The 29029 Broadstone — Restaurant in England

It appears that ‘overbooking’ may be a business policy of 29029. – We have suffered from this at both Sandford and Broadstone Restaurants.

Most recently we booked a table for 8:30pm on Saturday 6/10/17 and arrived on time. We got speaking to another couple who had already been waiting for their table for half an hour. After five minutes, staff assured us that our table would be ready in ‘a few minutes.’ Two separate parties of six and then ten arrived. It was ‘crammed’ in the foyer and people were waiting outside. – Of course, the parties of six and then ten were seated before us, even though tables had to be moved around. – All of us were already murmuring about going elsewhere, so obviously being only two of us we were right at the bottom of the pecking order.

Whilst we were still waiting for our table, some friends left who had booked their table for 8pm. – They told us that they had only been seated a short while, when staff asked them “how long they were likely to be eating their meal!” – Given that they left at 8:50pm, they were clearly rushed. – 50 minutes to ‘enjoy’ a meal out is disgraceful.

By 8:55pm, having been staring at an empty table for two for 15 minutes, we had had enough and left. I discussed the situation with staff and explained that we had had a very similar experience at 29029 at Sandford where people including us had waited standing and (again some outside) for half an hour for their table and they were obviously habitually overbooking. – I was told that they are not and that people were taking too long over their meals. – Really? – 50 minutes for what people may have intended to be a three-course meal, plus coffee and perhaps an after-meal drink? – This is disgraceful!

I’m sure that none of this matters at all to the decision and policy makers at 29029 and we are just another ‘two customers.’ However, to us, it’s a whole evening ruined that we had very much been looking forward to.

You have done it to us twice and you won’t do it again! We are local regular diners with a passion for food of all nationalities and we are particularly supportive of The Nepalese people that have served our Country. However, we won’t be treated like this!

We have lived in the area long enough to know that every other restaurant that has occupied the premises at the corner of York Road and Lower Blandford Road has ultimately failed. I put this down to the fact that the premises are fully glazed floor to ceiling on two sides, so to a certain extent, you feel like you are eating in a ‘goldfish bowl’ on full show to passers by. The reputation of the quality of the food may be enough to have 29029 thriving in Broadstone at the moment, but if they continue with this policy of obviously overbooking and losing customers such as ourselves, they may well find that they suffer the same fate as other restaurants that have failed on this obviously...

BEWARE! Absolutely loved the food here, definitely 5 stars, I enjoyed a chicken tikka masala with lemon rice, papadum, onion bhaji and a peshwari naan (shared!) - the food was fantastic and the service was very good albeit we were rushed out at the end. The restaurant was taking part in Eat Out to Help Out and it was clearly in demand - when we left there was a queue in the street to get in. Food and service definitely 5 stars, however, Covid safety only 1 star... the only measure in place was a hand sanitiser station at the entrance - the number of tables in use was not reduced, guests were tightly packed - we had tables either side of us which were definitely less than 2m away, almost certainly less than 1m away and none of the staff were wearing any face coverings or taking any other visible precautions. We had to battle through a crowd to get out. In hindsight we probably should have walked out - don't get me wrong the food was lovely and I would definitely visit again under normal circumstances but practically no precautions being taken which now I think about it was completely irresponsible - the focus was clearly on accommodating as many people as possible - that's our choice ultimately but at what...

So I have taken my time to review this place as I am not sure what to make of it. The service is good, the ambience is great. The starters wonderful. Then comes the head scratcher, the mains. I can see what they are trying to do here. By serving everything on a plate as you would do in other fine dining establishments. I applaud the plating and the attention to detail. However, at this point the choice of items on the plate makes me question the combinations.

I can tell we are aiming for a true Nepali experience but I confused when I find a bit of Kerala on the plate in the form of what is called a "achappam" with a tandoori chicken no less. What is that all about?

Nouvelle cuisine I get and you see this with the trends in London. But this is confusing as the flavours don't match especially when things are being bound together.

I think it maybe best to serve the items like in a தாலி as opposed to everything on a plate as this will work better and leaves the flavour choices to the diner.

Anyway keep trying guys. I guess this just...