The East Kent - Whitstable — Restaurant in Canterbury

AWFUL! SHOCKING CUSTOMER SERVICE! In all our lives, my wife and I have never experienced what we endured from the young staff in the East Kent in Whitstable tonight at 6/7pm. We left shaken and enraged. We were out with our daughter, her friend and three grandchildren and spent close to £200 in a couple of hours on food and drinks, but due to a mistake by the waitress over a £6 plate of chicken nuggets that we didn't order, were very quickly bullied by several members of staff (including the chef!) and then threatened with the police being called if we didn't agree to pay for them. Incredible, disgusting and of course, it completely ruined what should have been a lovely family meal that instead had descended into an insane confrontation and battle. I have never known a company so aggressive in its pursuit of its customer's money and of course am determined to never return to what was once a familiar and admired local pub/restaurant. Even when we requested a manager we were told none was available and we were forced to continue to negotiate with little more than front of house kids who seemed to be trained like attack dogs to get the chicken nuggets added to the bill. We will never forget it, for all the wrong reasons, and I am obliged to share the experience with anyone who cares to read.

DON'T GO HERE, spend your money in any of the other deserving, professional eateries in town like A La Turka or Birdies, or the Thai restaurant or... anywhere...

The worst of all is I know the manager, and the Aussie couple that now run it from afar, and tried to explain that we were not just passing through 'nightmare clients' but locals who had no intention of duping staff etc and happy to spend well, but not for things we did not order. The kids running the place didn't, care what we said, the attack just continued with yet another of them emerging from another door to aggressively press their case. The grandkids became upset and the atmosphere died.

It was only when I said we would definitely not pay but would pay what was fair and right only thus making it a civil matter - not a police one - so in fact the police would not attend in this instance, was Dillon, the manager finally brought in to call off the hounds and resolve things.

SHAME ON THIS PUB FOR RUINING OUR RARE FAMILY MEAL TOGETHER - all for a plate of nuggets worth £6 and probably costing a fraction of that to them.They lose a customer, a family of customers, and if this review counts for anything perhaps more too. The meal part (excluding the two rounds of dinks we had before then - each approx £25) totalled £131. The nuggets would have been less than 5% of the final bill, likely to have been a third of the tip we, of course,...

EDIT: was a lovely little pub. It is clean, has great decor and is good for a more subdued pint... but I had to change my review after an experience today. I ordered a dish marked with the 'vegan' icon from their menu, when it arrived I took a nibble, but out of habit also asked "this is vegan right?" - the waitress went to check. Turned out there was butter in it... I'm severely lactose intolerant. I wouldn't have left this review if the experience were handled differently, I expected maybe some compensation, or an apology from the chef or manager... but no. The waitress (bless her, she was kind) simply offered me another without butter, and when I declined I got back the exact amount I had spent on the meal I had one bite of. NOW I'm stuck on my Saturday night with hives and severe stomach issues thanks to the chef (who I believe manages the pub) who labelled a sandwich vegan then put butter in it. I hate to leave bad reviews but I'm just a bit annoyed she didn't even come out to apologise for ruining my evening. I had to rush to the toilet. I left soon after. I guess I won't be going to the gig tonight. Thank f%ck I asked. I might have been this...

Finally made it back to this large pub in Whitstable for food. Been meaning to for ages.

Pub is at the top of the Main Street, towards the railway line end. Double fronted, it is probably the most conveniently located for the station if you fancy a pre-train beer. (5 minutes walk)

Inside pub offers large dining area and bar, with small cocktail bar. Real treat is the large, partially covered, garden to the rear which has a separate pizza kitchen.

Service was quick and efficient - sat in the garden on this occasion. Many patios heaters but they weren’t on.

The beer was Singha. Thai beer for the people of Kent. A decent pint.

Expansive food menu, with a good range of classics, Asian inspired dishes and pizzas. Much to choose from.

The bao buns with pork were superb; they have much to commend them. The lamb burger, to follow, was even better. Beautiful pulled lamb with halloumi and slaw.

Absolutely fantastic. Definitely order the lamb burger.

There was a two person sharer on the menu with pulled lamb as well. Will have that one day.

Overall, two paws up. Just don’t exit via...