The Waterfront Inn — Restaurant in Shanklin

Stopped here for lunch while having a drive around. From the front it looks nice enough, lots of seating outside looking out towards the sea.

We elected to sit inside as the weather was looking a bit threatening. We walked in through the door and were greeted by a waitress I'm going to refer to as 'slopey'. (It'll become apparant why later). We asked for a table for three, "certainly" she replied. We were led to a table looking out through the large bay windows, it was all very nice.

Slopey left us saying she was going to fetch us some menus. We sat at the table and almost immediately got stuck to it. Someone had spilled something sticky on the table and it hadn't been cleaned properly.

We were in a good mood, so were willing to overlook this. 10 minutes later slopey hadn't returned. In the interim we noticed the second waitress, hereafter referred to as 'stompy'. I'm not kidding, she was rattling the tables as she stomped about.

A few minutes later, after marvelling at how so small a waitress could make so much noise, slopey reappeared. We reminded her that we'd like some menus, so off she went again. Luckily she must have remembered what she was there for and, a few minutes later, passed us each a menu and left.

That was the last we saw of slopey for a while. We all decided what we wanted, so waited to see if we could get stompey's attention. A few minutes later and 'thud, thud, thud', stompey was here to take our order.

As slopey had disappeared we took the opportunity to order drinks at the same time as our mains.

A few minutes later slopey gave us our cutlery and brought out our food.

I ordered the '5 minute steak ciabatta with caramelized onion chutney.' A few minutes later it arrived.

The only thing I can really remember was 'pepper.' That was literally all it tasted of. There was an extremely generous helping of peppercorns and a good amount of rocket, which didn't really help things. The onion chutney, which was out of a jar was served in one of those little paper cups you get at Mcdonalds. I spread it over my steak and proceeded to get my head blown off by all the pepper. It was enough to make my eyes water. Every other flavour was completely lost, I could've been eating anything.

Still, we had stompey to keep us entertained. She was running back and forth all over the place. Slopey had long since disappeared.

'Thud, thud, thud.'

About 5 minutes from the end of our meal and even stompey had vanished. We finished and were left waiting for someone to appear so we could pay. We weren't the only ones waiting. By this time there were another 3 or 4 tables waiting at the bar to pay.

Miraculously, slopey reappeared. We flagged her down but she wasn't interested. "Stompey will settle your bill" she said, while walking away. Resigned to our fate, we sat there waiting while stompey settled up the other table's bills.

'Thud, thud, thud.'

When she got around to us we settled up as quickly as possible and left. On the way out we noticed a sign asking for chefs and front of house staff. I can see why.

Jesting aside, I'm not sure if I can recommend this place. The chef doesn't taste anything (peppergeddon) and two waitresses just aren't enough to cover a restaurant of this size.

Maybe I caught them on an off day, but if they struggle with a Monday lunchtime I wouldn't like to visit for dinner on a...

I have now added an update following the venue's response which is totally inaccurate

UPDATE The manager in question never asked me to make space for others and adopted a rude and dismissive attitude as soon as I walked in. He told me to get my cappuccino myself, then literally told me to get up and go. I would ask why he suggested i order in the first place if he thought i was in the wrong. Also there was no one behind me waiting so his claim is simply untrue. If there was a queue, I would have joined it. Customer service is very important to me and I hold a key role for which people genuinely respect me for. I am astonished that the venue is attempting to besmirch me in this way. Their version of events is entirely false and this is not professional at all. I do not wish to enter into a war of words but I cannot let this pass without adding the truth....................

ORIGINAL POST Never had a problem in all the years I've been here. But this evening I stopped by to have a coffee and enjoy the lovely weather and amazing view. I approached the server, a balding older man, and asked for a coffee. I thought this would save him the time of coming to my table. However he was very dismissive and told me "you 'll Ihave to order it ourself" pointing at the bar. I found his attitude to be very rude. Once I had my coffee, he kept coming up asking if I'd finished yet. He then said in a loud voice which I found intimidating and humiliating as all the other customers could hear "You need to go now. We have other people waiting for a table". I find it extraordinary that in such a normally reputable establishment, a member of staff could even begin to imagine that talking to a customer in this way, particularly a lone young female, is in any way acceptable. He seemed devoid of any semblance of customer service and appeared to go out of his way to single me out for humiliation. Totally ruined what 1 had oped to be a relaxing evening. I don't normally write such scathing reviews but in this instance it is impossible for me not to. And just so they know who it was, I was in a black rain iacket...

Me and my dear friends were enjoying our pleasant time in sunny Shanklin and decided to stop for a bite to eat. We chose the Waterfront Inn for its picturesque waterfront and seaside views. We were greeted on welcome and shown to our waterfront table by a lovely man “what a lovely man” we said!. That’s when it ALL started. Mark came to the table to take our drinks order, which he got correct (THANK GOD!). He started on the right side of the table where my friends ordered a sausage and mash and the scampi and chips respectively. Another of my friends ordered a lasagne, which went off without a hitch. I then ordered the cod and chips, however, I changed my mind and asked to change this to a lasagne. Mark acknowledged this change from cod and chips to LASAGNE, and tapped it into the ever-present electronic device which appears as if surgically attached to his hand. Roughly 15 minutes later a server delivered the sausage and mash alongside the scampi and chips (comforting if somewhat tasteless). Then, what occurs but a server bringing us TWO cod and chips!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We sat in a state of shock at the incredible mental gymnastics that must have taken place in Mark’s head as to reach the conclusion that we wanted not just one, but TWO cod and chips! Eventually, we called Mark over where we explained politely that we had clearly ordered two lasagnes. Mark then, in his sassy manner, attempted to gaslight us into believing we ordered these unwanted dinners by simply pointing at the order form on his toy iPad. (No Mark…because you pushed the cod and chips button doesn’t mean we asked for it). He offered us no solution nor compensation and left the conversation hastily without apology. We were left eating mouthfuls of surprise batter and dry chips in a soured mood. Five minutes after Mark handed us whatever on earth he felt like giving us we see him in his own clothes drinking a beer! I’m beginning to wonder if he even worked there...