The Railway — Restaurant in London

We found this establishment very unwelcoming and disappointing. Immediately on arrival we were met by a slightly passive aggressive member of staff reading us the rule book. We were two families of three; four adults and two young children. We called two days before to make the booking over the phone to ensure the booking was 1. Outside and 2. With highchairs and heaters because of the mixed families but we were told on arrival our booking was incorrect (this was our fault apparently) and the downstairs area with heaters could only sit tables of four even though there was a table of five grown men sat outside nearby (see photo), who were presumably an exception to the rule.

We were told we could only eat and stay if we sat upstairs, without any heating, where there was 'more space' for larger groups (yes larger tables but others sat much closer). If it wasn't for the fact that this had been our only social gathering in over two months, and planning a meal out with two families and two small children isn't something that can be achieved very easily right now due to advance bookings/less capacity, we would have walked straight out. We had three nice veggie burgers, but the nourish bowl wasn't particularly nice either - wilted and odd tasting.

For those wanting to eat here with mixed families, and groups over four: avoid! You will be stuck on a freezing cold non-heated roof and there’s so many nicer places to spend your time (and money) right round the corner. There's being safe and following the rules, but a lesson in politeness might be beneficial to try to keep a business running through such a hellish time.

Updated post reply: The response to this review is very typical of this establishment, i.e. twisting truths, not actually apologising and using capital letters in a passive aggressive way. The 'five person rule' is a new addition to the story, for clarity this wasn't explained - in fact the female manager simply said "yes that wasn't my decision" acknowledging that five large human bodies at one outside table went against everything she was saying. It was strictly a four person rule - no ifs, no buts. It's a great example of how we were treated as customers during the visit. And we carried our own pushchairs up the...

Ok im here to complain.

So i walked into an empty pub with three kids to feed, had three childrens menus and ordered off the menu. I ordered off the adult menu.

The kids meals are £8.95 for a two course meal.

Look the food was great, i wolfed it down and the children enjoyed their meals too.

The problem came when the kids ordered their desserts.

They went up to order. Our server (who turned out to be the manager) came and asked me for payment. I thought i had already paid. She said she only charged me for the kids mains meal. To my bemusement i asked why, considering she gave the children the children’s menu and we ordered off the childrens menu - why would you charge me for just the main?

Heres where it got really silly and all customer service went out of the window. Please bare in mind the pub was empty bar a few customers when we came and ordered.

The manager proceeded to tell me its my fault for not order the children’s dessert at the same time as the meal (like who does that in any food establishment?!?!), she couldn’t just charge me the extra 95p on the till as she didn’t know how to put it through. And there was nothing she can do.

Nothing!

Not even offer to refund my meals and charge me the correct tariff!

When i asked to speak with the manager - she replied i am the manager! A manager who doesn’t know how to work the till (yes im being petty now!)

At this stage i had had enough of her attitude towards me. She could have told me at the till to order the dessert, she could have thrown in ‘for extra 95p you can add dessert’ and brought my awareness to her ordering system, she could hVe been helpful to a mother with three kids who didn’t want to cook and decided to take them out instead.

She chose not too.

So for the sake of £2.85 and shitty customer service im leaving a bad review of the terrible female manager and hope she goes on to get further training. If she’s rude to customers i can’t imagine how she may talk to her team!

Did i add i had to ask for the table to be cleaned? In...

Review of The Railway, Blackheath

24 March 2019

Firstly we were not shown to our table nor told it was order at the bar only. We were merely indicated an area to look for the table with our name on! After waiting for table service for around 20 minutes we went to the bar to ask if it was order at the bar only. The answer was affirmative and when we asked if we could start a tab the answer was no. So we ordered & sat back down.

Steve's starter of mushroom and dolcelatte on toasted sourdough was delicious but cold.

Mine of Scottish smoked salmon and Devon crab, cured cucumber, lemon crème fraiche and sourdough, well what do I say? The sourdough was slowly toasted to inedibility. The cucumber was not cured but two small curls of mostly skin. Maybe the menu was meant to say curled not cured?  There was a teaspoon of some white stuff. Not enough to tell what it was. Presumably the crème fraiche. Generous portion of crab, bit less of smoked salmon.

Service was slow. 25 minutes from ordering to starters. 30 minutes from clearing starters to getting mains .

I ate my starter with steak knife and fork as that is all I was given. We assumed that that was all we were going to get so we kept them for the next course however they were cleared and we were given the same again for the mains.

There was no mention of vegetables with the steak so we ordered an unnecessary side of vegetables.

Roast lamb rump, roast potatoes and red wine jus. No sign of the red wine jus, not enough gravy for the amount of Yorkshire pudding. Otherwise nice although the lamb was slightly tough. Never had crackling on lamb before!

8oz sirloin steak with watercress and horseradish butter, triple cooked chips and pea shoots. Nice although the steak was medium rather than rare.

The side order of vegetables was very generous portion and tasted better than it looked.

£54 for starter, mains and a nonalcoholic drink each, surly staff with no atmosphere. We won’t...