Ego at The Deben Seal, Woodbridge — Restaurant in East Suffolk

Worst dining experience! Attended for my boyfriend’s birthday and the meal was possibly the worst we have ever had to endure. From the offset it just got worse. Our order was taken then 15 minutes later was told there was not more meat on the roast menu only chicken and pork as they had all sold out?! All meat sold out by 7pm on a Sunday? Seems a bit ridiculous? We let this slide and just continued with it.

The waiter came out and only my partners starter came out and whilst my partner was still eating the mains were coming out and I hadn’t even got my starter! Then got our mains after eventually it was sorted, and my gosh I have never seen such an unappealing roast! I could instantly tell the vegetables had been put under the hot plate as my green beans were no longer green! As I bit into my pork I can honestly say I could not find any pork, and all I could taste was fat and mush! Both me and my partner left half of our dinner and we complained to the waiter as soon as the plates were taken away. We then had dessert which was nice. Then we paid for our bill. The restaurant offered money off for the mishap with my starter and £10 off for the quality of food we received.

Once I paid I then checked my payment to which I had paid nearly £100. To which I had to go back to the waiter to get this refunded as he accidentally switched the table number whilst I was paying for my bill.

Let’s say this was probably one of the worst experiences we had and we were not acknowledged at all for the fact it was for a birthday as I specifically wrote this on my original booking! As a whole it felt a very on edge experience. I can understand it was a Sunday and there was a lot going on with the tractor parade going past when we were seated but I do not expect the owner of the restaurant and some staff announcing they are going outside to see the tractor parade whilst our order was constantly getting messed up throughout the night, and also repeatedly being told by a female waitress that “We have been extremely busy today”- yes I understand the stress of being a waitress I have been there! But there is no need to announce to customers that you have been busy and blaming that on poor customer service, especially by this point the restaurant was very quiet and me and my partner were put in the furthest possible point away from everyone else!

Let’s just say I will not be returning to a restaurant that not only messes up an order once but multiple times! I dread to think what would have happened if there was a table of 10 as it seemed very difficult to get a table of 2’s order correct?!

And to top it all off because we were still hungry as we hardly ate anything we went elsewhere to get food on...

So I went here with my partner and child for a Father’s Day meal which was booked days in advance. We were given a limited menu, some would say it was Too limited with barely any allergy friendly options for our daughter. Me and the partner order salmon for her and chicken for me as I don’t eat pork and it was the only option. I made this clear the only meat I eat is chicken. We were met with Cod for her (with no warning) and I was met with lamb pork and chicken… we kindly said we both won’t eat these things and they basically said there’s nothing they can do. So we left and it was far too late to get a table anywhere else. So that was my second ever Father’s Day ruined. Tonight we decide to try again. She ordered a chicken gnocchi in order a Piri piri chicken kebab. I am once again met with pork 😂 I tell them I don’t eat bacon I ordered just chicken. The waitress said no problem AND GOES BACK TO THE KITCHEN TO SCRAPE THE PORK OFF😂 then when my partner tells them I don’t eat pork for health and dietary reasons they then say that’s fine a new kebab will be 12 minutes. 25 painful minutes go by as I watch my partner trying not to finish her food before mine arrives but to no avail. We ask for the bill and tell them not to worry as I’m now no longer hungry as I’ve robbed everyone’s fries because I was starving 🙃 the bill comes along with my long waited food. I said it’s fine I’m going to leave it I’m not hungry. The lady says well atleast take it home with you and says they’ve taken it off the bill. I oblige to not be rude knowing I won’t eat it anyway. I tried to discuss with the matter to the lady who for no reason became rude and stormed off like an angry 4 year old. Safe to say I’m never going again, plenty better places in Woodbridge. Shame considering we eat out most nights and this place is only down the road. Never mind. But if you’re willing to try just be aware they’re going to take 3 attempts each time to bring you the correct food. Also if it’s against your beliefs to eat pork, don’t go there because they clearly have no understanding of this. Starters were alright but...

Went to the ego last month for a meal and drinks with a few friends. We ordered food and drinks hoping to place it on a tab since we had a discount code. Didn’t find out till the end that they had charged my card rather than opened a tab. The drinks that came out were nice and we got our food, my friend ordered the “freshly baked baguette and oil” however when she received it she thought it tasted stale and it wasn’t till she checked it and found mould. So obviously it hadn’t been freshly baked unless you count putting it in the over for a couple of minutes to warm it. The waitress took it away and said she’d remove it from our tab, which obviously we didn’t realise hadn’t been opened. After the money had come out of my account I went back to ask for refund for the mouldy food which I was informed they couldn’t refund me and could only offer me a voucher, I wasn’t overly happy as lost confidence in the food and whether they check it. Gave my email which I double checked she’d spelt right since people always spell my name wrong. Never received anything from them in either my inbox or junk. Obviously they’d forgot about it. Honestly it’s a shame since the drinks were really nice, however if you order food just double check it before eating to make sure your not getting a little extra...