The Ridgeway — Restaurant in Newport

Visited here a couple of months ago and returned recently because we really enjoyed the first visit. Was left very disappointed by the latest visit and wouldn't return. I'd booked a table for a Sunday afternoon. Arrived at the restaurant which was quiet and seated quickly. There were no menus for food or drink on the table. A couple were seated near us after we arrived and had their food and drink orders taken within about 10 minutes of arriving. After 15 minutes I went to the bar and asked for someone to come take our drinks order. As I mentioned the restaurant was quiet.

A waitress came over after a few minutes, we asked for a drinks menu. No drinks menu as they were updating them. Not a great start as we had no idea what the options were? We were then asked for food orders. Again asked for the menu, only to be told it was Sunday lunch only. This was also disappointing as last time there was a full menu on offer and no where was advertised to be Sunday lunch only.

The starters were lovely then after around 1.5 hours the Sunday lunch was served. Again, really disappointed with the meal, the meat tasted like it had been warmed up, not fresh. The whole plate wasn't great which comparing to our last visit I couldn't believe the difference.

When the waitress come to take our plates she asked how everything was, I raised my disappointment. She apologised and mentioned the owner had been taken ill. When we fed back about the meat tasting old she went back to the kitchen and we could hear the conversation with the chef around the meat not being old. I will say the restaurant did take one of the meals off but the whole experience just wasn't great so we'll not be returning. This place isn't the cheapest so my expectations are higher. I could understand if the restaurant was packed and over worked but it was very quiet. If there were issues with staff then it may have been better to close as I could hear other people...

I was really looking forward to dining at The Ridgeway after so many great reviews and recommendations about the fantastic food. We booked a table for my birthday last week and unfortunately we couldn't wait to leave. The food was incredible, there was a long wait for the food to come out after we had ordered (an hour) but we just put this down to the fact that the restaurant was busy. (On the menu it does state that the restaurant has a small kitchen team)

The food was incredible when it came out and the atmosphere in the restaurant was gorgeous, very cosy and warm. Unfortunately this was over shadowed by bad service.

Our waitress couldn't find our booked as we arrived and even disputed us making a booking. We were seated and the menus were dumped on the table and then she walked off without saying anything. Quite a white later she came back for our drinks order, and then 10 minutes later she came back to ask me what I ordered, dispute her writing it down at the table. After 40 minutes of arriving she finally took our order, but scowled and sighed when a member of our party ordered the flat iron steak. Another member of our party asked for a second drink and the waitress took her drink that was half full, and then didn't return for a further 10 minutes as she was bending over the bar chatting to another waitress behind the bar whilst looking over at our table. Basic table service, such as taking a drinks order and bringing the food out seemed to be a large inconvenience to her.

She was very incompetent as a waitress and let the restaurant down in my opinion. Im not sure if we caught her on and off day or if she treats all customers like that, but we won't be returning again for a while.

Such a shame as we loved the food and...

I booked a Christmas family lunch for 14 I was asked to send the menu choices prior by email. I sent 10 days prior no response I rang 4 times each time told someone would respond but I didn't receive a reply. The night before my Sister said all OK for tomorrow I said I hope so I cannot get an answer to whether they've received the menu choices. Although we pre-ordered it was over 40mins before we received starters they were OK, the main courses were brought out we had one child in the party so you would think his should be 1st but no & it didn't even follow straight after all the adults meals were brought out it was a while after. Some dishes of sprouts were brought out with no serving spoons. Asked if we wanted anything else requested cranberry sauce which took ages and then brought out the tiniest ramekin dish with no teaspoon. It was just so embarrassing for me I had stupidly booked it family came up from Devon I felt anxious throughout the whole meal. The turkey was as my Mum said dry like leather, roast potatoes & stuffing overcooked very dark or burnt some were. Dessert Christmas pudding was in my Mums words horrible a few of us ordered cherry & rice pudding brulee it was a big dish of cold grainy rice pudding no cherries to be seen it was horrible I did complain about it. After having lovely meals albeit pre Covid time it's obviously not what it was so would not go there again. I thought it would be busy it wasn't so guess it's not the popular place it once was for good reason. Whoever is in charge needs to give the staff training in food service it felt like a struggle. Laugh was I still left a tip as I felt like I should as...