Olive Tree Brasserie Stockton Heath — Restaurant in England

I have never been so glad to leave a restaurant in my life. Totally left embarrassed and made to feel devastated by the staff. We took my daughter for her birthday meal and it was one she wants to forget. First off we were given the table in the private dining area which was broken, really unsafe with hot food and drinks so we moved table to the one before it with the tables pulled together, the seat was covered in something sticky which ended up on people's clothing and skin. We were moved again which was then fine. As we ordered drinks we ordered a cider for my daughter who was now 16, refused as she didn't have ID which was fine, however the other lady in our group said she would have it instead of sending it back, however other restaurants have been fine with this and we checked its not illegal before we asked. Then were told 'well if we see her drink it you will be asked to leave' ! We said OK that's fine, she had a lemonade instead and we respected the rules and she didn't touch it. Then three of the staff were literally staring at us, blatantly and we felt so uncomfortable as it was extremely excessive. Had we not had a 4 year old with us already given his food we would have left because we felt that upset and anxious with the stares from 3 of them. I felt so sick with anxiety I returned the cider and asked the lady with the wire in her ear to leave us alone and stop staring like we are criminals. The food was not great, the garlic mushrooms were swimming in grease, tue calamari was dry and the ciabatta was burnt. The steaks were tough and full of gristle. The beer on draught was flat and we were met with disbeleif when we advised it was flat the second beers were the same even after advising they were flat so they were sent back and charged for!! The lamb was nice can't complain about that but instead of ordering desserts we just paid and left feeling belittled, stressed and upset. Really sad that my daughters birthday meal was not one to remember. Had I not been so upset I would have checked the receipt properly and asked for the service charge of £30 removed. Our family have always had our occasion meals there but never again, saddened by the treatment...

We have been the Olive Tree a few times over the past few years and the food here has always been incredible. Our most recent visit unfortunately wasn’t as well experienced as the slow and unbothered service did let us down 🥺 which is a shame because the food and restaurant is beautiful. We arrived on a weekday evening, with around two other tables and us, the restaurant was very quiet, however upon arrival there was no one front of house. There was a waitress who saw us but did not acknowledge us as she served other tables and then went back into the kitchen. After a good 15 minutes we were greeted with a “hi” from the waitress, we of course asked for a table for two; the waitress nodded, turned around, picked up some menus and walked off without acknowledging or guiding us ie. “Yes sure, would you like to follow me”.. we kind of looked at each other like “do we follow or?”… another 20 minutes to get our drinks and food ordered. One of our main meals was incorrect, the waitress did admit she had put the order in wrong, this was fine, we all make mistakes! Another 20 minutes after we had finished eating nobody had checked on us, the waitress and I assume manager were chatting at the bar seeming uninterested in the restaurant. The waitress had walked past twice within these 20 minutes of us being finished and still hadn’t come over, one of the times letting out a big sigh, we somehow felt like burdens. We asked for a dessert menu when our plates were taken away and we waited another 10 minutes for a dessert menu as they both chatted at the bar again seemingly forgetting about the dessert menu. The manager did bring us the menu after 10 minutes but unfortunately we didn’t stay and just asked for the bill as we felt we would have been there all night.

It would have been understandable if the restaurant was busy, but we expected 5/5 for service on such a quiet evening, and we were quite gutted about the lack of enthusiasm or attentiveness of the staff.

We will hopefully be back in the future, hopefully with more lively and efficient staff...

Absolutely fuming about the way in which the manager dealt with us here last night. Had booked table for a birthday for 9pm even dropped cake off in the day it was first time we were bringing our best friends over for the night for her birthday. Firstly we were having such a good night that we rang to see if we could put the table back 30 mins were told no kitchen wouldn’t serve then so we went just after 9 to find our table,which had previously been requested as a booth as it was special night was not available. Get there to be told by bar staff that our table wasn’t available as there were customers still on it but they had finished and paid their bill. No problem we said we will get a drink whilst they finish off. At this point the manager should have asked them if they would mind moving to another table for drinks as a booking had come in. This was not done instead we were offered table at back which I declined happy to wait for what we ordered. Then my friend and I went to ladies and she said a comment which was along the lines of selfish people as she walked past table. This was overheard and then when we came back we were told we couldn’t have a table that a complaint had been made and we would have to go. I said why couldn’t we have an alternative table at back and was told no as this was a birthday night out and management should have sorted our table out when we arrived. They clearly didn’t want to keep the kitchen open!! And the manager just kept repeating herself saying sorry we can’t give you a table. At this stage the said table had already vacated so it was now empty. I live locally I ate here regularly I have brought friends and family here and now I will never use this restaurant again customer service was terrible and all of this could have been avoided if they had just spoken to the table at start asking them to move. Ruined my friends birthday but they didn’t care at all. Absolutely disgusted at way we were treated all I can say is don’t request a booth because they don’t deliver and spoil...