Popa's Kitchen and Bar — Restaurant in East Lindsey

We booked here 2 months in advance as there were quite a few of us and it was a special birthday. We were told we had to preorder our food - not a problem, in fact, a great idea as it would speed things up on the day!

A week before, we were told the only starter that they were doing that day was mushroom soup so most of us cancelled our starters. 3 days before, we were told that most of the mains that we’d ordered weren’t going to be available either and to choose something else, from a different, very basic menu. Quite annoying but we did it.

On the day, we arrived at 6pm (the time we were booked in for) to find that one of our tables, which was decorated with our balloons and confetti, was being occupied with other visitors eating their main courses. When the manager approached us, all she could say was ‘sorry they won’t be long!’ This left at least 10 of us stood around the table waiting for them to finish eating and leave. If we’d have know that this was going to be a whole hour, we’d have taken our decorations and birthday cake and left! Still all the manager could say was ‘they won’t be long!’ They shouldn’t have been seated in those seats, at that time in the first place!

Our preordered food finally came to our table at 8pm!!!! 2 hours after we’d arrived!!!! This was bought out to us by young boys (I’d even say children) and a couple of waiting staff, all who didn’t really know what meals they were bringing out and couldn’t answer any of our questions about the meals. Things were missing, meals were wrong and special requests hadn’t been taken notice of. It was a complete shambles and how they manage to run a business like that is beyond me.

Although many of us complained throughout the night, absolutely nothing was offered to compensate for the inconvenience. Not even a free drink for the birthday lady, never mind a round of drinks or a percentage off of our food bill! Customer satisfaction just isn’t on the list of priorities here!

Mistakes happen, things go wrong, we understand that, but be honest and professional with your guests and compensate when it’s needed. This is all it would have taken to turn a bad experience into a great one! This is such a shame as the food was actually very nice - compliments to the chef, and the the live singer was...

heard great reviews, visited when first opened after refurbishment and it was ok visited today for a meal ,booked a table for 5.30pm to give Sunday carvery chance to finish. Arrived on time to what can only be described as a loud chaotic tap room.. Our table was in a corner in the extension under the TV which we didn't mind as we thought we would be out of the way with having a 1yr old in need of high chair.. Things went further down hill from here a group of people consisting of about 4-5 families, children and dogs sat behind and to the side of us, they had been given the remote for the TV which was showing football which they then turned the volume up to a point where you couldn't hear yourself talk, the children then sitting behind us hung over the chairs leaning over us to watch TV , dogs where sprawled all over the chairs. It was not the quiet evening meal we had expected. We asked to move tables as it was very loud for our grandson who they eventually woke up with all the noise. Our table was now at the entrance to the extension which meant that the high chair had to be placed at the end of the booth in the gang way, causing further issues with access to and from the bar toilets and staff waiting on tables. At one point another guest occupied our previous table and tripped over the high chair leg spilling a tray full of drinks. We ordered our food I had steak which came with chips, onion rings,mushrooms and salad drenched in balsamic. every thing was very greasy and the streak was tough. My partner had fish and chips, which looked OK but again very greasy. Spaghetti bolognaise was ordered from the children's menu which was mainly pasta and very little bolognaise.. Very disappointed. The large group of guests ordered their food which arrived by the waitress shouting so loud it made my grandson jump. Their dogs where still all over the furniture and scrounging under the tables picking up food and bouncing about under very little control. What we had hoped for a lovely evening of food and entertainment to end our weekend away turned into what was more like football ground and dogs play ground with greasy spoon wagon food.. Not what we had hoped or expected..Definitely the last visit, a rapid deterioration...

We have been on two occasions, last night for a few drinks and some food, we did not book and they where very busy and unable to accommodate us for food, but the bar staff were very helpful. Whilst having our drinks we booked our table online for the following afternoon, having received an email booking confirmation we proceeded back to Popas Bar. On arrival they had no visibility of our booking and they don't run an online booking facility. They did admit this isn't the first time this has happened. The manager seemed too busy to care or even help with the situation, she didn't even try to arrange to fit us in at a later time, though there were plenty of spare tables. There was no customer service at all and it was our fault for booking on line, "we only take phone or personal bookings" she also explained that its happened the night prior to another couple but I believe they where also treated in the same manner. Enjoy a pint, don't book online, staff are nice and friendly, management need to embrace current tech and risk further negative reviews or remove themselves from online booking systems if they cannot be polite to...