Café Marina — Restaurant in Borough of Wyre

What a find! Such a lovely clean, spacious welcoming venue. A most agreeable menu showcasing a range of traditional fare to suit most tastes. Pleasant decor and tasteful art work celebrating the new, and very picturesque sea defences. Friendly, efficient staff, but wait until you try the food! Don't be fooled by the beach resort cafe pay-up-front format, what comes out of that kitchen is restaurant quality and no mistake. I had the 12 oz steak pudding which the proprietor told me was baked in their own family bakery. It did not disappoint! Slow cooked, traditionally seasoned shredded beef in a sublime suet crust with mountains of hand prepared chips, beautiful! I didn't ask but l could tell that the mushy peas were not tinned, but soaked, bicarbed and simmered to perfection. My meal was so impressive and appetizing when it came that my companion complained of suffering from "food envy", even though her chicken curry was actually just as good. She asked for a jacket potato rather than the chips or rice offered on the menu . No problem at all, and when it came it was massive and slow baked to perfection. The curry was freshly made and delicious. All around an excellent lunch in a cracking venue, with cheerful sevice at a reasonable cost. What is not to like?? And it's even licensed if you want a glass of wine with your meal. All in all a hidden gem, trust me on this. I am a connoisseur of Lancashire steak puddings and theirs is the best l have ever tasted. Every meal they served while we were there looked mouthwatering and the fresh cream cakes were stunning to behold, no doubt they are from the family bakery! I will be back and intend to slowly savour a journey through their menu over a...

Where do I start with this horrendous experience.

On entering we were unable to get to the service counter due to all the mobility aids blocking the way (i use an aid and still found this rude).

Then at the counter we were at first refused food and told drinks only. Which i will come back to. On order a Tea i asked what teas they do, and was given a list of everything but tea, so I asked again with emphasis on the word TEA! APPARENTLY THEY DIDNT LIKE THAT! However I got a cup of earl grey.

Then we were permitted to order food from the other person, I had to beg for sugar for my tea and apparently we are not allowed cutlery and a napkin from the trey, we also must beg the counter for that.

When the food arrived it was swimming with water, my sausage was rock solid on one side and soggy on the other, the legs were wetter than the sea However they didn't have the salty flavour which at this point would have been welcomed. The lasagne is closer in resemblance to soup with 3 tiny bits of pasta, it was also worrying how fast the lasagne came out, meaning it was microwaved.

The atmosphere is ok, so long as you remember they don't want to update since office chic was a thing in the 1980's. A welcome smell of mint and mothballs greets you on arrival.

I will not...

Popped in wednesday, we went first to sister cafe across road. Stood in cue to be seated and was repeatedly ignored by staff,who clearly saw us,just chose not to acknowledge it. So we crossed road to this place...ordered latte,coke and 2 roast dinners...the latte tasted like it had no coffee in and the glasses was filthy, 4 glasses later i sit...but due to the lady on till and server both stressing and banging things about, i quietly drank my warm milk...homemade roast dinner arrives...the yorkshire couldnt be cut into..frozen roasties,carrots and broccoli...and instant mash....we were gobsmacked...its was hideous!. And extremely salty. Had i not be time critical with medication...i wouldnt have eaten. We ate the minimum. Then pondering cake...u cant go wrong with homemade carrot cake....does it have raisens in? Yes but only after looking up ingredients on a delivery allergen spec...so even the cake is frozen and bought! Needless to say i didnt bother. As a chef...the whole experience was pretty miserable. Esp when fresh carvery is available for same price a walk away. As stated, had it not been for staff attitude i would have made a fuss and demanded a refund, as it was i just needed to eat...