Harbour Hut — Restaurant in England

Updated after 2nd visit.

We really enjoyed our first visit, but on our second unfortunately it seems like things have slipped a bit. The food was still good overall - lovey brisket and wings but the pork ribs could have been better - they were mostly just fat and the fries were now soft and oily. Salads were excellent, and huge!

The big let down though, was service. The lovely lady owner, who served us last time and clearly has a brilliant way about her, had had to go out to get some supplies. This left two younger girls on front of house, and quite frankly, if that was their first day in hospitality, I wouldn’t have been surprised. Firstly, nobody was particularly welcoming when we arrived. That’s ok, we can find a table for ourselves. In taking orders, the waitress couldn’t find things off the menu (despite me saying “that’s in the small notes section” she took ages to find it and then said “oh, that’s because it’s in the small bites section”. Taking a drinks order for 4 was equally complicated because two of us wanted the same thing - but that confused her no end. When the food arrived, my wife asked for some vinegar for her fries, but the 2nd waitress said they didn’t have any and just shrugged with no apology. Isn’t vinegar one of the key ingredients in BBQ sauces? My wife asked her to check in the kitchen, and two minutes later came back with vinegar. We asked for a jug of water, but it didn’t come and eventually my wife had to go and find it. Even so, it didn’t come with any glasses (or cups as the waitress insisted on calling them). It was all a bit Fawlty Towers. Nobody came to check whether the food was ok (I would have sent the fries back) and we really would have liked more drinks. We felt abandoned. When she returned, the lady owner did come by and ask whether things were ok, but it was simply getting too late and we were a bit irritated any solution was going to be too little too late. Then it came to paying the bill and the waitress simply presented the card machine. Given the complications in taking the order, we asked to see the bill - which was presented, but she seemed irritated and surprised to have to do so. Then she simply turned and walked off. No thank you, no “was everything ok”. Bit rude really, but the key thing was she just didn’t know what she should be doing. No experience, and too little training.

I’m sure this was probably just a glitch and probably new staff, but it wasn’t even that busy until a large party came in half way through our meal.

Please don’t let your front of house staff ruin what is a promising restaurant. Training is vital, as is choosing the right people.

First visit review: Great addition to Weymouth. Thank goodness something lovely like this has ousted the silly vegan place that went before it. Lovely lady owner who provided great service along with attentive staff. Food was delicious - highly recommend the ribs (enormous) and the pulled pork and wings were delicious too. Bearing in mind this was only their third day open, everything was brought out very promptly and tasted great. We were encouraged to provide feedback to help them improve, which I think was a great idea. Bear with them - if I was running a new restaurant it would be nowhere as slick as these guys, but they are still learning too. I’m looking forward to returning soon and hope they’ll have space because I can see this place being a sell-out when the...

Friday 26th- group of 4 had the meal for 4.

First thing, we booked 2 weeks before, in the 2 weeks the meal had gone from £80 to £96.

We had brisket (stringy, rubber bands with no taste), rack of port ribs (3 ribs between 4), pulled pork (fatty, but flavoursome) and a beef short rib (over cooked, and other than smokey, a bland taste).

With the meats came a small salad, a small coleslaw, 2 giant plates of skin on chips, and 4 x half corn cobs.

The meal for 2 that others were eating had the same salad and slaw. Felt cheated about that, and 4 people given the fat intake really could have done with more slaw and salad to cut back that fatty meat.

Asked for vinegar to go with the chips, it never arrived.

We sat outside because the weather was hot, we had been offered a table inside. We couldn’t bare to sit in due to the heat from the kitchen + the evenings weather heat.

Outside, food waste was all over the floor, ciggy butts on the ground, and in the planters. Someone needs to deploy some floor cleaning, even though it’s an outside space.

We left 25% of the food, and were so bored with the lack of flavour no one wanted to take it home in a doggy bag.

Service was good, more so give the young age of the waitress.

With drink, and a tip £129.

We won’t be going back unless they-

Improve the flavours of the food. Match the slaw and salad size to the head count better. Have air movement / fans in the restaurant. Clean the outside between settings. Decide to provide ashtrays, or ban smoking- to prevent ciggy butts on floor and in planters.

With the meats, its unattractive to just slop them in to one big doggy bowl. With the meats the chef needs to taste his cooking, and add seasoning and flavour back in to the slow cooked meats. It was lacking.

Finally, the bin and 3 jumbo used oil containers to the side are unsightly. I’d suggest containing them with a wrap round barrier or some open / shut fencing.

No photo’s, because they weren’t...

Thought we would give this place a try after hearing about it. Walked in (family of four) where could see 2 empty tables to be immediately asked had we booked. On saying no, was told the 2 tables were booked but we could eat outside. We decided to do this, as we wanted to try the food. Our kids had burgers (one from kids menu, other from main menu) and me and my wife had brisket and pulled pork respectively. Food was tasty and flavoursome albeit a little greasy, but overall was nice. I will note during our time there (we arrived approx. 6.30pm), that no one (other than staff) went into the restaurant, but a number of groups left in this time. When we finished our meals (approx.7.30pm), I went into pay and I politely noted that the restaurant looked quiet (at this point there was only 1 table taken) and before the lady who was serving me could reply, a gentleman came from behind her and abruptly said that the rest of the tables are booked for 7.30 and 8.00. So not sure why we couldn't of been accommodated inside when we arrived over an hour before the alleged bookings ?!? As a previous reviewers said, I don't feel it's a very family friendly place, or at least they don't like kids inside the restaurant. Would like to have gone back to try other things from the menu, but this experience has put us off. *Tip; it's not just about the food

in response So your account below of the times the tables were booked for (7.00 to 7.30) were different to what you said to me (7.30 to 8.00). You say 3 tables were running a little late, but you had more than 3 tables free at 7.27, so as I said you could of easily accommodated us in that time as there was only 1 table being used. Again, it's unfortunate that we won't be coming back as would of like to have tried more...