The Boathouse Antrim — Restaurant in Northern Ireland

One thing wrong after another - poor hygiene!

Visited the boathouse tonight with family of 6, on recommendation from my parents having had a good experience in recent weeks.

However, I could not say the same for the experience we had this evening.

Firstly, our table was not ready until 6.25 when it was booked for 6.15 - and despite there being several tables of 6 throughout the restaurant, we were told we would have to sit at a table of 2 and 4.

We were not given a drinks menu and had to ask for it. Then once we ordered our drinks, several minutes later we were told 2 of the cocktails could not be made as they had ran out of pineapple juice.

I was just pouring my wine when I noticed that there was a LIPSTICK STAIN and greasy finger marks on my glass. Uncleanliness is unacceptable under normal circumstances, but given the current situation with the Covid-19 pandemic, you would expect businesses to be making double sure they are cleaning and sanitising things properly, especially when a customer will drink from the item. To me, this was the most horrific thing to happen, as it was not just down to poor timekeeping or management but, quite frankly, was downright dangerous. There is no point in having customers wear masks and check temperatures when you can’t even manage the basic hygiene of your restaurant. Not to mention, that whenever they took the glass away - which was full of wine - I was not offered another in lieu of that one that was taken away and was given an empty glass.

Next - 2/3 starters arrived and were both lukewarm. The 3rd starter (dough balls) did not arrive until after the first two starters were already finished - and we had to ask for it several times.

Our mains took a very long time after this to arrive, although the server did apologise for this, which we greatly appreciated. However - the steaks (we ordered three steaks, 2 medium and 1 medium rare) were totally red instead and were rare, not medium at all. My parents had also both ordered some of the special fries and were incorrectly given chunky chips, which then had to be taken back and corrected.

To top this all off, they tried to overcharge us by leaving the two cocktails which we were never given, on the receipt.

Nothing was ever offered as an apology or complementary for any of these things that had went wrong.

I was highly disappointed as most of the food itself was lovely and I had heard good things about it. It is a beautiful location and would be local place for me.

However, the continued errors, and dangerous lack of hygiene would hold me back from returning...

I was pleased to hear the Boat House had reopened. I took My Mother out for her Birthday Dinner on December 09th with her Sister and family.

I was not impressed, I had emailed the Resturante to let then know of my Mother's Birthday snd enquired about a surprise cake. Also to alocate a a toom space as my Mother is disabled and this was not accommodated for. I did not get a response and no cake or mention of her Birthday during are time.

We asked for a cup of Decaff Tea and a cup of cafè. No Decaff Tea was available and whilst my cousin and excused ourselves to go outside to smoked we took a tour of the museum. It has to asked for three times. Very poor and sloppy...

We had been 45 minutes and when returned to our table the Tea and cafè had just arrived 45 minutes later, with no apology. Note the restaurant was not busy and staff were standing around the bar some on their mobile phone, it lacked professionalism and could not get any staff attention when needed.

The atmosphere did not have a good positive vibe, whereas the previous resurant was quite the opposite. It was a smooth operation with alert on the ball staff and the feel.of rather upmarket establishment This new one lacks efficiency and is rather like the losing team cafè form The Aprentice.

Our meal was nice but not anything to write home about and rather expensive, we should have got discounted for...

We don’t talk about Bruno… As in, although the waiting time in here between menu and service is laughable, you get the added bonus of the floormanager/booking manager, who’s name I believe Bruno, herding you like cattle to your table and talking to you like your custom is unwelcome. He will also rudely tell you how much he is helping you out by allowing you to eat here, and answer any questions with an air of annoyance and hostility, which I find adds a beautiful uncomfortable ambiance to a meal shared with loved ones. Just the thing to help you relax. Bruno clearly hates his job. This is a beautiful restaurant, with lovely waiting staff, good food and an ambient setting. The potential for a great evening is in these stepping stones. It’s just too bad that in 1hr 30 mins, you spend 10 mins eating and the rest waiting on service for 1 meal, when the restaurant isn’t busy and you can see the staff just waiting about, and then you get given the desert menu to wait another 20+ minutes before anyone approaches you, only for it to be Bruno, who rudely tells you that you are “not allowed desert”, he wants your table and you must leave Overall experience :- if you are hungry and in the area, do Bruno a favour and eat...