Goffs Oak Cheshunt — Restaurant in Broxbourne

We booked Christmas Dinner on Christmas Day. 7 adults 1 toddler. Our reservation was for 4.30pm . Table was not ready and when we were escorted to it, it was not fully laid up with crackers and table water, which had to be asked for twice from two different members of staff, although they were quick enough to take our drinks order which was then taken twice by two different staff. A case of non communication. . We had all ordered starters of scallops on a bed of minted pea puree... the puree appeared to have been so watered down it was almost gravy with no hint of mint and served with what should have been crispy bacon (leather bears more resemblance) and small chunks of raw tomato, really? To top it of it was served luke warm and the scallops were miniscule. . Main courses, 1 beef Wellington, 1 Lamb and 5 Turkey dinners. To be fair, the serving sizes were ample and the meat was ok BUT had we wanted crudite we would have asked for them. The vegetables were so undercooked that they may just have well been raw. A couple of sprouts shot across the table as they were forked and the parsnips were like woody saplings. The stuffing balls could have been fired from a cannon with success but, there was plenty of gravy. Again, the food temperature left something to be desired. Service at the pass may have been somewhat slow!

Desserts. Well, you couldnt go far wrong as these were plainly bought in but the baked alaska was still frozen solid, no global warming there! 20 minutes later it was just about edible. . At £75 a pop disappointment is the least offensive label I can attach to this dining experience. What saddens me is that there was no indication of Pride in the delivery of the food. A Professional Chef should have been horrified if food of that standard and presentation had left their kitchen. . I appreciate that our reservation was toward the end of what was a busy day BUT we had paid a not insubstantial amount for the experience. . I have read some of the reviews, good and bad on both your website and those on Trip Advisor. My suggestion, sort your staff out, raise your standards. Make it clear exactly what your expectations for your clientele are and ensure that whatever is produced reaches those expectations at the very least. . I feel that what we actually received from our experience was not fit for purpose and perhaps your kitchen functioned so far below standard that the Trades Description Act was contravened! . Your expeditious response would be appreciated, prior to my submission to Trip Advisor.

Sincerely...

Been here a few times and mostly enjoyed our visits, so I booked a 9-table at 4pm for family celebration of daughters' 21st Birthday. Eldest daughter went ahead with Grandma, grand children, 21st cake and 21st balloon to set up surprise for the birthday girl - they made a big fuss about not knowing the booking name (how many 9-tables at 4pm did they have???) then showed family to table, that was only set for 6. A few minutes later we arrived. After waiting for ages, we had to chase to get menus and then asked for drinks menus (the waitress didn't think they had drinks menus, but did come back with one, but promptly walked off to stand in the doorway to the kitchen, arms folded and talking to another member of staff. The other member of staff then came over to check our booking in a manner that made us feel even more unwelcome. Eventually the barman came over with a big smile to take drinks order so I thought that all might now get better... when birthday girl asked him about the drinks menu he just said that he would have to age ID her. I asked him if that was really necessary given that she was sitting under the 21st balloon with 3 generations of family but he insisted on ID. As she didn't have it with her she burst into tears and walked out with other daughters trying to comfort her, so I drove home to get her ID. While all this was going on the waitress tried to take a order food. Now that the 21st was in tatters, my partner decided to leave and was presented with a £47 drinks bill that wasn't even ours. So now I can recommend that you DO NOT go to The Goffs Oak, unless you want unfriendly, unsympathetic service. And to the barman who ruined the 2nd most important day in a girls life I say "I hope any daughter of yours does not receive the service that you...

I understand that Christmas Day can be a busy and challenging time for restaurants, but sadly, our experience at The Goffs Oak was extremely disappointing and far below what we expected for £100 per person (plus an additional £70 in service charges).

From the outset, the service was rushed, inattentive, and unfriendly. Cutlery was unceremoniously dumped on the table, and no one bothered to check how our meal was at any point during or after service. When I asked to change my pre-ordered dessert, I was told there were no alternatives, despite six other desserts clearly being available.

The food itself was another letdown. The scallops in the starter were raw and jelly-like, and the Brussels sprouts on the roast were raw rather than al dente. Speaking of the roast, the portion of vegetables was miserably small, and there was hardly any gravy to go with the oversized, under-crispy roast potatoes. Even when we requested more gravy, we were given an insufficient amount.

Perhaps the most shocking aspect was the children’s meals. For £50 per child, they were served tiny portions with no vegetables at all – an oversight that’s unacceptable at any price point, let alone on Christmas Day.

While I appreciate the staff were working on a holiday, they weren’t volunteering their time, and for the premium we paid, I expected a far higher standard of food and service. To add insult to injury, because payment was taken in advance, I felt trapped into accepting the poor experience without recourse. Had this not been the case, I would not have paid the full amount.

Overall, The Goffs Oak has much to learn about providing a festive meal worthy of its price tag. It’s disappointing to feel let down on a day that’s supposed to be special, and I won’t be returning...