Evolution Experience Restaurant — Restaurant in Doncaster

Upon arrival, we gave our details as we had booked a table. Unfortunately our table had been given to someone else. We were asked to wait in the bar area while they rectified the issue. This wasn't great as we had kids in pushchairs and there wasn't much room. Fortunately this didn't take long and we were shown to our table shortly after.

Evolution has live actors/entertainers who interact with the kids and even the adults. This seemed to be great if not a little cringe worthy to begin with. We ordered our starters and mains and then had a long wait. The staff member serving us asked us if we would like our mains while we were still eating our starters, we said we would wait for the adults meals but could they bring the kids meals out. They didn't. 5 minutes passed, so we enquired where they were and the lady informed us that they would be 5 minutes, which made no sense as she offered to bring it out while we were eating our starters!!? We then had another 10-15 minute wait!??

The food arrived and entertainment continued. An entertainer came out with a light stick/sword and climbed up on to a platform which appeared to be designed for entertainers to use. He began swinging his stick around in an erratic manner. This was entertaining for a short while, but the real entertainment began when he hit a hanging lamp close by to the stage. This shattered and glass went all over the table underneath. Fortunately no one was seated at this table. Everyone was baffled and none of the staff really knew what to do.

Shortly after we observed all the serving staff stood round clearly laughing about the event which had unfolded. This seemed quite unprofessional.

After our food was finished we weren't offered to have our table cleared they just asked if we wanted the bill. We weren't offered to look at the dessert menu. It was almost like they wanted us to leave as they needed the table!!

Apart from this the meal was okay, the drinks were okay, and the staff were friendly. Some of the best baby change facilities I have...

Evolution is a theme restaurant aimed mostly at children (and by extension, their parents), although the theme itself is fairly scatter shot; it advertises itself as "adventure", and involves a selection of animatronics - which includes a T-Rex that moves in and out of some ferns, a small dragon, a velociraptor and a rotating Easter Island statue - coming to life at random intervals and moving in a short, preset pattern. Each "skit" is heralded by a dimming of the lights and a short musical cue. My kid loved it; I found it got irritating very quickly.

The food is mediocre pub-grub, similar in price and quality to something like a Harvester, only with a much more limited selection. There are wines, beers, cocktails, mocktails, tea, coffee and a selection of Coca-Cola branded beverages available in addition to food.

The service on our visit, however, was appallingly slow. We received our main course very rapidly after placing an order, but it took 30 minutes after we finished eating before anybody checked on us; we asked for desert menus and it took another 20 minutes before somebody came back to take our order, and another 20 minutes to actually receive that order - but not before the same waiter who took that order had come back to ask us if we were ready to order; he had forgotten serving us 10 minutes earlier. Getting the bill so we could pay and leave involved me getting up and searching the restaurant floor until I found a staff member; ours (and the three other people who had attemped to serve us without realising that our main course order had already been taken) had vanished.

Of the five staff members we actually saw personally, only one had any idea how any of the systems worked; the remainder all had to go and find her every time we wanted something (e.g. when I wanted to buy a souvenir plushie for my daughter).

Sad to say, I cannot recommend the experience of eating at Evolution. It took us hours to eat a simple 2-course meal and the food quality, while adequate, what not...

If you're like me you'll never go back unless one of your kids asks for their birthday or special occasion. We've been three times, not out of choice but for birthday requests. Each time has been shocking. Luckily I only need to tell once as its been the same every time. The restaurant "looks" great. It ends there. There is entertainment (only at certain times and dates so be careful and check first. They don't warn you.) So the kids will be blissfully unaware that they have been starving for 2 hours. That said its not the best and they seem to ignore some tables. The menu selection isn't great now. It's much smaller than our first two visits. I assumed that was to increase the chances of some good service; i was wrong. The appear eager when you first arrive, literally seconds after sitting down they are there to take food orders. When we tell them we'd like 5 mins they come back 30 mins later. You'll then spend a good 50 - 60 mins waiting for anything to happen. Suddenly some of the starters will arrive, not all of them mind. That's another 15 mins. Don't eat too fast as when you're finished there will be another 30 mins wait for them to realise and take your plates. Just in time for another 50 - 60 mins wait for your mains. There will definitely be some missing too. The only good thing about waiting is they have knocked money off our bill each visit. That only brings the bill to a normal level though. PleSe don't assume the restaurant was busy either, just under half the tables were in use so the staff certainly weren't running around, they just seemed absent. This place has everything there to make it great, its simply lacking in the important part of being a restaurant. Food and service. To repeat what I started with. Unless one of the kids asks to go back for their birthday or something we will never...