Finkins — Restaurant in South Kesteven

Leaving this review with trepidation as most others appear to be shot down with a reply if they leave a 1 star review. Having never left a negative review before I do feel bad however I was so very disappointed yesterday - Mothers Day and it really tarnished the whole day for us. I say the following in the nicest possible way, we are just really let down by the experience.

To begin with, we had dirty plates and cutlery (this was for afternoon tea), there were no menus whatsoever for teas/coffees/other hot drinks/ soft drinks - nothing, so we had to order those rather under pressure guessing what might be available.

We arrived just after 1pm and had to wait until nearly 2.30pm for our food, everyone around us was served first (but also late) and was also served a completely different standard of food to us which was such a shame, my children were starving by this point but had barely any cakes to choose from (3 x miniscule ones on each tower of which we had 2), all the other tables around us had much nicer offerings in addition to their clotted cream and jam separate however ours was premade and quite a mess. Additionally, I requested the sandwiches without butter (it makes me sick) and was told that this could not be done as they were premade however we still didn't get the food for quite some time after that request and when we did the edges of all the sandwiches were going hard and stale as if they had been sat out. The sausage rolls and pork pies appeared quite cheap (apologies if they were not).

So all round food wise, it was really not nice for any of us and we left most of it after only eating bits of some things because we were so hungry by that point.

I did raise the issue at the time of being there, I was very polite to the (lovely and overworked) waitress who accepted I had a right to feel the way I did. The opportunity was there to put it right however it was ignored other than a discount when we left but we still paid £55 which was absolutely shocking considering it was a few drinks and 2 really very disappointing afternoon tea towers. I cannot believe they would have charged double that had it been full price, you simply cannot serve that level of (sub)standard food and charge such a lot per head.

Please also consider an hourly toilet check as the 1 toilet that was working upstairs really was filthy.

I hate to say this also but other than the kind waitress that attended to us, albeit not very much as there was not enough staff, the other staff we had contact with were sadly not very personable and seemed as though everything was an issue. Which ironically it was.

To clarify, it was my husband and I and our 2 young children...

We went for breakfast as we had been visiting and staying nearby, we went in because their A board sign offered an all day breakfast and it didn't seem that busy. When we got inside we sat a a table that had been reserved and the young lady said it was OK and they would sit the other customers elsewhere, which for us was nice and amenable, first impressions good but that didn't last.

We assumed that it was going to be table service and it was not, you have to go to the counter to order your food. Therefore, we all ordered our food and drinks at the counter our order had been six all day breakfast and one breakfast wrap. When the drinks came we waited for sugar this never came and we went twice to the counter to tell them we needed sugar, when it was brought only 5 single sachets for 7 hot drinks, we had to go again to the counter.

Then we received 4 off the all day breakfast and the other two in our party had still been waiting for their breakfast which never came and we had to go to the counter again to inquire where the two outstanding breakfasts were and how long they would be. No condiments on the table and we also had to go to the counter to get brown sauce and when this came it was in a tiny dish not even a squirt in it, its a bit much especially when the breakfasts are £7.50 each including your drink. The price point on the breakfast is wrong, for the amount and quality served, I hate to say it but a Witherspoons breakfast is better.

Then a Spanish inquisition started over the two outstanding breakfast the ladies on the counter had not ordered them and only taken separate for the drinks. Their had been 4 off us at the counter at the time of ordering, so we knew it was not us that had made a mistake. At this point in time nearly everybody else had nearly finished their breakfasts and the lady came back after checking the bill with another lady in the kitchen with blonde hair (we are assuming the boss). To state we had not ordered the other two breakfasts and she stated do you still want them and we will add them to the bill, no apology given just full on attitude.

We stated yes we wanted them, she said OK and after 20 minutes still no breakfast, one of us went back to the counter again to be told another 10 minutes, we decided to forget it as everyone had finished their breakfasts and some of our party had walked outside because couldn't believe the attitudes being given. The staff member came to the table to say do you still want the breakfast and it was stated no and the next minute by a miracle it was ready and would you like it as a takeaway instead 😏 Thanks but no thanks terrible service...

First time at Finkins, and we're very glad we went. The menu looked delicious, I mean pretty much everything looked appetising, which made choosing one dish rather difficult! I went for the salad with warm chilli chicken, and dh chose the halloumi burger with skinny fries. When it arrived, it looked really good, and I was pleasantly surprised to find a side of homemade coleslaw with my salad. It was all really tasty. My dh polished off his halloumi burger and fries and thoroughly enjoyed it. Of course, we still had room for dessert, so we both went for the triple-layer, jammy dodger cake with a cappuccino. The cake was amazing! The sponge was so obviously homemade, and it was moist, melt-in-the-mouth, and sweet, exactly what was needed to finish our late lunch.

We are definitely going to go back to Finkins. The menu looks so delicious that we have already chosen our next meals! Finally, a gorgeous place in Grantham where you can go and relax, have a light lunch or brunch or just coffee and cake with friends.

The place itself has been decorated and designed to a really high standard. There is also a bar upstairs, but as we didn't venture up there today, I won't be reviewing it. We'll give it a go another time, and I can't wait to try some of the cocktails 🍸🍹

Prices are really reasonable too, which is a welcome relief, considering how everything else has rocketed in price. The salad I had, my hubby's halloumi burger, fries and coleslaw, plus his flat white and my pint of lemonade was just £23. We ordered the coffee and 2 big slices of cake separately, and that came to £10.25. A lot cheaper yet to a higher standard than I recall Belton Garden Centre restaurant offering, and for half the price.

Great first visit. I'm looking forward to the second, which I imagine will be...