Minel Meze & Grill (King’s Arms) — Restaurant in Gravesham

Well what a disastrous evening spent here. Dismal service, poor description of the menu choices and unacceptable delays between courses all rounded off with argumentative and confrontational staff!

Perhaps I should elaborate. We arrived for our 7pm reservation but with one of our party delayed, having come direct from work and cought up in traffic, we were not asked if we wished to order any drinks until the last of our party arrived.

Barely had we ordered drinks another of the team asked if we were ready to order. The last to arrive had only that moment opened the menu. Wow, how little attention they pay to their guests!

Drinks arrived and starters followed soon enough. When we were ready to refresh our drinks I was able to attract the attention of our waitress. Immediately after the adjacent party on the next table also spoke out but rather than serve each of us in turn the waitress diverted her attention to the adjacent table immediately whilst I and my party were kept waiting even though we had sought assistance first.

Thereafter our main course didn’t arrive for more than 1 hour after we had concluded our first course. Even then the delivery of the main course dishes was staggered with little attempt to coordinate. One meal was teppid whilst another was excessively hot at the base of the dish where seemingly it had been kept on a heating device to long. As for my own it was excessively flavoured with garlic with absolutely no mention of this dominant ingredient in the menu description. Whilst I can tolerate an amount garlic I always avoid dishes strongly or dominantly flavoured with garlic. So seeing creamy chicken and no mention of garlic on the menu I thought, it turns out wrongly, was a safe choice.

When asked that perennial question is everything OK I would normally just let it pass with a benign acceptance. However, I just couldn’t accept the combined failings. I drew to the attention of the server the issues from my perspective.

Whilst offered a replacement for my own meal others in my party were well into their meals. I had come out with my family to have a meal together. I could not see the point in eating separately now!

At the conclusion of the evening it was difficult to attract the attention of any member of staff. I did point out that they should present a bill for what they thought was reasonable. I was given a bill for everything with the exception of my own meal. I asked if they thought it was reasonable to seek full payment for all other elements of our order given the failure of their ability to prepare the food acceptably and in a timely manner.

Whilst a curt apology was offered when questioned if they really felt that it was acceptable to seek full payment an argumentative excuse was the go to reaction! I accept that I should pay what is asked. I think, however, that the abject failure to accept any culpability for the disastrous service and poor food preparation was sufficient for this overpriced establishment to consider more keenly their bill.

Needless to say I won’t be back and I recommend others consider if they can bring...

Absolutely awful, table booked for 8.30,arrived in good time to a very confused manager who wandered around trying to find a table for us. We were squeezed in next to a raucous party of 18 who were already upset about their level of service. We were served drinks and ordered from the menu. After half an hour we asked what had happened to our starters and were told that they were busy! An hour and 10 minutes later the starters arrived. My prawns were overcooked as was my friends ONE small piece of Dunlop calamari. Comments about the food were brushed off with faint apologies.The mains arrived with cold veg,undercooked ( not al dented but raw) "fillet"steak was not fillet steak and was served medium rather than rare as ordered. Monkfish was overcooked and rubbery,underseasoned and bland. House special "iskender" was forgettable and prawn pasta was passable but for£20 my partner expected more than 3 small prawns.I know that I can get 3Kg of king prawns fresh at market for that. When we voiced our complaints to management we were given a litany of excuses- only 2 kitchen staff,a big party of unhappy customers, and that it was Saturday and they were busy? They won't be busy with my custom again. Apologies are acceptable, excuses are not particularly when they highlight the...

This was our first visit so we were a bit unsure as to what sort of experience we would have…well ….very happy to say it was excellent. We were greeted by friendly staff who were role models in customer service through our whole meal, very helpful, very friendly and always on hand if we needed anything. They were called Nikola and Natalia and made a big contribution to the enjoyment of our dining experience. There was a large choice on the menu and the portions were very generous. After ordering we were given some flatbreads with two sauces, one garlic and one chilly. This was a lovely amuse bouche whilst waiting for the main courses. These came after a sensible time gap having been freshly cooked. Both meals were excellent and we were extremely happy with the quality. On the wind down after finishing the meal and waiting for the bill, the young ladies serving us asked if we would like to try, on the house, a speciality they do which was Baklava, this came on two portions with ice cream, what a lovely gesture! We thought the price for all the meal was sensible and delighted to say we will be returning again soon. Thanks again to...