The Crystal Palace — Restaurant in Dacorum

I actually never write reviews but feel like I need to on this occasion. I do enjoy coming to the CP for a drink on the canal but I always find the meal service poor. This time a few examples are the fact we ordered 2 beef roasts & after we’d paid for them were told they’d run out, so we happily said we’d have pork roasts instead, but they were cheaper than the beef. So my partner went to the bar to ask the waiter to refund the difference, but the waiter sort of rambled on about how it was difficult to sort there and then, but then he never at one point tried to refund us the difference :’). My partner wasn’t going to make a fuss over a small amount of £, but kind of disappointing the waiter didn’t sort it after my partner had already mentioned getting that refund & been dismissed, especially as they were short on change when we’d paid at the bar for 2 beers, which my partner was already fine about.

I later asked at the bar whether there were any desserts they didn’t have available (because lots on the menu wasn’t) to which they replied they’re all available to order. I came back not even 5 minutes later to order to be told the kitchen was now closed, which only added to me and my friends confusion as the website says food is served until 9pm on Sunday, and this was at 6pm! :’) I was also confused why the bar lady couldn’t have said the kitchen was about to close when I’d asked about the desserts not 5 mins before. We have also had that issue before, where we have tried to order food before the kitchen is suppose to close but staff just say it’s closed already, it’s giving they can’t be bothered to sort your food order vibes, whether that’s the servers or the kitchen staff I don’t know.

There was also no table service for a reason that wasn’t clear. And the desserts that 2 of my friends managed to order (before kitchen closed) came with custard when they were both suppose to come with ice cream (brownie & sticky toffee), which went unexplained. And just to add to that, an hour and a half later (7:30pm), one of the staff came out and sat next to our table with a dessert for themselves 🤣 we actually found that quite funny by that point.

I get sometimes dinner services are busy and staff might be short, but the staff didn’t seem busy, they had time to hang around together and dip in and out of the EURO’s game, plus only half the tables inside had customers on them, so wasn’t manic. And I also get this is a Sunday at 6pm so just after the Sunday lunch rush, but don’t show the England EURO’s game if you can’t provide the service, I cancelled a booking at The Boat for this one and I am pretty gutted I did.

I’d still like to go for a drink on the canal when the suns out, but I’m done trying dinner here :’) tbh it seems the staff prefer...

So I have been going to the Crystal Palace since it reopened over the pandemic. Over the last 6-7 months I’ve probably spent £600-800 on lunches in there and as always the food was amazing.

However, I am not sure what has changed over the last 3-4 months but the quality of food has massively gone down hill.

A few months back I ordered fish and chips and I frankly had more batter than fish. When I questioned with Kelly - the manager she promptly investigated and said there had been an error and should have received 2 pieces of fish due to smaller size. She quickly apologies and offered a free meal. Amazing customer service.

I’ve been back a few times since and the burgers, salads and fish and chips have been on point.

Today I had a fish finger sandwich and asked for the inside to be toasted well so it does not go soggy. I thought this would be standard practice and the likes of Gordon Ramsey always mentioned with hot sandwiches and burgers the inside toasted is a must to maintain eating experience.

Anyways it came out not toasted and partly warm/soggy breads. The front of house staff apologies and said the note from till had not been printed in kitchen. Second time back still hardly toasted. It took a 3rd attempt and the lady working front of house to take ur upon herself to toast it. Great customer service on this.

When I got said sandwich I finished first half and took a bite into second half .. lettuce and sauce. Took a second bite a bit of fish mainly batter,

When I opened up ther was 1 small battered coujon. This is NOT GOOD VALUE FOR MONEY. I believe the fish finger sandwich and drink “pineapple juice” was £11 !!!! Would you pay circa £8-9 for the sandwich in the picture.

I asked to speak to Kelly on 3 occasions and told she’s busy … so customer concerns are no longer important.

If you want consistent well filled sandwiches in Berko I suggest one of the bakers or supermarkets and I will not be stepping a foot inside this place again.

I’ve heard good things about The Boat - further along and as it belongs to a larger chain probably more focus on consistency...

I visited the Crystal Palace on the 5th of November with some old friends of mine. We were doing a mini pub crawl in Berkhamstead and heading to enjoy the Fireworks in the evening. It was very busy that night - you could barely walk through it for a few hours because of the amount of people. But I say the staff working that night have to be commended. They looked rather young, maybe just all just having finished school, but I can't fault any of them. Even when the pub was really packed and they had 50 people waiting at the bar, they still managed to serve with smiles on their faces. When the crowds left that evening, there was only my group and a couple of other tables of people left having a quiet drink, I overheard the team talk between the staff. I watched the staff stand around a table for just a few minutes (no customers were waiting at the bar at this point), they shared a couple of plates of food, and I listened (sorry for eavsdropping) to, the manager (or at least I think she was the manager, as she seemed to be running the night) (a young, ginger haired woman) say how brillantly the staff did that night and how grateful she was for how hard they all worked. They all had a laugh and a joke, and were still happy and laughing, even though they were probably tired and had just had a crazy night! This shows great team morale and it's good to know that staff are being appreciated and taken care of. I would be happy to know that my child had a job and a management team like this. I've gone back home to Cornwall now but wanted to pass on my praises and I hope everyone that night knows they did a fantastic job! Well done...