Harbour House — Restaurant in England

Bad food, overpriced and unclean.

1. The waitress was wearing slippers. Yep, SLIPPERS. I realise the place is going for a relaxed beach house vibe, but staff wearing slippers to work is a new one for me. Everyone was dressed a bit too casually for a public facing business didn't seem to care that much about customers generally, or how the business presented itself to customers. Cleaning products, ring binder folders, stationery, print outs and tablets/devices left out on some seats and tables like the restaurant also made do as the managers office.
2. Really unclean for pre-Covid normal let alone what is expected now. Sat outside first but the cushions and table were dirty. Then asked to sit inside but had to wait for the manager to clean the table and seats. They should already be clean, the place was quite empty of customers, what else are you doing? Went to sit inside then noticed after ordering lots of flies buzzing around us, looked to the top of the window (which hadn't be cleaned in a while) it was covered in dozens of insects, looked up further to the ceiling and there were cobwebs and other insects making a home for themselves in the corner. We chose to ignore this in order to try enjoy our meal.
3. As well as having a significantly overpriced menu, the food was not just disappointing but bad. Appetiser, main and sides. I couldn't eat even a fraction of it. My partner ate all of theirs but we both had really bad food poisoning/diarrhoea and vomiting when we got back in. We saw only one chef doing everything with no help, seemingly sacrificing standards in order to do so. If the seating areas are dirty I dread to think what the kitchen is like. Verdict: Don't go, save your money for somewhere better and cleaner to eat which can be bothered to be bothered...

A last minute half term day out, Hovercraft from Southsea, bit of crazy golf on the prom and then find some lunch... well we struck gold when we passed Harbour House and decided to stop here for a bite of lunch... We arrived just as they opened for midday. Great location, one side looking across Ryde Marina and the yachts and on the other games of green bowls being played... Host was quick to get us sat and drop some menus for us to look at. Menu was a a mix of greatest hits mains and or tapas style starters. We opted for the Fish & Chips and a Burger with fries and slaw, then the gluttons within added extra fries and prawn tempura. All of the above arrived in good time and obviously from a talented chef, its the little touches like fresh slaw and onion marmalade with the burger that lift a humble burger from good to WOW. All clean plates and fully bellies... Jasmine was our host and she was excellent too, nice chat about supply issues on IOW and costs of running family owned businesses now. Support local and...

Had a great time there on Monday. Drinks served with a smile and staff that seemed genuinely happy to see you This afternoon was completely different. The place was empty. So the two of us sat on a table with four chairs because those tables have the best views. Even before our bums hit the seats a staff member pounced and told us that when they get busy we would be expected to move to a 2 seat table. I calculated the vacant seats on 4 seaters. It came to 48. I would of thought her interset in customer comfort would be better served in drying the rain soaked seats or making sure orders for food were taken correctly and we would not have been offered several dishes, not ours , endlessly. The labelling is also disingenuous. It looks like it says it offers Isle of Wight steak , Seafood, but it is actually only the BUTTER that is locally sourced. £34 .00 for an 8oz steak is ridiculous. I saw a holidaymaker ask what sauce it came with, only to be told , in its...