The Belvoir Bistro — Restaurant in Melton

In summary: never again!

From arriving at the cursed place, stepping outside into the arctic winds in the potholed, dog poo bag ridden, wildly overpriced carpark (£2.20 an hour!) with its mass of apocalyptic parking meters looking more like soul sucking robots, it was a downhill experience going forth.

We’d had to park in the exorbitant gravel pit because the actual tiny engine yard car park was full, mainly with humongous range rovers taking up three spaces apiece.

We were keen to enjoy the same happy experiences we’d seen in fellow runners’ photos, featuring joyfully raised slabs of cake and steaming hot drinks, albeit in the summer, and, crucially, mainly taken in the aforementioned gravel pit car park, which, in its favour, is atop a massive hill enjoying fantastic views.

However, the weather on the day of our ill fated visit featured biting, angry easterly winds, so on we went in search of somewhere to warm our frozen cockles.

After some searching we found the Fuel Tank Cafe, its bright lights promising a place to sit and enjoy the fruits of our running labours.

Almost as soon as we took our place in the queue in the half empty refectory we were approached, at some speed, by a lady in uniform who seemed to have come straight from the violently aggressive clamour of the stock market trading floor.

“YOU GETTING TAKE AWAY DRINKS?!?” She barked. Recoiling in surprise at her sub-optimal welcome routine I replied “no thank you, we’ll be sitting in”, glancing across at the plentiful supply of free, unreserved tables, to which she shouted “I DOUBT WE’VE GOT SPACE BUT I’LL CHECK!!”

It was at this point, teeth still chattering with cold and noticing the windows were wide open, that we both glanced down at ourselves and did a quick body scan to check we hadn’t absentmindedly dressed as either A) strippers B) terrorists C) Tories or D) had forgotten to get dressed altogether. Happily finding we were, in fact, dressed in clean, smart clothes, our eyes returned to the shouty lady who had, (thank the lord!), found one of the many empty seats for us to rest our weary bones on and scurried off.

Sadly, our experience continued on its now inevitable downward spiral at the till. By this time I’d sent my husband to sit down (mainly in case the shouty lady changed her mind on her way back to the trading floor), so the admittedly onerous task of ordering two drinks, a bowl of soup and a slice of cake fell on me and relied on the success of my forthcoming interaction with the young, flustered looking lad behind the till. Noticing the large number of people stood waiting for their orders to be fulfilled, then glancing across at the tables that were occupied and noting most of their occupants were in the early stages of starvation from lack of tea and cake deliveries, my heart fell.

The boy did try, he really did try to retain the long list of items I was hoping (and praying) to order from him. “That’s one coffee and a soup yeah?” he grunted back at me, for the third time forgetting half the drinks and food I’d literally just relayed to him. Finally, after I’d so nearly resorted to popping over the counter to do it for him, he successfully took the order down and waved me away with the air of a man who knew he was not for this world.

Still cold (not helped largely by the gusts of arctic winds blasting through the windows at exactly the right angle to give those of us lucky enough to be allowed to sit down a free blow dry) and a little jittery, I joined my shivering husband and we haplessly looked forward to receiving our order.

It’s at this point I have to add a tiny detail - it was complete and utter chaos. I’ve run out of space but suffice to say, 25 minutes passed before our cold hot drinks arrived. We wolfed down the tiny serving of soup (three spoonfuls) and the already nibbled cake (!), overheard more unsuspecting souls being yelled at by the shouty lady and left one elderly couple wondering why they’d travelled an hour for their Sunday lunch at a place that couldn’t even take their...

I recently had the pleasure of visiting the Fuel Tank for breakfast, and I must say it was a delightful experience. What sets this cafe apart from others is its welcoming attitude towards our four-legged friends. As a dog owner, finding a pet-friendly establishment that also serves delicious food can be quite a challenge. However, the Fuel Tank exceeded my expectations in both regards.

Upon entering the restaurant, I was immediately greeted by the friendly staff, who not only made me feel welcome but also showed genuine affection towards my furry companion. The establishment was spacious and well-lit interior created a warm and inviting ambiance. I appreciated the thoughtful placement of dog bowls filled with fresh water for my canine companion, ensuring they were comfortable throughout our visit. Even had a dog menu!

The staff was attentive and accommodating, ensuring that all guests, including our furry friends, were well taken care of. The waitstaff even offered dog treats and interacted with the dogs, creating a friendly and inclusive atmosphere. It was heartwarming to witness the genuine care and love they had for my dog.

Overall, I highly recommend the Fuel Tank Cafe for breakfast, especially if you're a dog owner looking for a pet-friendly dining experience. From delicious food options to a warm and welcoming atmosphere, this restaurant truly understands the importance of catering to both four-legged guests. The exceptional service, delightful menu, and pet-friendly approach make the Fuel Tank a standout destination. I will certainly be returning with my furry friend for many more satisfying breakfasts in the future.

Pros Free car...

We went for our first meal last night - beautiful surroundings and stunning food. However everything was let down by the service. We had main courses , waited 20 mins to have plates cleared and the ordered a cheese and biscuits to share and 2 ports. Port arrived within 5 mins in brandy glasses and then we waited 45 mins for cheese/ biscuits to arrive - no side plates and no butter given so my husband had to go downstairs to get these . It appeared the manager was standing using “messenger” on her phone down stairs , and did not even acknowledge the fact that my husband had had to come downstairs and asked the lads for plates and butter - 2 young waiting lads ,both nice and polite ,were very in experienced and when they can upstairs to give another table there meals you couldn’t get there attention or they didn’t check if everyone had all they needed before they went back down. It was not a busy night so not sure how they would cope if it was full. We left after cheese as couldn’t bare hanging around to be asked if we wanted coffee ! When we paid the bill my husband mentioned the slow service but no apology was offered. Staff need to be more visible upstairs in the evenings otherwise this lovely place that serves great food will not last very long as people won’t come back if the service is not up to scratch. I considered booking a large table for a pre Christmas get together but I am loathed to bring friends based on the service we received last night. Come on guys sort the staff out - train them to be attentive and don’t let this beautiful venue and fab food down. Don’t waste the investment you have made into...