The Loch & The Tyne by Adam Handling Old Windsor — Restaurant in England

Really disappointing experience at the Loch and Tyne for dinner.

With such a high priced menu - think £7 for 2 slices of bread and butter, our expectations of the whole experience; food and service were set accordingly.

And to be fair to the Loch and Tyne, the food throughout was good. For mains, we had the Lamb (£40 with Jersey Royal Potatoes) and classic fish and Chips (£23). The lamb was perfectly cooked, meltingly soft with a delicate sauce and accompanying vegetables. The dish really needed the accompanying side we ordered though as on it's own it wasn't sufficient for a main course. The Jersey Royal Potatoes were very tasty and beautifully presented if only luke warm.

The fish and chips in contrast was a very generous portion. Again, the fish was well cooked with a crispy and not-oily batter with exemplary chips and a lovely fresh tartar sauce. The accompanying curry sauce balanced sweet and spice well, but was served cold.

We finished off with the Apple Tarte-Tatin to share (£30) which was a feast for the eyes, beautifully caramelised and worth the wait. The only slight disappointment was the promised "Salted Caramel Ice Cream" looked and tasted just like vanilla. Maybe they'd run out?

However, the rest of the experience was sub-par at best.

The pub is housed in a an old country building so one can likely forgive the peeling paint and areas of repair needed. The gents toilets however are, in my opinion, totally unacceptable for a establishment at this price point. Wall lights coming away from the walls, dirty urinals and mouldy peeling wallpaper by the hand-drier. I only hope that the Kitchen is maintained to a better standard.

It seems as though most of the waiting staff this evening were either new or being trained. Whilst I fully appreciate that all staff have to learn and begin somewhere, there was no oversight of what was going on. Confused waitresses were coming out and standing around trying to figure out where to take the food. Cutlery was dropped by clearing staff on several occasions, narrowly missing the lady on the table next to us who was offered no apology or acknowledgement. If staff are being trained, please offer them the necessary support and/or advise customers in advance that this is happening.

When it came to payment, our server advised that if we could pay by cash, that would mean more money for them and less for the government. I presume this was just a totally inappropriate joke and not a serious suggestion. Or perhaps this is reflective of how the whole Adam Handling chain operates? Our server also proactively pointed out that service was not included. We are capable of reading a bill, thank you. What they did not point out, however, was the 'African Revival Charity' donation (£2) which had been added to our bill.

It's great a large corporate chain like this is looking to support needy charities, but if that's your choice, factor that into food prices or take it from your margins. At the very least, provide some explanation to customers as to what this charity is about, the fact it is being added to your bill (preferably long before the bill arrives) and if it is, clearly mark it as optional. This, in my mind, is totally unacceptable practice at any establishment let alone one at this price point.

Overall, despite very good food - we left with a bitter taste in our mouths and would certainly not be returning to this or any other restaurant in the chain in the future if this is the standard that is to be expected.

UPDATE: Received a prompt and professional response from the L&T team following our experience which was very much appreciated. Comments and points were taken seriously. Based on the communication, it seems we may have just gotten unlucky on this occasion and feel reassured that areas for improvement are being appropriately addressed. Based on the professionalism of the team, we will give the L&T another go and report back. The food is of a high standard and if the rest of the experience has been addressed to match, this will surely be a great...

I was incredibly excited to come here after visiting Frog (another restaurant owned by Adam Handling) in March and enjoying the experience greatly. However, I'm very sad to say that this was far from a great experience. I know that this is not a Michelin starred restaurant but the very reason I came here was because I had such an unforgettable experience at Frog. Sadly our visit today was a frustrating and disappointing one.

My wife and I arrived for a late lunch at around 2.05 for a 2.15 reservation and were seated upon arrival which was great and bode well for a great time. We ordered the Sourdough with onion butter, and two mains at around 2.10. The sourdough came out swiftly enough. So far so good. It was quite nice and my wife and I made short work of it.

However, this was when things took a turn for the worse. We waited patiently until 3pm and had the food come out there or thereabouts we might have been satisfied instead we sat there watching while several different tables who came in after us were served, all the while no acknowledgement was made by the wait staff as to why we were still waiting. If an attempt had been made to explain and offer us an apology I would have been happy enough. Instead the minutes ticked away. At around 3.10 with no interaction or explanation forthcoming I was becoming more and more incredulous. Even moreso for the fact that we could tell that the wait staff knew that there was a problem. The awkward whispered conversations that were happening around us made it obvious! Yet still no-one wanted to acknowledge us. As the minutes ticked by I became more and more annoyed, as my wife and I started to feel the hunger hit us!

Eventually at around 3.15 I stopped our waitress and asked if there had been a delay. Another awkward moment as she didn't apologise but ran off into the kitchen. Something was clearly wrong but no explanation or apology were provided. At this point I was fuming. I got up to see if I could speak to someone who could offer an explanation. I saw three of the wait staff engaged in hushed conversation clearly about our order... I sat back down. At this point the restaurant manager Josh Bond, came over and offered us a rushed explanation, something around the fact that he would check what was happening and gave us a plate of cheese doughnuts, which we didn't order, and didn't fancy eating because it might spoil our lunch. There wasn't even a moment for me to express my annoyance. We waited for another 10 minutes without anyone saying a word to us.

Eventually Josh came out with our food and an explanation around the fish having to be remade?! If this was the case why wasn't this communicated to us! At this point I was finally able to express my abject disappointment to him and without much prompting he told us the bill would be taken care of. I appreciated the bill being taken care of, but had it not been I would have been up in arms! Honestly at this point the annoyance and the anger which had built up had made it pretty much impossible to enjoy the food and had marred the entire experience.

As it happens the mains were not quite at the level I would expect. My wife ordered the fish and chips, she felt the chips were undercooked and the fish batter was too salty. My main, the potato and parmesan dumplings with mushroom was very nice and the dessert was lovely, but overall this was just an awful experience. I expected more from the Adam Handling group. Up until almost the very end of the lunch we were treated as though we weren't even there! Sadly this was bad enough to have us questioning our feelings towards the group as a whole. A bad...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Adam's restaurant in Old Windsor, and I must say, it was an experience to remember. From the moment I walked in, I was impressed by the warm and inviting atmosphere of the place. The décor was elegant yet cozy, with a touch of modern flair that added to the overall ambiance.

As I settled in at my table, I was presented with a selection of pre-starter snacks that set the tone for the meal to come. The cheese doughnut was a delightful surprise, with its crispy exterior and gooey, cheesy center. The bread with chicken butter was equally delicious, a perfect combination of savory and rich flavors that left me craving more.

For my starter, I opted for the Yellowfin tuna ceviche, and I was blown away by the freshness and bold flavors of the dish. The delicate balance of citrus and spice was a true delight for the taste buds, setting the stage for what was to come.

The main courses did not disappoint either. The ribeye steak was cooked to perfection, with a beautiful sear on the outside and a juicy, tender center that practically melted in my mouth. The duck breast was equally impressive, with its crispy skin and succulent meat showcasing the chef's skill and attention to detail.

Overall, the food at Adam's restaurant can only be described as world-class. The quality of the ingredients, the creativity of the dishes, and the technical brilliance of the cooking all point to a level of expertise that is truly Michelin star-worthy. Each dish was not only delicious but also beautifully presented, a feast for the eyes as well as the palate.

The service at the restaurant was also top-notch. The staff was friendly and attentive, with a knowledge of the menu that was truly impressive. They were able to answer all of my questions and offer recommendations that perfectly suited my tastes.

In terms of ambiance, Adam's strikes the perfect balance between formal and casual dining. The décor is elegant and sophisticated, but the atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming. It's the kind of place where you can enjoy a fine dining experience without feeling intimidated or out of place.

As I finished my meal and reluctantly made my way to the door, I couldn't help but think about when I would be able to return to Adam's. There were so many more dishes on the menu that I wanted to try, so many more flavors and textures to explore. I left feeling satisfied yet eager for more, a sure sign of a truly exceptional dining experience.

In conclusion, Adam's restaurant in Old Windsor is a true gem. With its focus on quality, creativity, and technical brilliance, it offers a dining experience that is truly unforgettable. I cannot recommend it highly enough and I can't wait to go back and discover even more of what this amazing restaurant...