Seafood & Grill Restaurant at The Brudenell Hotel — Restaurant in East Suffolk

I’d give it zero stars if I could. My wife and I had intended to eat here for my birthday meal and had telephoned in advance. We were told as we were going to sit outside or in the lounge, as long there is a table no need to book. On arrival, there is a sign saying, please wait at the steps up to the restaurant. 2 staff including the manager, saw us waiting and walked off. There were several tables available outside. We went into the hotel and where we were further ignored. We eventually managed to catch him in the restaurant area. He was not wearing a mask or distancing at all. I explained we’d telephoned and looked at the table we’d spoken about outside or in the lounge. He looked me up and down and said they couldn’t help us as we don’t have a booking. He was insulting, totally unwelcoming and just shrugged his shoulders and said it’s not possible. He also seemed to be against others wearing a mask, and he came within about 10cm of me.

I further explained it was my birthday, and he was very dismissive. I understand places are struggling with staff, but no need for rudeness or a horrid attitude and don’t tell people they can come for a table when they can’t. My wife then tried to explain, and eventually, he said we could sit on a sofa in a lounge to eat, which was fine. We waited about 10 minutes, but I was very unhappy at how I’d been treated and suggested to my wife we go elsewhere as I’m not going to enjoy it with their behaviour and how I’d been made to feel an inconvenience on my birthday. We phoned a local chain in Aldeburgh and promptly left. He did see us go and said, oh, a sorry half-heartedly whilst he cleaned up some outside tables that could have waited over severing customers. I certainly can’t recommend this place with the treatment we received, the total disregard for the pandemic / ruining my birthday somewhat. The chain restaurant we went to which is all we could do at short notice, after 45 minutes wasted here was like night and day, so friendly and helpful/welcoming and wearing masks.

We’d been before but we will not return, nor would I recommend it to family or friends since they can’t get the...

Booked for last night of our break in Aldeburgh June 13th. It was such a cold breezy night a cold wind and we were frozen on arrival. Welcomed warmly but loudly why do youngsters shout at we oldies? The restaurant is highly contemporary and with tiled floors was a cold venue too. Everything was socially distanced correctly once we moved our table but several staff did not wear masks over their noses and the cotton masks looked worn and loose. PLEASE the top restaurant in Aldeburgh needs to get it right. Service was very mixed. We guess finding staff is hard but our waiter got drinks order wrong, forgot our wine glasses and our cutlery for dessert! It didnt spoil the evening but the bill was then incorrect as well. My starter of whitebait was delicious and a good sized portion my husband's lamb was though almost cold and disappointed. My main Dover sole was cooked to perfection and the sprouting broccoli and samphire really added to this flavoursome food. My husband had lobster and chips again the lobster was quite cold but was served with salad a mixed confused plate of food for a high price. My husband said the lobster was cooked perfectly. Our desserts were both disappointing. My crispy slice with kumquats thankfully the fruit was delicious but please it was a child's pudding. The coffee cheesecake was very heavy and dense not a nice texture at all. Had heard lots of good reports and our mains were the stars followed by our appetisers but the service needs work as do the desserts. We will try again despite our...

Second update, was asked to send email with request to call and left tel number, nobody called *** update, I called to speak to manager as suggested in the reply, left two messages on two occasions and nobody called Such a lovely setting sitting on the front terrace but as usual the service was really slow, they need to have a good shake-up, it’s so disorganised. We were told to order at the bar, yet others had their orders taken at the tables. Only had two oat milk mochas and shortbread, but both items were the worst we have had in our lives. The mochas were so dark and bitter made with mainly water, we left both and the shortbread was thin, limp and dreadfully underbaked. Both items were the total opposite of what they should be. Politely left feedback with a waitress, but in hindsight we should have spoken to the manager for a refund. We’ve dined here many times but our allegiance will be switching to another Aldeburgh...