The Punch Bowl Inn, Crosthwaite — Restaurant in England

UPDATE: we had a call the next day from a lovely lady at The Punch Bowl. Everything about the way she spoke to my husband was completely different from last night and we felt this person really loved their Inn and was gutted for our experience. The concern and apologies resonated and we were very surprised to receive this call. We have been invited back but sadly don't live nearby and their availability this week doesn't match but we have an invite for another trip. Feeling much better about the whole situation even if it doesn't fix it. Did not enjoy feeling like the enemy last night. Leaving review at 2 stars for original experience, but wanted to share. ORIGINAL REVIEW: We had a great meal here years ago and were excited to revisit. Really sorry to be leaving a bad review but we had a very poor experience at dinner. Firstly, despite a short menu, 2 of the items we ordered were unavailable, and we were only told after we tried to order. Then we tried to order wines from the short wine list, again 2 not available. The manager said he was sorry but was super unhelpful in finding us an alternative to the light style we needed to go with the variety of courses we had. The worst though was the attitude, although the word sorry was used, there was this obstructive attitude telling us it was bank holiday Monday as if that justifies the missing food and wine (don't remember getting a special Monday rate!) and then telling us they don't have space to store wine. Basically, they are not interested in changing their methods so don't go there at the end of a weekend. Then came the starters, 3 of us had cheese souffles. They were wierd and unpleasant. I'm kicking myself I didn't take a picture because all 3 were unsauced (apparently these were supposed to be twice baked, second time with cheesy creamy sauce). Well, this is not what we had, we all had dry skillets, a good textured but completely bland egg white with a crispy coat and a small amount of melted cheese on top. No sauce, not creamy, not buttery, not cheesy, in fact, the worst thing being the taste of what seemed to be super hot fried oil. Never had an oily souffle before and it left an unpleasant taste. It was only when I went to look at reviews online between courses that I saw all these pics of their soufflé, all in the same skillet, all sauced.... So I showed this to the manager who listened, who apologised, but again, not sure what for because there was no conceding that we had been served this incorrectly. The mains btw were all good, the risotto was very nice (0 truffle as per menu) but well made, nice chive oil and pickled kohlrabi flowers. Accomplished. My mother had lamb and husband guinea fowl, both looked good and apparently tasted really good too. Desserts, again, good. Somebody here can cook. We had a short interaction with manager again when the bill came with a 10% discount. We thanked them for this (it didn't quite cover the cost of the soufflés, but it was something). We still paid £240 for this dinner. My 2 stars is for the service, a good attitude and an actual interest in our experience could have salvaged our miserable evening driven by a combative attitude from their leadership. Instead, to sum up, when at the end I asked if he had gotten to the bottom of what happened to our soufflés (genuinely curious... Was it a mistake? Were they out of ingredients? Did they forget to bake it again with sauce?) The answer came from the manager 'I spoke to the kitchen about the issue, they haven't come across it'. Come across it??? I think that...

Gorgeous place which is full of potential however we had a bad experience which left us with an awful taste in our mouths. We choose to stay there for our wedding and booked the noble suite. On my arrival I was greeted with a very rude statement "you're not getting married are you? You look about 15" . She then walked off and left me to walk around looking for someone to show me to my room and check in.

I was then left in my room. I felt a little deflated. This was the weekend of my wedding and I already felt like an inconvenience. That evening my brother and mother joined me and my bridesmaid for drinks in the bar after we had spent all day decorating our venue. My mother , who was also staying in the punch bowl had already said to me that she was uncomfortable checking in as the lady at the desk looked at her like she had two heads. We were then asked to pay our tab early , no one else in the bar was asked to pay theirs which the gentlemen next to us exclaimed that he felt it was a little odd as he had stayed here a few times and never witnessed that before.

The next morning my mother who has severe anxiety , would not come down for breakfast. She was anxious about the day and also felt like she was beeing judged by the staff and began to have a panic attack on the stairs. The receptionist then came and tried to pick her off the stairs as she was "blocking the way for people wanting their breakfast" . I took her to her room and I asked the chef if she could have some food in her room. Which he was happy to provide , however when I took the food for her I was told snootily by the receptionist "no food in room as a strict rule she is not to have any food in there " .

Now this is the morning of my wedding. I am feeling stressed already and this women was seriously causing me and my mother serious concern. We had paid for bed and breakfast , that is what we expected. I had seen many plates from people having room service outside our room next door? So why was it allowed for others and not us?

At no point did anyone ever come and ask if we needed anything at the morning of the wedding. I did not feel special in the least. In fact when our wedding camper van turned up the receptionist face was a complete picture. Nostrils were flared.

The morning after the wedding me and my new husband had to deal with a very stressed and emotional mother who wanted to leave and not stay in the hotel anymore because of how uncomfortable she had been made to feel. In the morning again she could not come down for breakfast. I again spoke to the kitchen staff who said they could give her some porridge and we could take some continental bits from the breakfast bar , we took her some small breads and left for her in her room . While she bathed the receptionist came into her room and took the food out! And shouted to my mum "no food in the rooms I have told you before" . Now we are not by any means "well off" we had saved for a long time for this treat and will certainly never be going again. It left a bad feeling on my wedding weekend, one weekend which is supposed to be the best in your life. I have never been treated like this before, I have had better service at a premier Inn!

Absolutely appalled that the managed never returned my call after I had left a complaint verbally with a member of staff and over the phone. They should have time and patience for all customers not just the ones that turn up in a Bentley and top hat. Extremely disappointed...

Disappointed on so many levels. A friend lives local & had always intended to take us & we happened to be passing. What we found was a limited menu, wine lists galore at a price. I went traditional with roast beef : seemed appropriate for a Sunday lunch. The beef was amongst the finest I’ve eaten in a restaurant, but swimming in a salt brine gravy. The Kale was to the point of inedible: so salty, as too was the Yorkshire pudding. Who wants to spoil a meal & complain with food in front of them? (My partner was enjoying his fish!) And, I could never send a plate back to a kitchen: not unless I didn’t want to eat anymore! I did eat all of the 2 ! Roast potatoes (premium prices here!) But, I did make comment after we had finished. Apparently, this went back to the kitchen & it was suggested by the head waiter that there had indeed been a mix up in the kitchen: many chefs spoil the seasoning! But, here is the rub! The bill was presented in request & no more ado! Sorry, but there are ways of sorting uphappy customers out. It was left to myself to take issue. (Now, very much to my partner annoyance : who never wants to complain & especially on a birthday lunch treat!). Granted after much discussion, amends were made! A return of a sum to my card). But, then we left having words with each other as to having complained! Not the outcome we wanted on a birthday! And as to the response of hoping to have us revisit: no way! Frankly, bitterly disappointed. Accidents do happen : but the customer needs to be happy. And why chefs put salt on top of a plate of food in 2022 : when we have all been trying not to use salt for the last 20 years! Even a chippy requests wether the customer would like salt &...