Coates House — Restaurant in England

My mother and I arrived at Coates House precisely at 12:45pm for our reservation, brimming with anticipation. We were seated in a quiet corner where I had an excellent view of the kitchen – complete with its charming little bell that cheerfully announced each completed dish. Little did I know I'd become an expert on that bell over the next half hour.

We ordered two roast dinners. The waitress kindly warned us they were short-staffed with only two servers. Fair enough – we're understanding people.

Then began what I can only describe as dinner theater, except we weren't in it. I watched that kitchen bell ring. And ring. And ring again. Food marched past us with military precision to every other table. The group seated at the same time as us? They'd finished their meal, had their plates cleared, and were probably contemplating what to watch on Netflix later.

At the 35-minute mark, we politely inquired whether our food might be joining us. The waitress ventured kitchenward, then returned with the sheepish confession: they'd completely forgotten our order. Forgotten! As in, we'd achieved complete invisibility. I've eaten out extensively, but never have I been quite so successfully erased from existence.

They offered to comp one dinner or provide dessert – thoughtful, but somewhat difficult to appreciate when you've flown in from the western US for your mother's birthday lunch and the "special occasion" has derailed into a masterclass in being overlooked. When the food finally materialized, it was actually tasty. The Yorkshire pudding was so monumentally large it appeared to be concealing a crime scene beneath – namely, a rather timid portion of chicken playing hide-and-seek. Potatoes and veg were plentiful, at least.

My mother had heard good things about Coates House. This was our first visit. Watching servers glide past our increasingly forlorn table without a single welfare check felt like a social experiment gone wrong. Yes, they apologized profusely. Yes, mistakes happen. But this was a spectacular own goal that turned a rare transatlantic birthday celebration into a lesson in patience we didn't sign up for.

If this were an employee of mine, we'd be having a "development...

Disappointing. Won't be going again . Went for early evening meal for my mum's birthday with 2 young children. Waitress did not tell us that we needed to order at the bar. Pre booked but on arrival no children's menus available. Waitress read out children's options, many seemed unsuitable for a child e.g. winter salad! Chose children's breakfast. Came with Spicy beans (kidney beans/flagolet beans) which neither children ate, as they we quite spicy and were expecting baked beans. Took 1 hour for food to arrive and it was not busy. Winter salad ordered for my mum was a plate of parsnips with a miniscule amount of other veg. Very boring and strange dish. Cauliflower curry had no flavour and over cooked . Brought a cake to have with ice cream pudding and asked staff to put candles in and bring around to table. They forgot and had to go and ask twice for this. They brought ice cream and waitress gave us the largest single spoon to use for 2 small children! We had to go and get more spoons ourselves. Cake arrived after ice cream finished and staff put on table with no knife or plates . How was the waitress expecting us to eat it! When you pay at the bar you have a choice to give a tip. However this is before your food has arrived and you have experienced the service . I paid a £7 tip on a £50 food bill. I wouldn't have paid this knowing what the food and service would be like. A...

Two visits here, (Wednesday and Tursday) and both were excellent.

Night one, I had the hunters chicken. Cooked beautifully and not too much sauce as to drown the plate as some places usually do.

Night two, I had steak, cooked nicely complimented with a peppercorn sauce that was rich but not overpowering. The chips were amazing. Portion sizes both nights were just right. A clean, (very) quiet, and pleasant environment. Most likely quiet due to the glorious weather we had that week. Staff members were polite and courteous. One young gentleman one night one. 2 young gentlemen and a lovely lady on night two.

The only issue, that some might flag up, is that the bar was left unattended for a period, leaving you waiting a few minutes. But when you're working on your own, starting the shut down, you can't be everywhere at once. Working in this sector in the past, at least I understand it. I was only in Nailsea working for a few days. But if ever I'm down there for work again. I would definitely come again.

Sadly. The advertised quiz nights are on a Sunday if I recall correctly. Shame as I'd have loved to have taken part!

Highly recommended. You will...