The Croft at Beaconsfield — Restaurant in England

So, let's start with some positives; Pleasant setting, in a large, bright, airy restaurant (though a little lacking in atmosphere, especially once dark outside). Attentive service from the staff who were all lovely.

Unfortunately it was the food that really let the place down on our visit.

I ordered the Thai salmon fish cake, which as a salmon fishcake goes was good, however I was really looking forward to tasting something with a Thai flavour and there wasn't any, nothing at all, not even a hint of Thai flavour, just good old potato and salmon - there was a small pot of the chilli and mango chutney on the side, which had just the slightest bit of warmth to it, along with a slice of fresh lemon which the menu said would be chargrilled, this had not been anywhere near a flame at all.

On to the main, I'd asked the person taking the order if I could have a fillet steak, I said I would like it to still be pink inside but not bloody - my experience is that it's best to describe how I would like it than ask for it medium/ medium well etc. When our mains come my steak had a fair amount of charring on the outside, I cut into it and it was completely grey throughout, on tasting all I could get was grainy, overcooked meat and a bitter burnt taste. At £28 a pop I did not want to leave it on my plate or suffer the displeasure of eating it. Our server came to ask if everything was ok with our meals and I said I'd asked for my steak to be pink and not bloody, she looked at my plate and said 'you did indeed and I specifically told the chef what you said, let me get you another'.

I didn't want to take the chance of a 2nd one not being cooked to my liking, so asked if I could get the beef stroganoff instead.

My second choice arrived, it was pleasing to the eye, the meat was very tender but tasted akin to braising steak, not the cuts of prime beef stated on the menu, and the sauce gave not even a hint of the courvoisior brandy or indeed any seasoning whatsoever - possibly the blandest sauce I've eaten.

At this point I decided it just wasn't my night, I ate some of the meal, we paid the £90...

It was our first time here and having read the reviews we were looking forward to attending a lovely birthday meal for our friends, the place is in a nice setting and was clean. We had to pre order and I love lasagna however I was not allowed this as it was only on the menu up til 5.30pm (didn’t realise lasagne expires at 5.30pm). I decided to have the filet steak rare. It arrived at a good medium, so a fair bit more cooked than normal, I never send food back, it’s a rule of mine so made do. I ordered a drink at the same time as the food arrived and I had to ask again after finishing all my food as I still Did not have a drink. The king prawn starter was definitely not king prawn, it was like the little frozen prawns you find in a prawn cocktail. My main issue was we arrived with 3 children who were very well behaved but like normal 1, 3 & 7 year olds they do not like to sit down 24/7. At 3 separate occasions we were asked to sit the kids down, “they nearly tripped us up” they said, our kids were by our sides and just changed seat places a few times. We had the older staff shake their heads at us, permanently stare at us and make us feel so unwelcome. There was a party of 11 adults and 3 children. Most the steaks come out to well cooked also. Basically we were a bit disappointed with the food and very disappointed with the stuck up older staff who made us feel very uncomfortable, perhaps our 14 faces just didn’t fit however I have never experienced anything like the rudeness I have felt here tonight, will not be returning and will not recommend to anyone...

Visited The Croft at Beaconsfield for the first and last time today. I can honestly say I have never had a worse main course. The site is apparently owned by the Poole family. Well, they should get their fingers out and replace whoever has been let loose in The Croft kitchen. Two of us had starters which were good but when my main course came it bore no resemblance to its description on the menu.

The menu described it as Pan Roasted Cod Wrapped in Serrano Ham with French style peas with ham hock, sauteed potatoes, Champagne sauce.

Everything on the plate was over-cooked. The Serrano Ham was burnt to a crisp and inedible (see photo). The cod inside the ham was cooked to a point of being dry-straw like, the French-style peas (green beans) were boiled to within an inch of their life and the Champagne sauce was an over-set bechamel gloop which I very much doubt had ever seen a bottle of Champagne let alone contained any.

Normally I would have told the waitress I was unhappy when she asked if everything is alright but she never bothered to ask. In fact we didn't see her again and had to go to the bar to pay only to find her folding napkins. More training perhaps the Poole family?

We are local having moved to the area a year ago. We eat out frequently but I'm afraid you have had my one and only sixty quid guys. There are local pubs and restaurants working incredibly hard to produce high quality meals. The Poole family should try them and then try your own restaurant...