The Greyhound Sydenham — Restaurant in London

This is an excellent pub and restaurant. I remembered it from when I was a small child, so when we went back as siblings plus grandson (and great-granddaughter) to scatter my mother’s ashes where she grew up, we decided to book a table for lunch afterwards. Due to my brother and his wife being stuck in traffic in Central London our meeting time of 12 noon didn’t work, but Greyhound staff let my son and his baby come in and wait, and then my sister joined us. We ended up going for a walk, then coming back and once again using their toilet. Then while we were waiting for the other two to arrive, the time of our booking came and went. I rang the Greyhound and they were completely fine with us and put our table booking back one hour. After the ashes scattering we went back, they found us a large table with room for the buggy and took our drinks order. The menu was good with traditional pub food like fish and chips or burger, with more adventurous stuff. At this point I discovered my siblings weren’t hungry(!!) but I managed to persuade them to eat something and they enjoyed starters with a side dish as a light lunch. Apparently the soufflé on the starter menu is never available, but my brother and his wife stopped at a restaurant in Warwick on the way home and managed to get a lovely cheese soufflé so all was well. Food was hot and freshly made and brought to the table at the same time. My son had the burger which he thought was okay (probably on the menu because people expect it). I had the mussels and fries. They came in a big pot with a lid and chips in a cup. My brother had prawns so they gave us a finger bowl to share. The sauce on my mussels was delicious but a lot got left in the bottom. My brother gave me half a slice of ciabatta that came with his prawns so I soaked up some of the sauce, but I couldn’t manage to keep the sauce on the mussel shell without it going back into the pan when I ate the mussel. All the ‘starter and side’ people thought the food was lovely. There was a drinks list with some different beers and cocktails - son and brother had Battersea brewery beer and loved it. But there was no wine list, so I ordered Sauvignon blanc and my sister-in-law had a glass too. It was really good, even if I had chosen from a list I couldn’t have chosen better. There was a jug of water for the table which we had before we ordered any drinks which was a nice touch. Our waitress was lovely and helpful, but so were all the staff including the young woman who saw me arriving for our meal and greeted me like a regular after my earlier visits to use the facilities! While I was sitting waiting for family members an old man drinking beer at the next table said to me ‘they’ve really done this pub up well’ and I agreed. It has a really good ambience and decor, smart but very comfortable and welcoming. And even though they showed rugby in the afternoon it was down the other end far away from the restaurant area and not too loud. A great pub for a drink, a meal or a just a place to meet. Friendly and welcoming, with great food and drinks. I highly...

Updated, so gave this pub another chance as went for a catch up Sunday roast with a friend, Firstly, the table I booked days in advance had to be taken off the end of another table last minute, my friend was sat down on a empty table,no menu no table flower no nothing. When I arrived, my friend had my drink waiting, she ordered pink gin which she didn't get and I got a dark and stormy, it was horrible! Tasted sugar free and couldn't taste the rum, a brand I know very well. The manager came to the table to tell me it's the best dark and stormy out here, I told him what I thought, he seemed excited to tell me it was old jamacia ginger beer they've used...I asked for a rose as a replacement. The service was very very slow, the dogs got water before my drink which I watched sat at the bar with what I assume to be staff talking over it. table was not set, we could feel we was put on a rushed grabbed table. The staff had no real want to be there, what are your steps of service as not one member of staff did that. Multiple people having to be called to the table. The black boy with plaits made me feel I was a bother,rolled hos eyes at one point. only one young girl in there gave me hospitality vibes, she was cheerful and really nice, such a shame she didn't serve us. Can't really tell who's staff and who's a customer, some of the staff had crop tops on, chatting to each other. Just not a general good look. We wasn't the only table having to look around for some service. I had the pork roast, which was DROWNING in gravy! Why put mash under the pork if your going to put sooooooo much gravy on?? Wouldn't you put gravy to the side?? The food was ok, best bit was the pork, which my knife didn't get through the cracking but the actual pork was ok, the gravy was nice shame it was soooo much and the Brockley was ok. Sticky toffee pudding was nice just too sweet for me. My friends apple crumble was apple puree with one solid bit of apple and LOOOADS of crumble. I asked the Irish host woman to get the bill, she said yes and carried on hosting on the door!! I had to call someone to get the bill and take the service charge off, then had to wave again for someone else to take payment. Only when they was getting busy for a quiz night you could feel staff was told to hurry up and turn tables. I was asked why I asked for service charge off, why did she bother as she didn't look like she cared. Whoever the manger is, you need to train your staff and teach steps of service, and if you really feel that you've got in hand then maybe the management should be questioned about how they do thier job.. so so disappointed, lovley pub, crap staff, overpriced standard food.. even after a year later!! Find people who actually want to be there, and I'm down for that casual look at work, but maybe make some kind of rule, you are a business at the end of the day.. I wish I got that nice girls name! Big smile, short short hair. She was cheerful,and looked good casually dressed for work. I won't be back, and definitely told my friends to not...

The Greyhound is my local pub and I like to treat myself to their fish n chips and a cocktail from time to time. I decided to treat myself and I honestly wish I hadn't. The service was terrible. I asked a waitress if I could sit anywhere and she responded that I could. I found a table near the window. I was waiting for 20 minutes to see if a waitress would come over, as no-one did, I approached a waitress and she advised she would come and take my order. Which she did eventually but never bothered to take my drink order.

I got up again and walked to the bar and asked if they still served fish n chips as I would like to change my order. I asked if I could have normal peas instead of mushy peas and the waitress with the heavy eyeliner, said it would be fine. I asked for a passionfruit cocktail and was advised they never had this.

When my fish n chips came, it had mushy peas. I said to the waiter, oh I asked for normal peas. He said no problem, I will get these changed. 5 mins later the peas came and they were freezing cold. I walked up to the lady with the heavy eyeliner and said “oh the peas are cold”. She just looked at me blankly and replied “ok”. No apology or an offer to remedy this. I went and sat back down. 10 mins later she came over and said “oh your new peas are coming from the kitchen”. I said, don’t bother.

After I finished eating, I waited for a further 20mins to get the waitress attention and then asked for the bill. She brought the bill to me and said, “how was everything, other than the peas?” I replied, “the food was lovely the service was poor”. She didn't acknowledge what I said and walked off to get the card machine. Very disappointing service...