Miller & Carter Caversham — Restaurant in Reading

Visited 2024-11-24 18:30 table for three.

NO KETCHUP!?!?!?

Upon arrival by car, drove round to the car park, which is at the back. We were able to find a space in the car park. It was raining, so we didn't want to be outside for long. There was a door at the back of the building with light shining out, but sadly that was not usable as an entrance, so we had to traipse all the way back round to the front, in the rain, to get to the entrance, which was also at the far end of the building relative to where you have to walk around the building. The restaurant should set up the existing back door as an entrance/exit for easy access to the car park.

At the entrance, we were met after an OK time by an OK person who took us to our table. We were seated next to a large rowdy table with children. I don’t think the place was full, and I think they could have seated us further away from them in a quieter area.

The décor was good, and the atmosphere was OK.

They provided us with two menus, the main à la carte menu and a Sunday menu. The menus seemed similar, and this was confusing. Eventually I was able to work out that the Sunday menu was more restricted and offered three courses for one fixed price. It would have been nice if they had given us a verbal overview of the differences between the two menus.

They took our drinks order after an OK time, and the drinks were brought within a reasonable time. I had a Pepsi Max. There was no ice which is what I had requested, (good) but there was no lemon. A restaurant charges a premium, and should provide lemon. The drink was served in a tall glass with a straw. However, later in the evening I discovered that the straw was not long enough to reach the bottom of the glass. That being the case, the straw was silly, and if the drink was served in that tall glass, it should not have been provided with a straw.

After a time, they came to take our food order. I was the last of the guests to place my order. I asked for the dirty burger, only to be told that they had run out! This seemed pretty strange considering it was a burger, not exactly haute cuisine, and that it was only 6:30pm, not exactly late in the evening. They advised that the Lamb and the Cod were also run out. I had to quickly choose something else. It would have been better if they had advised what had run out when giving us the menus, before we made our choices.

The food came after an OK time. The wrong salad came for one of us, though this was corrected when we pointed it out.

They asked if we wanted anything to go with it, meaning mayo, ketchup etc. but said — and this is STAGGERING — that THEY HAD NO KETCHUP!?!?!?

NO KETCHUP!?!?!?

Now, I can understand expensive perishable items like meat and fish running out. They have to order in advance, and it’s a trade off between availability and waste. But KETCHUP? SERIOUSLY? Ketchup is cheap, and keeps for extended periods. A steak restaurant should never, ever run out of ketchup.

Even if they did run out of ketchup, I would expect the duty manager to be running out to the local convenience shop and buying a few bottles off the shelf to tide them through the evening.

I ordered steak with Bearnaise sauce and chunky chips. The steak was good, and cooked medium as requested. However, everything tasted pretty bland, and it was not a special dining experience.

My pot of chunky chips had two skinny fries in it. I mean, it’s all chips, but if they’re getting the chips mixed up, what else are they getting mixed up?

Overall I would say the experience was mediocre, and not worth the money.

Edit 2024-12-11: Miller & Carter have now responded. I have corrected something in my review that was not clear (about ice in drink). Review...

We came to your restaurant for our Christmas dinner and to say we were extremely disappointed would be an understatement.

From the start it was obvious that you wanted us out of the restaurant as quickly due to the speed the courses were coming out.

When the food was brought out to us the canopies were hard, the starter that was served to us was not even edible to eat. We had prawns which we couldn’t even chew and swallow. My partner sent these back 3 times and was told that they would be returned to him cooked fresh but they were returned to him so quickly there was no way they were fresh off the grill.

The main course was not hot and potatoes were hard. Meat was dry and looked like it was thrown on the plate. My daughter had the children’s version and did not enjoy any of her courses either.

Then the last course the pudding was the final insult. Me and my partner had the meringue which was rock hard. Neither of us bothered eating it as after the first spoonful as we knew it was not edible to eat.

When we complained we were offered a round of drinks. For the price of the meals we should have been offered our money back as a good will gesture. We had heard of many other people complaining that day also so it wasn’t just us that was disappointed with the meals.

We have eaten at miler and carter many of times before and have always been happy with our meals. So we do not know what happened on Christmas Day as to why the quality of food went so down hill!

We have told many of our family and friends what our experience was at your restaurant on Christmas Day. And no one can believe that you never even offered us a refund.

To say this has left a bad taste in our mouth is a understatement.

Such a disappointing experience for us to have on Christmas Day and needless to say we would not recommend any body eat here on...

Overall this was a grave disappointment. I've been here before and it was lovely. Hence deciding to come back for my 30th Birthday. - We drove an hour and a half from Wiltshrie to meet our friends and it was massive massive disappointment

Multiple issues

Starters arrived very slowly, and luke warm At best. Everyone had the same issue.

3 of our 10 peronis we had ordered arrived flat. (Beer glasses were still warm)

After ordering our mains. My friends steak was completely forgotten. And instead he was a served a 8oz Ribye. As opposed to the 16oz he ordered. The solution was either wait 20 mins. Or have 2 8oz steaks that will be brought out separately. Despite being told the second steak wouldn't be charged. It was on the bill and my friend didn't feel comfortable raising it

Everyone's onion loaf was literally stone cold, as were the chips, and other sides.

All mains were luke warm. It was clear that the food was left under the heat lamps For ages and ages.

We ordered deserts. And we had the same issue again, friend ordered a Creme brulee. And he was offered 2 small ones.

Overall. Really slow service, all meals luke warm, and just not up to standard for what we paid. - this cost us £360 and to be served cold food is simply unacceptable. This was a shame as it was my 30th birthday.

The only reason I'm scoring 1 and not 0 is the steaks seemed to be cooked correctly, I.e those who ordered it rare, it came out rare etc.

For £350 this is beyond...