The Alma Tavern — Restaurant in London

My partner and I have been to this restaurant three times now, once when it first opened and once with loads of friends for a big night out and we just tried having a quiet Sunday meal. I appreciate that there was a cock up with our meal the first time we went, when it had first opened, but for it to still be happening this far down the line?

When we arrived we were told we had 10 minutes to order and we were really hungry, so we took advantage. We order nachos with pulled pork to start and a roast pork and sausage and mash main. No one else was ordering food as the time had expired in which to do so. The food took well over half an hour to arrive when there was no one else around eating (despite the waitress/bar lady repeating how busy they'd been all day). At one point she came over and asked us what we had ordered again, to "remind" the chef. Whilst we were waiting for our food, the waitress/bar lady ate her food - at the bar, in public, whilst occasionally looking over at me - and then came over when she'd finished to apologise, joking that she hoped we didn't think it was our food. After all this, our food eventually all came out at once (the starter and two mains, despite asking for it as it should have been served (starter and then the mains)). We decided to save the mains going cold in the kitchen we would have it brought over, the waitress/bar lady was apologetic enough but it was terribly poor service for a quiet Sunday night. The nachos had hardly any cheese on them and what was there wasn't even melted properly. I tried asking for more but we were told the chef had closed the kitchen. Evidently that is the only thing he does with haste. No chance or offer of dessert then. The sausage and mash was fine, but there was what looked like mould on my roast pork, and eventually I found a string in my pork joint. That's just poor preparation. I tried to summon the waitress/bar lady but she told me to hold on, before muttering something to the owners who regularly sit at the bar on her way over. I raised the issue and asked for a refund but she barely stayed to listen as, whilst in mid-sentence, politely explaining that we knew it wasn't her fault, she was walking off to the manager. The manager was too busy playing on the fruit machine to give her his full attention, did not come over to apologise or listen to our complaint (as should be standard practice in any establishment). I have previously worked in an incredibly busy bar/restaurant, so I understand pressure but this place was incredibly quiet and so there was simply no excuse. The customer service in this place is shocking. The pub could have been our regular joint but this is a shambles and we will not be returning. We have given this place 3 chances now and that's twice our food has been messed up. I would say that this is only good for drinks but even when we went there with loads of friends, they didn't have basic fruit garnishes for the drinks and one of their regular clients insulted our guest. However, I feel that even raising this issue won't make a difference because the owners are too involved in the running of the place and so there's no hierarchy to where the complaint can be raised. Some customers must just settle or are lucky with their food, and I get the impression that the manager does not care for any complaint, given that people clearly accept the standard that is...

Well decorated and sympathetically improved character Victorian pub in historic East India conservation area. Old style pub marred by unfriendly and rather rude bar staff last night and loud swearing from pool area from what could be a really nice venue. I politely asked the barman about the local area and recent closure of The Glamorgan pub nearby, he sharply replied he wasn't local. When I asked what area he was from (to make conversation) he said "why you asking lots of question" and walked off. Not a warm welcome so we didn't stay for food or a second drink.. Nice decor and some nice touches to the interior but pool table attracts the wrong crowd and the fruit machines are very 80s.. It's my nearest pub but I rarely go, the poorly decorated nearby Oval pub is much more friendly as is the Builders pub (Fullers). Hopefully the changes to Croydon will improve the demograph and feel of a pub with...

This is our local. We’ve seen it open, closed, then re opened. It had a lovely refurbish keeping all the old style of the pub. There have been a couple of chefs but didn’t last long. Worse thing they did was to try to introduce a carvery. We tried it once. They partitioned the end of the pub off for this. Previously the pub had live music in that area which was always good fun and attracted more people. Now it’s dismal, bar staff uninterested, still advertising food but don’t serve food.... it’s such a shame. This lovely old pub could be a great local, bring back the entertainment on weekends, re open up the divider and don’t serve food unless it’s good food. We will still use it now and again because I’d hate to...