Harvester Cricketers Croydon — Restaurant in London

This review is about what happened to us on arrival at The Crickets - the table service was good, but rather spoiled by the rudeness of staff on our arrival. I had booked a table for three for my birthday which was on the day we came. I had booked almost a week in advance in my name for 1 pm. We arrived inside your restaurant less than five minutes after 1 pm. But two of your staff were unable to find my booking in your computer and were unpleasant and rude despite my showing your booking confirmation and reminder on my phone. They were both unable to find my surname in your digital list of visitors, despite my having been the person who booked. We were told we had "turned up too early" despite the fact that we had arrived almost dead on 1 pm and certainly were not early. This was apparently because the table for us was not ready. Both I and my son, who is a professional Chef, found your staff uncaring and seemingly blaming us for their inability to find my name or to seat us. We just had to stand by the desk while they carried on looking for our booking. It took a third staff member to finally take us to a table - not apparently the table I had booked. At that point, we could see that our third member for lunch had already been seated and on the table that we had apparently booked. He had told your staff when he arrived shortly before us that the booking was in my name. This was an unpleasant start to what was intended as a celebration of my birthday; we did not sit down until 1.15 and your first two staff were unfriendly and unprofessional rather than apologetic, welcoming and helpful. I live close to The Crickers and have dined with you many times over the years, but I have never been treated like this by two of your staff members and it did spoil my enjoyment of my...

We went to yet another Harvester for a nice Saturday family birthday 🤗 just after restaurants were all ready to take their customers back in!! They had a planned layout for entry and exit. Dedicated areas for family with kids!! Such a help! They were following all precautions and had sanitisers and wipes available at desks.

So our entry to exit journey was as follows-

Entered through the door, were asked to sanitise our hands and fill in details for track and trace. One person for the family.

We were allocated a nice corner table with a high chair. ( We had made a prior reservation a day ago)

The table and chairs were all wiped down and drinks and food menus were placed on the table for us to order.

We were advised on hows the best way to order as they were taking orders in a certain format( all drink orders first, all food orders later)

The famous unlimited salad bar was not open to all access anymore... But a member of staff would accompany with each one of you and fill in the plates for you. ( They wanted to limit people using and lingering around the salad bar- very thoughtful) only one family at a time was allowed for this.

Our drinks and food arrived... And of course we gobbled it all... As it was yummm as always.

The payment was though the standard machine but they got it at your table so that limite people move around.

We were asked to exit from the assigned doors.

It was a very different sit down dine experience but it was well planned and executed! Kudos to the team😌

Hope this helps others planning to take the trip for some nice...

I wouldn't say that it's a particularly busy night. We came in and ordered our food at just after 5.

I ordered a double talisker Skye because that is what the server said that they had but then she came back and said that it's a new drink to their menu so they don't really have it yet.... So why add it to your menu and offer it and offer it to your customers.

Our burgers came out of the kitchen and to our table at 17:45.... 🤔🤔 I've been in the hospitality sector in both the bar and the kitchen and I have never known a burger to take more than 10 minutes especially when it's quiet.

My burger was cold (it had been left sitting at the pass for too long) and both my dad and my chips were cold because like the burgers they were left at the pass too long.

I hate to say this but I have a feeling that the reason why the food too so long was because the cooks were in the restaurant area doing arts and crafts rather than being in the kitchen which I personally don't agree with doing in the view of the customer. The server told me and my dad that they were cooked fresh but I knew that they weren't.

The second burger I got the bottom bun was not toasted at all because it basically fell apart in my hands.

Not the service Im used to expecting from here as I come here with my dad and nan a bit... But surprising.

To add insult to injury ... The Talisker that they didn't have they tried to charge me on my bill and if it wasn't for me noticing then I would have ended up paying £6.50 for a drink that I didn't have.

Honestly I'm speechless. Never seen the likes of it ever in...