The Magdalen Arms — Restaurant in Oxford

This is our local and we go there often as a family. It used to be one of our favourite places but lately there seems to something wrong - the food is still good but the service is astonishingly poor. We went to dinner last week at a friend’s invitation - we recommended the place but won’t do so again. We asked to book early because our five year old goes to bed by 8.30. We were told the kitchen opened at 6 so we booked for 6. We ordered our son’s food first - their staple homemade pasta with cream and Parmesan. That arrived quickly and was delicious. So far so good. We ordered the rest of the food for 5 adults around 6.45. Our starters arrived soon after and was cleared away soon after 7, but an hour later, by 8 pm the main course had not arrived. Our son was tired and wanted to go home. I went to ask and was told the food would arrive in “7” minutes. My husband left without his dinner and took our son home. When the mains finally arrived, closer to 8.15 than the belated ‘7’ minutes, it was very good indeed, but I had to rush through my dinner and take my husband’s dinner home with me. The young waitress was pleasant and helpful and packed up the food for us, but there was no apology or regret shown by the management - or the lady who seemed in charge, no one kept us informed or explained why the food took so long. Or seemed concerned that a child was falling asleep at the table while the parents waited seemingly interminably for their food. We had ordered a special - perhaps that took longer to cook - but they could have explained that in advance if that was the case, or told us while we were waiting why it was taking so long. When we arrived there was one other family in the restaurant area. The tables quickly filled up after us and every one of the others was served their main courses before we were. The usual serving staff some of whom are the owners and their family seem to be away and perhaps that’s why the service is so poor. I hope it improves soon, I understand that there is a staff shortage and if someone in charge had bothered to come to us and apologise or even explain we would have understood. But they didn’t. We now tend to go to the Chester Arms, a little further but as good food, and at least for now,...

Massively disappointed with my experience. Been here many times and had fantastic food and service but this occasion was honestly dreadful. We sat at 8pm and didn't receive our starters for 45 minutes, after waiting for gluten free options for one guest which had been specified when booking the table. I wasn't able to have the starter I wanted and most of us weren't able to have our first choice of mains. I've had the confit pork belly before and it was wonderful. Instead most of us had to opt for the steak; a leap from £18 to £32. The steak was an enormous let down, a nicely cooked piece of meat with a small handful of average chips and some dressed rocket. Our friend with dietary restrictions requested no dressing on the rocket; instead, she received the dressed salad with her steak and a separate plate of undressed rocket. Definitely not £32 worth of food. Two of us opted for the onglet; at £60, you would hope for something immaculate but instead it arrived undercooked, beyond blue. During another unbelievable wait for our mains, we made the staff aware that we were going to leave if our mains didn't arrive soon. After roughly 45 minutes/an hour, the waitress brought empty plates to place in front of us. No idea why but can only imagine this was to trick us into thinking something was being sorted. They then brought our food out after another 15 minutes and took the empty plates away. Incredibly bizarre, frankly. After this experience, we made our dissatisfaction known and received 25% off the bill, which we weren't happy with but we weren't willing to challenge it as we were already there so much later than planned. Some communication from the staff would have made this whole experience much more agreeable. Instead, their demeanor was short, as if we were supposed to understand whatever was causing service to crash so hard without managing our expectations with a short...

There are several reasons this establishment deserves a five star review, but there is some room for improvement in terms of staff which leaves a bad taste in ones mouth. I am an American here on business, and I’m not sure if being ignored or spoken to in an indifferent, even rude manner is normal, but herein lies the merit of three stars. The food was delicious, and there were three very pleasant and accommodating servers. As for the blond woman behind the bar, she could really use some training with regard to working with the public. She was ice cold from the moment we walked into the room. My husband ordered three pints, but she only pulled and charged him for two. He had to go back and buy the 3rd pint for our party. When we went to the bar to order our meals and additional beverages, she was cold and indifferent. At the end of the meal, we requested a receipt, and we’re rudely told by the same woman that it was not a possibility at that point. She went as far as to tell my daughter that we left the receipt on the counter, which was completely false. I think when you pay £130 for an evening of food and drink, a little cordiality and a receipt upon request is not too much to ask. I had to ask for the assistance from the manager, who also seemed put out by the request. Frankly, it was the worse customer service experience in our 3 weeks in Europe and the UK. We will not return or recommend the Magdalen Arms based on our treatment...