The Yard Mediterranean Restaurant — Restaurant in England

Very Very Disappointed. I always read reviews, & this place seemed perfect for our anniversary lunch. We Had an online table for two booked, at 2pm lunch time on Saturday, requested a window seat, mentioned it was our Anniversary. They take card details at the time of booking, if you don't notify them of a cancelation they charge your card accordingly. Upon Arrival, we saw we were the only ones there. It felt cold, as if no heating had been on. A scruffy looking man poked his head round the corner, from what I can only assume is the kitchen area at the side of the bar. He told us to sit anywhere, didn't ask our name, or if we had a reservation. There was one table for 2 by the window, ( which I'd requested) So we sat at that table, only to notice that it had 2 dirty water glasses and a half drunk bottle of water on it. As this was the only table by the window for 2 people, I moved them onto the table next door. We were expecting a table to be laid up for us, having made the booking in advance, as this was the only table for 2 by the window, surely this one was ours ? A young lad appeared, gave us menus and asked what we'd like to drink. I asked him if he'd like to know who we were, as I didn't want our card to be charged for a Non show !! He didn't seem that bothered to know who we were. We Ordered 2 Sea Bas and 2 deserts. The food got placed in front of us. within seconds we both realised that both our fish was raw in the middle. I had to take both meals back up to the bar to show the raw fish. The dishes got taken off me and back into the kitchen. After being Re-Heated, the fish was cooked, but the potatoes were just Luke warm. The meal consisted of, Steamed fish ( no flavour ) sliced potatoes & cherry tomatoes, all covered in an oil that wasn't pleasant at all. Far too much oil made it all very greasy, and the oil was the overriding taste .I had to go and ask for salt & pepper, as none was on the table and we weren't asked if we wanted any. Neither of us could finish the meal. The dirty glasses and water bottle that I moved onto the next table. stayed there for the duration of our visit, despite me telling the waiter id moved them onto that table. It was a good job no one came in to sit at that table ! The lad who served us, was pleasant enough, but had on dirty jeans, with spilled liquid and food stains down his legs. Not what you would expect from a waiter serving front of house. The restaurant was cold, un inviting, with absolutely no atmosphere. I can understand why no one else was there, if this was the standard of food. We could have said we'd go somewhere else after realising quite early on, that we weren't getting the food or service that we expected after reading the reviews, but my husband has Parkinsons, and to try and find somewhere else, nice to eat on a Saturday lunch time would of been too much for him. I did suggest it, but my husband became anxious they would still charge us. So we Reluctantly stayed. The meal was nothing like we expected, the whole experience was awful. We reluctantly paid the £25 per head, but came out feeling angry, disappointed and we certainly didn't get value for money. If any one is thinking of going to this restaurant, I would seriously advise against it, as you really do not get the food or service that is mentioned in the reviews. Maybe its changed hands, I don't know, but I do know, our meal was very sub Standard.

To not be greeted by someone when you walk in, and shown to your table. To not even have a table laid up ready for you, even after booking on line in advance, with a request for a window seat. To be told to sit anywhere, by someone who could have been the cleaner for all we know. To be served a dish that wasn't cooked properly, and had raw fish that needed to be sent back. To be served a meal that was Luke warm, swimming in oil. To be served by someone wearing dirty jeans.

Does this sound like somewhere you'd...

We never actually managed to eat here

But please

Save yourself the stress

Management (the owner?!) are rude, abusive and can't take criticism.

We got no confirmation of our reservation so didn't realise it had gone through, so we tried to walk in and got turned away. Walked the length of Chester and recieved a phone call to ask where we were. When I explained the response was literally "our mistake" and the phone went down. Given that it had taken 3 phone calls to get to that point I wasn't up for not eating for even longer so I could go back and criticise their lack of customer service in person. It would have been nice to hear "well we have your table until... if you want to come?" Nope. Nothing. So we did a trip advisor. Nothing vicious, just a comment that we had actually wanted to go so that they knew there was a communication problem and could maybe iron out the kinks to earn more money (because they wouldn't give us our table so I'm guessing it sat empty).

I got a response of "what a pathetic, immature review. Merry Christmas. My partner was incensed by this and wrote a review of his own again simply reiterating the facts and stating that he felt that this response was unwarranted.

This time round he recieved abusive personal messages calling us a "sad low life couple" who "make him sick" He is offended that we "affected his reputation" without even eating at the yard.

He doesn't seem to understand that his attitude creates his reputation and that abusing prospective customers is not the way to earn money and a good reputation.

Shame really. Under other circumstances we could have been going back to try the yard. We...

I had heard amazing stories from the yard however after my experience last week I left feeling disappointed and robbed.

Ordered padrón peppers which had Chinese’s salt and pepper seasoning on.. Why would you butcher a classic dish? advice from one head chef to another- needs lemon/lime juice and Maldon salt.

Half of your menu was 86’d on a Friday night which is ridiculous. When we ordered the carbonara (clearly made with cream) you added egg yolks and overcooked them so I basically ate packet spaghetti with scrambled egg.

Your server seemed uninterested in her customers. We ordered two glasses of wine that both had lipstick stains on them when we asked for them to be replaced the server came back with 2 fresh glasses still covered in lipstick stains.

Your bartender/manager was arrogant and should spend less time sat with tables and bothering guests and more time maintaining your restaurant’s standards, orders and food/ drink quality.

As a chef who’s worked in all avenues of hospitality, I’m pretty disappointed and felt robbed as I expected better, especially for the price and the small size of your menu. Most ingredients are clearly bought and not fresh which should be reflected in...