Driftwood Cafe — Restaurant in Havant

Had a very strange experience here back in the spring. Luckily we didn’t have a problem getting seated but being sat right by the entrance was definitely an eye-opener! A lady who i assume to be the manager was a real stickler for the rules, the atmosphere was so uncomfortable as groups of people - including some elderly people - were being left to wait out in the cold wind for a table to be cleaned (table was clear, it could’ve been sprayed and wiped with people sat down at it surely, have some sense). All sorts of excuses about the door needing to be shut because it was a fire door. The manager was so clearly enraged by people asking to sit down rather than wait outside she moved the sign right in the middle of the entrance that obstructed the fire door anyway! We watched lots of people just give up and walk away. It was honestly so distracting and impossible to have a conversation about anything other than what was going on - kind of entertaining but not what I went out to lunch with a friend for! I’ve never seen someone with such bad people skills, no concerns about customer service only about maintaining the self imposed rules of their business. The girls who actually served us were very nice and seemed to have the difficult job of overcompensating for their manager’s total hostility to her customers. The food was fine - not as good as the identical menu at the Pavilion, and that combined with the extremely tense atmosphere, bizarre code of conduct and the farcical things I had no choice but to watch unfold I don’t think I’ll be back, lol. Thanks for the free...

A chicken and bacon panini was ordered ( crispy bacon) a tiny piece of bacon the size of your finger nail was in it , I’d eaten half of it thinking this hasn’t got bacon in it , when I asked “ shouldn’t there be bacon in this ?”

I was told they would bring me another complete dish.

The waitress returned and said as I’d eaten so much of the panini ( half of one of the two panini) they would only bring some bacon for the side .

So basically the half I’d eaten , I get a bit of bacon to eat separately and the other one , i would get I could “ put into the other one I hadn’t eaten “

I thought this wasn’t a good solution and I thought the waitress was a bit rude .

If you aren’t giving someone any bacon in a chicken and bacon panini , you don’t offer a side bit of bacon to make you own panini and then get annoyed at the customer because they don’t like that idea .

It’s not my fault you didn’t put bacon in in the first place , it’s your fault and should have brought out a new one out without all this hassle in the first place .

By the way the person sitting to our left , sent a cake back twice , as it was too dry .

I know there are good reviews for this cafe , but just be careful you keep your standards up ,or more of these reviews will start to come in and your “ good reputation “ won’t be good for long

I was not impressed with the attitude or service I was there at 11.43am...

We visited this previously pleasant coffee shop but we’re greeted with a rather surly young man. Neither friendly or accommodating when we asked if we could have fresh tomato or salad with our bacon sarni. Nothing was possible. Nothing was said nicely or politely. Nothing was close to a service from him tbh. We deliberated as it was 9.15am and we were hungry. We had our dog with us but decided we’d try somewhere else. Left with the same surly manner we had experienced earlier upon entry. About half an hour later we’d realised we’d left our dog thrower on the floor so when back to collect it. The harsh manager (black haired bob) announced that we’d left it and Stef thrown it away. After all she couldnt keep ALL the dogs toys that we’re left. Could she?!!! Wow. I was astounded. She wasn’t apologetic. She wasn’t polite and she was just rude and unhelpful. She threw it away and that was that. E European and lacking in our sift service standards perhaps? No apology no care no interest In apologising or helping. Unbelievable. What a shame. A previous visit I’d complimented them. This time the owner should know how rude your staff can be As did other customers who witnessed the incident. Just downright rude, unkind and uncaring. Try working in another industry perhaps? Treat people with respect....