The bonus at the end - we went away with two ice cream cornets, jammy dodger flavour and jaffa cake, and it was proper ice cream, not full of chemicals. Change from a twenty :) Dog friendly like many of the businesses in Horwich. Absolutely perfect...