Audela — Restaurant in England

Well first of all I think a venue talking about being high end and with high end prices should have a high end level of service. Let's start with someone answering the phone to book a table. I got an answer  phone message asking me to email reservations and they will get back to me in 24 hours. To be honest not good enough when I am looking for a table the same evening. I am still waiting a response days after. I would expect a high end establishment to have a much better on line presence and booking system, which would at least tell me whether a table is available or not. I would rather know that the answer is 'no table' than be left in limbo. Even with an email system I would expect a response within a much quicker time as emails are virtually instant and can be directed to and checked on any device, so yes I would have expected better.

We were found a table due to someone who did not attend which was great. The service was good. However a word to the wise. I totally  accept that locals and regulars are important to any business  and you do need to look after them. But please make it less obvious that they are getting a different and better level of service. It was certainly obvious to my table that the tables around me got a little bit extra, extra bread to soak up that sauce, larger portions of the amuse bouche, and offered larger  slices of the deserts. This potentially means I am paying more or getting a smaller portion. I absolutely get looking after regulars, but make it much less obvious as it makes you feel inferior, and we may actually be your next regulars and certainly may be an influencer to others.

The food was well cooked and presented if a little pricey. The clams with chorizo peas and Broad beans was very nice although the sauce lacked a bit of depth . The cod was well cooked. The steak was a bit on the small side and a little on the rare side for a medium rare, the sauce a bit over reduced so slightly too salty.

Another issue is the sample menu on the website es and costs vary, but then please update your sample menu on the website to make it more realistic to the actual prices you are currently charging. I think that is only fair to your customers, to ensure you give them a reasonable idea of potential prices.

Not a bad restaurant, but not one I would be running back to.

To others,  I would say give it a go for something special, but be aware it is...

The place we wanted to have lunch in was too busy, no tables. Got tired of waiting, came here. One couple in a dark corner and we were shown to sit next to them. Weird. We said we'd rather sit in the window, thank you! Two women came in and sat next to us. We ordered the gnocchi main meal (£13+) and a glass of wine (175 x £5.95 each). When the food came we were astonished. We couldn't believe what was put in front of us. Where's the rest?? It tasted good, but... there wasn't much of it! The gnocchi appeared to have been fried or grilled. With it were the thinnest slices of beetroot I've ever seen, a few leaves of lambs salad (?), a tablespoon of cooked spinach, some goats cheese, thin bits of onion, thin slices of... squash? Not sure. Too small to identify. A drizzle of pink something made it look pretty. We could've eaten our meal in 5 minutes but we stretched it out cutting each gnocchi in half. There were only 8, maybe 9, individual little potato gnocchi. Seriously! When the waitress cleared our plates, we asked if maybe we'd been given a starter... No, that's a main meal, was the slightly affronted reply. We were completely baffled how they could call that a main meal, when in fact it wasn't even much of a started size! For a 3-Yr old maybe. We will definitely not be going back. No wonder it was empty. Don't even bother! We're giving it one star because the place exists, but not even the taste of the food makes up for the tiny amount...

Horrendously rude service including verbal abuse from the owner - avoid at all costs.

We firstly entered the empty restaurant last Saturday night to a very uncomfortable atmosphere set by the manager's attitude towards us - as if we were a burden upon her, rather than paying customers.

The menu presented to us was not the same to that on the website and therefore we decided to leave our booking as the options were not accommodating to our dietary requirements, a foresight that might have been avoided if the current menu had been updated on the website. We were told by the manager that it was not acceptable to leave without ordering because the restaurant is usually booked out - despite us accepting a £150 lost deposit, paid previously.

Amongst other insults and swearing, she told us that 'fine dining is not for everyone and that maybe the chip shop would be more to our taste' - an offensive and pretentious approach to jump to without any catalyst.

Despite the manager's beliefs, as customers we do not owe her any more money if we are not satisfied. As a business providing customer service, the minimum expectation is to be treated with respect and certainly not sworn at and criticised by the manager herself.

My family and I have never had an altercation with a member of staff in a restaurant before and certainly not one instigated by the manager - this situation left us shocked and upset.

Do not spend...