Journey Social — Restaurant in Lancaster

Although I really, really wanted to give a five star review, something happened today that forced me to write this bad review and give it two stars. I came to this restaurant this afternoon to dine with my best friend. As I had a 7 month old baby with me, we chose to sit outside and enjoy the afternoon sunshine so as not to disturb the customers in the shop and for fear of disturbing them. As soon as we had ordered and paid for our meal, we received a big 'surprise': from the first floor window, there was a sudden bang! A large white plastic tray fell straight down from the first floor and landed at our feet, touching my friend's arm, which was fortunately unharmed. I looked up and saw the window on the first floor wide open, someone was talking and after a while a man in a chef's hat came down, said to us briefly that he was sorry and then didn't even come out, just poked his body out of the door and put his hand out to take the tray away from the order taker. I didn't say much because my speaking wasn't too good and the person wasn't hurt. Then we both had to eat inside the restaurant for safety reasons. They never gave us any apology or explanation after that. Probably because we weren't hurt either. "We were lucky." The food was really very good but this is the kind of safety hazard that I feel I need to bring up, not only for me and my friend, my baby. Also for the safety of future customers who dine here. Because you never know what's going to fall next. If it was me sitting in my friend's seat today, with my child still in my arms, and it could very well be his head being smashed today, I really shudder to think what kind of consequences await me!!! I hope the merchants will pay attention, after all, safety is the first priority, and the fact that he is not allowed to pay cash. If you go there, remember to bring your card. Incidentally, the lady who greeted us was very nice, full of smiles, and also asked if I wanted a child's...

(Update: thank you for the sanctimonious lecture in the reply below. Indeed, how dare a customer move a table 10 feet to be out of the rain. Readers can be the judge if they're bored enough to read it, which they probably wouldn't have been if you'd just been nice about it.)

(Update #2: I looked through the other reviews and in fact you appear to respond to all criticisms with similar haughty rants "correcting" the customer's incorrect experience. It's a pity the owner like this, it lets down the lovely staff.)

(Update #3: your latest update raises council issues that nobody said anything about until now. Clearly your problem at the time was not council regulations, but some sense of righteous outrage against a customer moving a table next door to escape the rain (note: not in any way "down the street" as you claim).

Surprisingly bad experience :(

Ordered poached eggs "not too runny please" and they came out with the egg white (literally) flowing :(( staff took back and and kindly offered a coffee on the house, and i can safely say i would not be writing a post about it if not for the next bit.

I sat outside due to the no-laptop policy, which I 100% respect, but then it started to rain so i shifted myself under the eaves of the shop next door which is closed on Sundays. But then after a while someone who i guess was the manager of Journey comes out to ask me to move back out into the rain because they "couldn't do this to the owner"..... i.e. the absent owner of the closed store.

Fair enough I guess. Priorities or something. But that customer experience was what it was, and it...

Journey Social is one of the wave of small, independent, businesses in Lancaster that are providing a unique experience.

The food is a clever combination of European contemporary tastes (with a heavy Mediterranean slant) and well balanced flavours. It is gastro cafe food, cooked well and beautifully presented for a moderate price.

It is no surprise that the cafe is always busy and has a queue outside waiting for a seat. However, have no fear as the staff are well trained, polite and efficient and the food, all prepared to order, is cooked in good time. Even at a busy lunchtime we had a seat and a meal with only a fifteen minute wait.

To further elaborate on the staff, it is clear that the management of Journey Social pride themselves on good customer service. Staff were attentive and cheerful and really helped round the whole experience.

Expect to eat a good cafe meal with drinks for around £15-£20 per person. Don't forget to try one of the excellent cakes. If you are a coffee drinker I recommend both the Americano (black) or a flat white if you need...