Hornet — Restaurant in Rochdale

Evans, 12pm Father's Day

So, took my father to this place today for Father's day. Not very busy. Left having to apologise to him and his wife for a rubbish dinner, not something you want to do on his special day.

The place is lovely, I believe it had a refurbishment not long ago. We were seated at table 25, the blue chairs could do with a clean as I was met with white stains on them hoping it was Mayonnaise or summat, but didn't look pleasant. My dad recommended this place as he has been several times before the refurb, now he wishes he never told us, but wasn't his fault.

Ordered 5 meals (well, I thought so but only 4 came), they quickly did another meal and didn't ask for payment. When I ordered at bar, I asked for 3 chicken roast dinners, 2 of which were Specials...so that would be 1 normal roast and 2 roast specials right? and + 2 other meals, but the lady didn't understand I'm guessing, maybe I could of worded it better but thought it was clear. Anyway, it was nice that they rectified it and did another meal, so have no problem with customer service.

FOOD: This is where it went downhill I'm afraid. The 2 chicken specials didn't look much bigger than the standard. No Yorkshire puddings came with them but when we let the server know a bit later, she did ask if we wanted them bringing out but we said that it doesn't matter as had already started eating.

The gravy pots were a huge disappointment, they are small with barely any gravy to cover your huge special roast dinner.

Now, the worst bit, the veg, now, if a chef can't get veg right, he clearly shouldn't be a chef at all. The veg wasn't cooked properly, the carrots, peas and cauliflower were rock solid, undercooked, they needed longer on the boil. My dad (75) nearly choked on a carrot as it was so hard. The beef roast he had, well, the beef was chewy and the chicken myself and parter had was cold in the middle and wet, although it did look cooked properly with no pink bits. Didn't have a problem with the kids fishfinger meal, daughter seemed to like it which is a huge thumbs up as she is Autistic and not much pleases her.

It certainly says something though when a male server takes your plates and asks, how was your meal? My partner responding with "Wasn't that good, wish we went for a carvery as much better" and he responds back agreeing stating he don't blame us, because even himself won't even eat there.

PLACE = Lovely STAFF = Friendly, Helpful & Cheerful, FOOD = Not that nice. Shouldn't of been that bad on Father's day and especially when it wasn't that busy. PLAY AREA: Aimed at 3-11 years old, I personally wouldn't advise anyone younger than 6-7 on this area. No slide, no swings, just wooden climbing things, quite hard for 3-5 year olds, my daughter is 6 and struggled to get down of it and needing help. Nice idea but could of been thought through fully to include swings and slides.

*were not looking for a refund. This gives you an idea on where improvements are needed for your establishment. Hopefully, one day, we will come again and things are a lot better.

EDIT: From reading all the recent reviews, it's seems like yourselfs are having many issues with the food in the last few months, new chefs? Can't be bothered chefs? I don't know. I am 43, worked in many bars and restaurants and I know in any restaurant, the kitchen is the heart of the business, get the food wrong, everything else goes wrong.

You can only reply on here so many times about how you have made improvements and to try yous again, but when you have someone new (myself) comes to your establishment months after you first being made aware of issues with your food, then these problems shouldn't be now happening should they?. I mean, undercooked veg and wet chicken (others said the same), if I was a manager, I'd be sorting the chef/chefs out asap. You have a lovely place there, nice staff, but you're chefs are...

I came with friends lastnight 14/06/2024 in the evening and was extremely dssappointed. It wasnt a great start due to walking im and there was a queue near the door for drinks and food and lack of staff. With a big bar which goes all way round and multiple tills when there was only 1-2 behind there. When ordering food, even though seperate orders but was ordered minutes between the chefs/servers should of seen that and think "Oh lets put this order together" near an hour wait and all orders at long various times being served to us and when raising my concerns in a polite manner to one of the servers it was just a 'Shrug off moment'

When receiving the food wasnt hot, wouldnt say even warm either. When ordering more drinks, there was an extended time to be served not because there was busy queue, simply there was no staff behind the bar, they were sitting down/standing chatting to each other and the one of the bar staff (male) could clearly see that myself and another person was waiting to be served. However finally served by a female believe may of been a supervisor on shift as she seemed the only one who knew what she was fully doing. Bar 101 rule, you should never have no one behind the bar, its extremely unproffessionable and it can come across that service has stopped.

Whilst i appreciate the football on, there should be a seperate space where that is shown, where food is not served. It doesnt create a great atmosphere, music would be more appealing. There was also an incident where there was a guy who was trying to intimidate my friend and my friend became extremely uncomfortable , anxious and unable to relax. Whilst i appreciate its early evening but this day and age security staff need to be provided, i seen none. The only upside to the place was drinks are cheap. But i would rather spend more and have a great service and better atmosphere.

Hornet if you read your reviews, step up your game, fully train staff how to provide basic hospitality at the bare minute as that was lack luster. Think about all customers, not everyone likes sport and can enjoy food with hearing it.

Proffessionalism is key otherwise your business...

Ordered 2 steaks bottle of prosecco and a peroni the wine bottle was warm asked for ice bucket. A warm small bottle cooler was given to to me with 2 ice cubes in the bottom that would have taken hours to cool asked the bar staff if I could have water and ice to cool the bottle of prosecco a bit quicker she gave me warm water in the same slimline cooler that had not been pre cooled and she said that was all I could have and that she had no control over the warm water that was provided for her I bought prosecco that should be served chilled. My wine did not cool of course I asked for a full refund on our order . Same staff member asked if she could resolve this. I said yes sure please and thank you I have ordered prosecco weekly here and usually have been given always been served chilled in a small metal ice bucket with ice and water. Server then come back to me with a bucket big enough for 4 bottles of wine with ice that filled our entire table for 2 despite taking our original order knowing we had order 2 large smothered steaks on skillets that would have taken most of the table so then back to the bar to ask for this resolving yet again All that we given were lots of attitude saying the same that it was not her fault that the water temptature was out of her control and that she could not give us a regular metal ice bucket with ice. Going forward I will not spend my regular £50 a week here that I have done so for the past 2 years tip for the feedback team all this would not occur if wine bottles were simply placed in the fridge like all other hungry horses I...