The Black Bear — Restaurant in England

Probably the most interesting experience I have ever had at a restaurant, but not in a good way. To lead with the positives, the food was quite good and would be five stars. Generally, I don’t like writing negative reviews and have a permissive attitude when it comes to the service industry as a whole. But when I went in I was completely ignored and more or less had to catch a waiter and ask if I seat myself or wait to be seated- that was rather strange. I get the answer and sit down and wait for a menu. I sit there for 25 minutes with the waitstaff just completely acting like I was invisible. I understand that service in the states is different- I have heard about “village time” and I’m okay with that, but this was quite distinctly different. I start wondering if perhaps there is a QR code for the menu- but no. But as time is going by and the staff is giving menus to other patrons immediately upon them sitting down and taking their drink orders- while I have been sitting there increasingly confused and uncomfortable. I try and catch the eye of multiple waiters and they continue to ignore me. Upon seeing the staff give other patrons I just go up and help myself to one from the bar. I was about 40 minutes ahead of my family and was hoping to eat quickly and help them moor the boat as they got into the docks. My family had enough time to do the last 20 minutes of the journey, moor the boat, and walk another 15 minutes to the pub. This whole time the staff still act like I don’t exist. At the time I arrived it was not particularly busy. I have worked in the service industry- I have many friends who work in the service industry; I am never one to complain about service. When my family got to the pub only then did the staff promptly take our orders; it was like a switch had been flipped and the service was normal, we had to move to a larger table upstairs when my family came and got a different waitress than the ones I previously interacted with and thus my prior criticism does not apply. My family was quite annoyed with what happened prior to their arrival and wanted to leave. But I had been there so long I wasn’t just going to walk out. I do not know what made the staff seem so standoffish. Perhaps it was me being a young man getting food by himself? It costs you nothing to be kind and making assumptions leads to everyone involved getting...

Visited on Friday 23rd February @ 3.45pm. Having eaten many times at The Swan and The Hare, we were keen to try The Black Bear in Whitchurch. First impressions were very gòd. Busy for an afternoon. Bar staff very friendly, chatting to customers at the bar. Ordered two glasses of wine (which was particularly good) and ordered food as wine was served. Food arrived, and the waitress turned away. I was having a burger. The usual 'any sauces' didn't materialise. I like ketchup, so when the waitress next passed, I asked if I could have some. Off she went, clearing a nearby table and no sign of my ketchup. As she came down the stairs, I asked again (I was halfway through my meal by now). About 5 seconds later, she bounced the ketchup container onto the table and disappeared. The main course finished, I was looking forward to seeing the dessert menu. Waitress cleared the table, never spoke, and never asked if the food was OK, she never asked if we wanted anything else. This behaviour is so different from any experience at other pubs in the chain. Deciding to leave, I went to pay at the bar. The barman did ask if everything was OK. I remarked yes but that the waitress needed to learn some table manners. He ignored my comment and gave me my change. I've worked in hospitality and know how hard staff work, so I always tip, particularly when I know all staff get a share. Sadly, the staff missed out because I felt the waitress deserved nothing. Sorry to the rest of the staff (except the barman), who were so...

We popped in for a snack lunch (after our chosen restaurant was fully booked). The ambience was pleasant and relaxed, Quite busy for a Wednesday lunchtime (at 1:30 by the time we got there) but some tables available. We were quickly given menus and our drinks order taken. I chose an IPA from Middlewich, which was nice. We chose the steak sandwich and a scotch egg (we shared both - half each). Food arrived quickly. The scotch egg, billed as Pork and Sage on the menu, was bought in I'm guessing and was served cool and with a slightly runny yolk. Tasted very bland, came in a shallow yellow lake of something not mentioned on the menu. The best thing about the Steak sandwich (billed on the menu as Steak sandwich with red onion jam + choice of white or seeded bloomer bread - we chose seeded) was the salad garnish, tasty, fresh and with a nice dressing. The sandwich was cool and noticeably tough when I cut it in half to share. Looking inside, the bread (regulation sliced) was dry, as was the steak, small pieces of meat, red in the middle about 1/4" thick not at all juicy and little sign of the red onion jam to relieve the dryness Both food choices can be so good when done well (and with little trouble) but what we got was disappointing. It's a shame because the pub...