Ye Olde Smack — Restaurant in England

This had a positive vibe when we first got there, it's a rarity in Essex to find a place to eat that welcomes dogs and at first glance it seemed that every group had at least 1 dog but that is the only reason it's got any stars at all! We met family there, 6 of us and 3 dogs. All the big tables had gone so we sat over 2 tables. It was busy so we accepted the fact that our 6 roast dinners (nothing that should have been a challenge!!) were going to take an hour. Just under an hour the 1st 2 meals came up, 1 went to one end and the other went the other end on the other table number. We then waited, the waitress came back to ask how it was, we couldn't answer as we hadn't started! After 10 minutes, with the food cold we started. We finished. A new group came in on a near by table, then they got their order!! 40 minutes after the 1st 2 meals were finished the other 4 were bought to us! After that wait the meals should have been excellent but the beef was tough, the chicken over cooked, the veg didn't seem to have been cooked at all! 3 tiny bits of potatoes were solid and half the yorkshire puddings were burnt, the others raw and, confusingly, some were both burnt and raw!! One of the plates had an abundance of chicken and only 1 feeble slice of beef and another had the opposite!! I almost laughed when i saw the sign for christmas.....I begrudged paying £15 for a badly cooked, badly organised and late dinner! I'm quite sure the managers will more than double the price for a meal at christmas and my only advice would be order now and pre-eat! I just go through £30+ into the bin, it'll be just as...

We pre-booked a festive lunch for our work Christmas lunch. When we arrived, the barman just looked at us. We said we’d come for our pre-booked lunch. He pointed to a table in the corner and said sit over there. So we sat for 30 minutes and no one came with our food. We went to the bar and got told they don’t do table service and we have to order at the bar. But we had pre-booked our food online and paid £20 deposit. Eventually they understood and went to cook our food . Another 30 mins past and the price of drinks were extortionate. The tables were old worn and shoddy . No effort made for Christmas lunches . Not even a table cloth or cracker. The toilets were even less desirable , no locks on doors and looked like a few punch ups had gone on in there. The food came and it was lovely. Then we went to pay and they didn’t know how to split the bill. We stood for about 40 mins while the man worked out how to use the till. In the end one of us paid, but they didn’t not take off my £20 deposit and said it would be refunded to my card , which they swiped.

A few hours later I get a call asking me to go in to collect £20 cash. I was long gone by then as it’s a 30-40 minute drive from me. I have had no time to go and get it and why should I when diesel and parking would cost nearly £20. I have emailed them to ask for them to refund to my card and had no reply. Let’s just say the service was so shocking that I won’t...

Best thing about this place is the staff, they're friendly, attentive and pretty decent at managing a busy crowd for UK standards. But I can't shake the feeling that the Smack is suffering from an identity crisis... it's part sports bar, part trad ale house/pub, part gastro (generous) and part Spoons, and you can tell. If they could scrap the spoons/sports vibe and commit to something the whole area is sorely lacking they'd really be onto something.

Beer selection is a bit meh, could do with stocking the local brewery (maybe they can't), but their 'craft' selection isn't up to the standard it could be. Neck Oil on tap always a plus. Dog friendly, very roomy inside, attracts a nice crowd (from my experience) but the fruit machine and carpets could go. Food is uninspiring and below par, kids meals are an insult to any parent with half a mind to cook a decent meal and eating from the main menu has always left me disappointed.

But honestly, I don't really go to enjoy meals there (I'd like to more often, but not with the current offering), it's the location (right on the water, great views from the rear deck), lovely staff and the fact that the Peterboat attracts the loud and obnoxious fake tan brigade away from here that keeps me coming back. It's the best offering in Old Leigh but I think they should be streets ahead of the...