The Old Garages — Restaurant in England

The Old Garages has some wonderful reviews on Google, so I feel as though perhaps my own visit was a bit of an off day for them. I've been a few times before and I could never quite make up my mind about the place, it's a very small venue with most of the seating on the raised balcony so perhaps not the best place if you have trouble negotiating stairs. It's also expensive when compared to other cafes in the area and to me expensive can mean 'good' in a comforting sort of way that means you are going to get a great experience in both service and food. But, personally I can't quite help but feel this has never been the case with the Old Garages. On this occasion I went with a colleague and we ordered a tea, an Americano, Pastrami sandwich and baked eggs. The drinks arrived which were drunk in fifteen minutes. OK, one thinks the food will follow shortly but after 30 minutes you start to wonder if they've missed your order somehow. So next comes that really awful part where you have to go and find someone and apologetically ask if they know when your food will be coming. When told it takes 30 minutes to bake the eggs one wonders whether that might have been a useful bit of information to give in advance to a customer when ordering such food? So forty minutes in and the food finally arrives. Was it any good? Would it make up for the long wait? Wish I could say yes but mine was served in a small ceramic bowl that was heated to the temperature of the sun and sadly was mostly tomato. When going to pay the young assistant seemed to make a point of distinctly not asking if everything was alright with the meal and just billed me for £23.95. Without that opening dialogue you just become too embarrassed to say anything. So, as I said at the beginning, perhaps it was an off day for them, but to me it missed the mark somewhat and on this occasion cost and service hadn't quite gone hand in hand. Would I return? Probably not. Would I recommend it? Hmmm? Give it a go, especially if you are not limited to your lunch break.

ADDITION; Having read the reply from Adam at the Old Garages it is important to reiterate two key points. Firstly, as in my original text, one takes comfort from a place that is generally priced higher than the local competition since it is usually a guaranteed of a higher quality of service. Secondly, Adam has made the mistake of assuming that my previous visits were positive ones. I regret to say they were not, but to leave a review without visiting a venue several times beforehand would be deeply unfair to anyone.

Adam kindly asked me to contact him with a view to 'welcoming me back', for which I was more than happy to do. I duly sent off two emails to the address supplied, included my telephone number and asked him to give me a call (much nicer to speak to people direct don't you think?). Sadly I have not received a reply to date which is a...

Well I travelled here because I liked the concept, wasn't what I thought unfortunately. The cups couldn't get any smaller (great for boiled egg) overpriced for what it was,cheesecake🫣like blancmange with NO flavour at all. Woman took away dirty dishes but didn't give tables a wipe🤯😷,no napkin given out with order. The atmosphere was AWFUL, closed at 4pm but they were cleaning the toilets and putting bins out at 3.20pm🤔💩 seriously made to feel not welcome. Music to loud,but not as loud as woman on till.....her voice echoed over the music and up into the rafters. Would NOT RETURN.... All the seating was low, came up to your lower back I think this was the plan so you don't stay long........ uncomfortable all round sadly....I hope this feedback makes people think.... P.s...clean your tables 🤯🫣

Hi Adam,

Thanks for your reply, as you mentioned the table I sat at was huge,so if cleaned with a cloth it wouldn't have affected me in the slightest. I'd rather it be cleaned or myself being asked if okay to clean it. It wasn't just my table, I didn't see a cloth anytime I was there. I had spoken to the server over the cheesecake and about having doubts! I have worked myself in catering for many years and if that was me serving I would of checked on the customer to see if it was liked etc. yes I give feedback, I really appreciate people who go above and beyond, and make you feel welcome. Good service is rare these days so I always compliment when I receive it, and unfortunately if not great, then they get a lesser review. I understand over closing at 4, I can appreciate that everyone wants to go home, but it's not nice having the mop propped outside the toilet 30 minutes before closing time.

All the best for...

I very rarely leave bad reviews but I have to say that I am incredibly dissapointed with my visit today.

Not baby friendly at all: Gravel approach was almost impossible to wheel pushchair up (god help anyone who uses a wheelchair!); I walked in from Wilmslow and didn't drive and park in the small carpark, appreciate this is largely outside of the control of management, is there any way to implement a path to the side perhaps? I was unable to bring my pushchair inside due to a sign on the door saying policy is to leave all outside (there was not a dedicated secure or covered area to leave said pushchair, had to leave in front of the window). I was unable to eat my food properly as needed to hold baby with one hand and eat with the other.... My baby is unable to go into a highchair as she is too young so was relying on the pram to put her down.

The food was terrible... I ordered a chicken BLT and was very disappointed that this consisted of two slices of bread, a whole solid piece of chicken breast (semi-sliced... Unseasoned, and dry), a lettuce leaf, one piece of bacon and a couple of tomato slices.. And what seemed like half a jar's worth of mayonnaise. That was it... All for the extortionate price of £9.50. I feel robbed.

I was asked if everything was okay when paying and I did mention that I wasn't happy with the sandwich... I was told that my comments would be passed on to the chef... Not really good enough in my opinion.

The posh Earl Grey tea was...