The Grill on the Square — Restaurant in England

I visited a couple of days ago for a family birthday meal. There were six of us on a Monday evening. The restaurant was less than half full. We have visited about 10 times previously but this was our first post- lockdown visit. It seemed apparent that there are a number of new faces there but two particularly surly and burly gentlemen stood out for their manners. On entry we were stood in a line and asked to each state our Christian names by Chap No1. When we asked what he meant, he rolled his eyes and repeated his request but in a louder voice. We had done the track and trace check in and our names weren't recorded so this was a bizarre initial experience. We let it go at the time.

We were then shown to our table by Chap No2. He sat us down gave us menus, lowered his mask and told us the various things that they didn’t have on the menu. This was 6.30 on a Monday evening so not quite sure how they were out of Oysters and ribs.

We ordered drinks and received a drop of pineapple juice with half a pint of ice instead of a glass of pineapple juice and some warm wine. Chap No2 looked quite morose by now and reached over the table to serve the drinks pushing other drinks out of the way. We felt quite uncomfortable.

Starters were ordered - and reordered for those things “sold out”. Ok but lukewarm. We were seated near to the kitchen and watched our food wait to be collected. They seemed generally understaffed and under stocked. There was a sense that it would have suited these two chaps if they had opened the doors and no customers had come.

The mains were variable in quality. Chicken escalope was good. Fish kebab was very poor all kebab and no fish. It took us two hours to get our mains. Very slow.

There was a very pleasant young waitress who seemed to be the only one of the team with any actual hospitality experience. She was clearly doing her best to make it all look ok but she was undone by her two surly colleagues.

Our experience was an unpleasant one. We didn’t bother with desserts or wait for the complimentary birthday cake. We cut our losses. Although it was expensive - particularly with the 10% service charge.

We are unlikely to return so the restaurant has lost a regular, if infrequent, customer and family. We will share our experience with friends as you do. So, it is to be hoped that the restaurant is confident that it replace us as customers by delivering poor service of mediocre but overpriced food to a population desperate for a good post lockdown dining experience in a field full of eager competition. Good...

What a shame.

Me and my girlfriend visited here for the first time tonight. We had high expectations after seeing the rating and being on the waiting list for a table.

(May I just say that, our service from Dorothy was fantastic).

To start we ordered the chicken satay skewers. £7 for 4 small breast chunks in a cold (extremely peanutty [if that’s a word]) sauce. It’s a shame to look at what you’ve ordered and know instantly it’s not worth what you’re paying. A bad start to an average meal and set the tone for the rest of the evenings food.

For the mains I had the hanger steak, which I have to say was very good. Very tasty with chips - good value for money!

My other half had the prawn and lobster linguine. Extremely disappointing. £18ish for a dish with minimal lobster both in the lobster claw and the fish itself. The prawns were undercooked and the pasta lacked any taste at all. A real disappointment considering the price. This was mentioned this to our waitress and passed to the management. We were told that this had been checked by himself and the chef and that there was nothing he could do. A shame considering this is a “service” industry.

Dorothy, our waitress was fantastic - catered to all our needs, lovely personality and cared about us beyond our time there. Was happy to pass our comments onto the manager hence the mention.

Drinks were great and reasonably priced. I especially enjoyed the Malbec.

Overall, a very average meal from a place we were so excited to try. A shame considering the price and reputation of the grill. We shall be not be rushing back, but hope that a fair and honest review will help both guests...

We went last night this time with hubby as I have been several times before with friends. Sorry to say wasn't very happy. Hubby ordered the Curry. When it arrived it had mash and peas and something in a little jug. I asked was it nice and hubby said its OK but not very currified if there is such a word. I tasted it and thought the same. Who are we to doubt top Chefs? He left half of it. I only had the soup which was very tasty and delicious. Well the bill arrived and was shocked to see the Curry was Chicken Pie.(without a crust). So I called a member of staff over and asked had they mixed our order up as we had ordered the Curry so she went off to investigate. We were shocked to then be told that the waitress said she had told us there was no curry left and we had decided on Chicken Pie. There most definitely was no such conversation but she was adamant that this had taken place. Had we been told this we would have asked for the menu and he would have ordered something else. I asked her if she had heard this conversation well no she hadn't. She went off for a while then brought in the big guns for him to repeat in no uncertain terms that we had chosen the chicken pie and as far as he was concerned END OF CONVERSATION. We were evidently lying and I felt looking for a discount. So a lovely night using a close friend's Birthday Gift Card was totally ruined. We felt so sorry that the young waitress felt it necessary to tell a lie and not just say she had made a mistake she did look new to the job. We won't be going again and to more or less be accused of telling lies that really was a step too far.

Liz and Allan...