The Bowling Green — Restaurant in Lichfield

First visit a few weeks ago, we had a good big duo of roasts but had to ask for our puddings after waiting over 20mins after finishing mains (we'd ordered them together on the app for the discount). Overall the food was really good and we were happy.

Went again today and were greeted by a sign to say they were on a reduced menu which is fine. Straight away it wasn't as good as last time, the staff were uncomfortably close to us chatting after we'd just sat down by the beautiful open fire. So we moved to another table. This table hadn't been cleaned so we did it ourselves. It also turned out to be very chilly there so we sat with our coats on waiting for food as the radiator next to us was off.

We ordered from the app again but just the mains to save the hassle. Waited 30mins (was only 10mins max last time) for 2x duo of roast again (£11.79 each) which barely filled half the plate, it was embarrassing, the waitress couldn't have left quicker after putting the plates down. Last time there was plenty of meat, this time only one slice of turkey and one slice of beef (which was tough this time). There was no mash, pigs in blankets or stuffing which the app says there is and there was last time. Veg was rock hard, inedible. There must have been a gravy ration as well, someone next to us had to ask for more.

If we'd known it was only half the meal available, we'd have ordered something else but the app did not say anything, and neither did the staff despite there being several opportunities to (when the order went through, putting the cutlery down, bringing drinks).

The staff are neither friendly or unfriendly, very much just getting through the day trying not to talk to anyone other than each other, loudly.

The image is the full meal before anything had been eaten, that's the entire pot of gravy on the meal too.

Sorry to say after an initial good meal and a majorly disappointing second meal, we won't be visiting again and I suggest you...

Poor food, big regrets.

The service was truly awful (in full transparency, we left no tip because of it). It was a Sunday afternoon, so we expected it to be busy. We got seated on a table that had recently been vacated with the previous customers glasses and plates on the table - this was no issue. We piled them up and put them to one side of the table - in the 4 subsequent waiter dropping by times. These were not cleared!!! We received our mains while still having the previous customers contents to our left….

However, after ordering at the bar and paying up front for our mains (3x “Posh” fish and chips - that were definitely not posh). We received them without the tartare sauce (which we had to ask for..) We didn’t receive cutlery - we had to ask for this additionally. We didn’t receive serviettes - we had to ask for this additionally. We didn’t receive the burger order correctly, it was missing toppings from advertised.

We were never asked how our food was.. or if we could use any more drinks or sauces or in fact any service at all from a rude food drop off. The “waiter” dropped the food off and was not at all bothered about any form of customer service.

That is the terrible service rounded off.

Even for the bar side - not restaurant. Truly one of the worst I have experienced in a long while.

Now the food!! At £14 each for the mains, you’d expect more than a teaspoon of mushy peas for your fish and chips and a smattering of overcooked, rock hard chips.. however, the expectations were obviously too high!!

To top this off, all of the party who ate there now have delicate stomachs to be polite…

I do not like posting negative reviews and I usually like to share positive ones.. ultimately, I would never go this venue again unless with someone I truly did not like.

Thanks for reading. Looking at other reviews, sadly - this is not a one off. Wish I’d read more before we...

The manager at this pub is incompetent, she is quite rude, and sarcastic. I’ve had to get in touch higher up to complain, and looking at the reviews it’s not just me. I have never been here before, until today between 3-4PM - and I have given a date and time. Nothing wrong with the food, very lovely.

As a brief explanation - I went to the bar to order food for 4 guests. In total 3 meals, 1 side and 1 drink. I paid for the food, but I thought it seemed too much. Checked prices on the menu, seemed to be overcharged. I went to the bar to query it, a young gentleman served me and was helpful. The food had been set up at a different table, and extras added on. I.E - two extra portions of chips.

Prior to ordering - I ordered two beef lasagnas - and the lady who served me, I now presume to be the manager from her email response asked “Would you like chips with that” - so I said yes for both of them, assuming they came with the dish - Not making me aware that they were extra. The gentleman was proceeding with a refund for them and she approaches not me, but the one serving me and said “I put that through, what’s wrong with it?” In a rude manner, completely ignoring me, and overall a very confrontational attitude towards me despite only politely asking and not causing a fuss.

I received an email this evening - explaining her disappointment with the feedback and wondering why I hadn’t made my issues aware whilst I was there. I made my issue aware with regards the added charges - but there seemed no point complaining to someone who would have had no intention of listening to the feedback about her customer service skills anyway - as perceived by the reviews, and her response to my concerns.

Good food - just order from the app....