Caravan Covent Garden Restaurant — Restaurant in London

I visited on a dull afternoon in the hopes of eating something nice amd cracking on with some studying. I was welcomed by someone friendly and found a table near a power outlet. I was offered water, guided to the bathrooms and made to feel at home. So far, so good.

I ordered in my own time, my order arrived swiftly and the food was delicious. A minor point to raise is that of the side of chorizo being one tiny piece cut in half. I may be understandinf if it was two large pieces or three small pieces but one small piece cut into two even smaller pieces is funny. For £3.00, it's cheeky. No one checked back as I was wearing headphones so it was nice that me not wanting to be disturbed was respected. As a host in a restaurant myself, I noticed some of the staff planning which tables to allocate to a large table and asked them what time the table I was seated at was required. I learned that it wasn't for another hour and I could move to any other table which was great.

I ordered dessert and continued studying. 15 minutes before the time that the table was required, I was going to ask to move so the team could prepare for the large party's arrival. Before I managed to, I was informed that the party had cancelled so I could stay for as long as I wanted. That was fantastic.

Of course, I was going to continue ordering throughout the evening as I was comfortable and so the restaurant didn't have me as a sort-of nonpaying guest. Half an hour later, I ordered a drink with someone and they returned to tell me it was not available. Not to worry. I tried to order a second drink only to find out that it was only served until a certain time. It was annoying but rules are rules. I asked for some more time to decide what else I wanted. I later ordered yet another different drink from a different server who informed the server for the sections I was seated in. Great communication skills. The server for my section arrived at my table to tell me that what I had ordered was not available. Immediately, I requested the check.

Whilst a restaurant is not an obvious place to study, I consider certain restaurants as nice third spaces. When I didn't have to, I was proactive in requesting what I could do to assist the team and polite throughout my stay. I completely understand when something is out of stock but to interrupt my studying three times to order then have it interrupted another three times to find out my orders could not be fulfilled is extremely annoying. On what appeared to be a quiet afternoon and evening, surely stock of multiple drinks should not be that low. I speak from experience. Ultimately, I paid and left. I would've stayed for another few hours, ordered more drinks, snacks and dinner, but I had already been put off. I didn't want to order something else and be told that too was out of stock.

I will acknowledge that my request to remove service charge, the logic being that it was the same amount as what I wanted to order cost, was fulfilled and a discount applied as an apology. It was gratefully received but being able to fulfill orders and communicate exactly what wasn't available would've been even better. Finally, the service from the team was quite good so I may return...

Layton (the manager in the Hawaiian shirt) was so rude!! I couldn’t tell whether he was rascist or just a horrible person with no customer service qualities. We had been sat in the outside seating area and wanted to move indoors so we could get another drink and some food, however Layton didn’t even ask us if we were planning to eat and instead pointed over at these tiny stools by the window that were obviously meant for just drinks. I politely asked if we could sit somewhere with chairs with a back due to having a back injury and needing the support and he huffed and pointed to the bar (which also didn’t have supportive seats and again you can’t eat food there)! Then we went over to the bar and I tried to sit on the seat and instead asked the worker at the bar if we could move to a table which he was more than happy to say yes to (as the restaurant was very empty). We started walking to a table to which Layton asked us what we were doing and I responded explaining that his colleague had said it was alright to sit at one of the empty tables. He kissed his teeth, stormed over to the table nearest the door and took away the plates and cutlery (again without asking if we wanted to eat). He didn’t provide us with any menus and we had to ask his colleague if we could order again. At this point due to the disgusting service we decided it was best to just get another drink and not eat due to the already awful service. The other colleague was very lovely it just happened to be the manager that had no customer service skills, which is very concerning. Layton, please do better and actually be welcoming towards your black customers, as when older white customers walked into the restaurant you were happy to sit them anywhere (again not asking if they were eating) and the attitude in you seemed to leave. Also please leave your lighter out of sight from customers, it’s quite unprofessional walking around with it in...

8 of us booked for a table, a large sharing starter arrived which looked like a plate of vomit. I ordered pan fried fish, £25 for approximately 4 square inches of cod!!! Served in a breakfast DISH it sat on a vinegary sauce, covered with wild cress so the fish could not be seen until the cress was moved, no other vegetables. It was cold and I sent it back. It was returned with a fresh piece only 2 inches square, again covered in a huge amount of cress hiding the small piece! What happened to the rest? One of our party ordered a Pizza, it came along with my fresh mouthful, some had already finished their meal. When the bill came, over £250 a service charge had been added. We refused to pay it. Some time later the waitress came back asking why we had refused the tip. She already knew my fish was cold and the pizza was very late, but someone had sent her. We explained why, but was still charged the full amount for the measly piece of cod, no discount and the very late pizza. We did not recommend to friends who were trying the place the following day. They cancelled their booking. That gives at least 12 people not going there, loss of trade. The whole restaurant looked as if the building work was unfinished. The plasterwork was dropping off, leaving bricks underneath showing, and other poor decor. The place wasn't very warm, and the unisex toilets were down a long...