Son of Steak Cheltenham — Restaurant in Cheltenham

It appears that it was an unfortunate day in your restaurant's history, likely due to issues with the manager's performance. Surprisingly, our recent visit left us feeling rather disappointed. I'd like to preface my comments by stating that I've always had positive experiences here until today, which regrettably has left a sour impression.

Our experience began with a 20-minute wait for our drinks, followed by another 15-20 minutes before our food arrived. The meal was, at best, average. The three portions of chips I ordered were all overcooked, leaving them crunchy and devoid of the fluffy potato goodness. I considered mentioning this to a server or expressing my concern, but it appeared that none of the staff checked on our table, so the issue went unaddressed.

Furthermore, the refillable coke I ordered was flat, and even after exchanging it for a fresh one from the machine, the issue persisted, leaving me unable to enjoy my beverage.

We persevered with what was palatable, which included a commendable steak, although the garlic bread was served cold. We patiently awaited a server's attention to discuss our concerns. Despite multiple attempts to make eye contact with both our server and the Area Manager, we were consistently ignored. Eventually, I had to approach the group of staff who were chatting and using their phones to request our bill with the subpar items removed.

The Area Manager handled the payment, yet she did not inquire about our grievances or offer any form of apology. When I asked her, "Are you not interested in any feedback or addressing what went wrong, do you even care?" she responded with a dismissive smirk and no verbal response. My tone was calm and non-confrontational, as I had no intention of causing a scene. I have never encountered an Area Manager with such an indifferent attitude, and it raises questions about why she holds that position if she lacks the necessary concern for customer experiences.

The server who initially seated us had to step in to assist the Area Manager in adjusting our bill. The Area Manager's failure to ask for feedback or extend an apology has prompted me to file this complaint. A simple inquiry about our experience would have led her to identify and address the kitchen's shortcomings, which not only affected my party but other customers as well. Properly addressing these issues and upholding food quality standards would have prevented this...

Would say it was OK - but probably wouldn't visit again. We visited on a Saturday, early evening following a cinema trip and chose this restaurant as it had veggie/vegan options in addition to offering steaks. Started with drinks order as per normal, not sure if communication issue but we got delivered Coke instead of Corona. Was quickly sorted by a second waiter but the guy who took our order was adamant he had asked for Corona and refused to believe he had done it wrong - openly disagreeing with the the other waiter across our table. Not sure how it could be wrong, it's all iPad based ordering from what I could see.

Steaks - not bad, cooked as ordered for the three of us that did but not particularly special considering the price of some of the cuts we ordered. The NY strip could have done with the fat cap searing/rendering as that was a bit on the rare/raw side. Keep in mind that sides are extra, so budget accordingly.

Vegan option - was told after some time that they didn't have any of the fillet that normally comes with the rice bowl dish, so asked for the vegan steak on top of it instead. What arrived was just the steak and nothing else so we had to order further side dishes to go with it - again not sure why the mix up as it's was going on a iPad straight to the kitchen. Wasn't great either, it had been deep fried to a crisp outer. Largely left uneaten.

Sides - chips hot, tasty but soggy, felt they had been sat around waiting for the vegan confusion and microwaved before they came out with the rest of the food as very hot in the middle while warm on the outside. Southern fried mushrooms - very nice. However, the onion side the wife found a mushroom sat in the bowl with it for some reason - which put her off eating the rest as she absolutely detests them.

All in all, nothing particularly special - the place was nice and clean, service was brisk but a bit hit and miss as detailed above. Possibly a bit too much haste to get food out, but take a little longer and the quality would have improved I feel. I have never been to Cheltenham before, or one of these restaurants before but wouldn't be top of my list to...

The word I'd use to describe the chips at this establishment is "insidious".

There was a certain malice to how the chips I had ordered came out. At first appearance thin fry-style potato chips, brown at the edges as if freshly fried. They looked perfect, the deception had been laid before me.

When ordering chips with my steak I have a certain platonic ideal. Imagery of a small hidden bistro in the french countryside where the waiting staff are perfectly rude to me. Crunchy, fluffy on the inside but not too overbearing. A perfect satisfying texture to compliment the succulent steak I had ordered (fillet, 8oz. Ordered rare but came blue. I didn't complain).

The chips bent. They didn't snap, they bent. Which was odd, right? They looked perfect, I couldn't understand what had gone wrong here. Worse still, they seemed be slightly undercooked in the centre? Perhaps I've been spoiled by Heston's, now ubiquitous, "triple cooked chips" but the centre of a fry shouldn't have a bite to it as if an under boiled new potato.

I shan't lie, I asked for them to be send back to the kitchen. Something had gone wrong, perhaps the dinner lull on this Tuesday evening had caused issues with the prep this day, and I'm not a vengeful man so I understand these things happen.

But when they returned, hotter mind you, they were exactly the same. Chef Mike may have had a go at them, who can say, but certainly the chips remained deceptively browned but miserably soggy.

I laughed with my father who I was sharing this meal with. Less than a week since he had a minor surgery, I had hoped we could be sharing something memorable and worth the trip into town. Alas, Son of Steak had failed. In that moment I was that son, and the steak was a chip.

Also what's the deal with satay Korean chicken, you can't pretend to be nandos and not pick a country, come on guys.

1/10. Go to hubbox their burgers are banging and...