The Cowherds — Restaurant in Southampton

Party of 3 came in for Fish & Chips on a Sunday. Heading for college tomorrow so I took my mum and dad down for what was supposed to be a nice goodbye meal.

We came in and the restaurant was fully booked so we decided to eat inside the pub. We didn't mind this not a problem.

The only table left was a table left by the window at the front which that hadn't been cleared of a prevouis Sunday roast. There were plates and left over food everywhere so we asked for it to be cleared.

We stood around as one young lady cleared the table with no help.

We were standing next to the table for about 5mins before she came over She was carrying way beyond means and the enevtable happend.

She dropped a ton if planted in another customers table and customers themselves.

Only then another goth like girl server game and helped her clean. But after that she was stood there talking to the goth girl and we were just standing at our table waiting for it to be cleared.

She then eventually came back and nearly dropped more plates again before wiping to table. The table wiping process was done half arsed and there was still food on the table which I just flicked off with my finger.

We ordered 2 pepsi and 1 beer. I asked for Pepsi no ice and it came with ice. So my dear old mother went to change it. The lady who served us (the one of dropped the plates) came back almost slammed the drink on the table and did a 180 spin so fast. She had a really bad attitude.

I understand her frustration as she dropped all those plates in front of everyone so must of felt embrassing but there was no need to take it out us. I didn't say anything at the time in front of my parents.

The food came a lovely Irish lady who was so sweet and pleasant came over and served us.

The chips were amazing but the fish felt wet in the middle which is a tell tale sign it's been frozen for a while. Shame really. I can almost garentee the fish is not battered in house which annoyed me as If I wanted that I would of just gone to the supermarket.

Fish & Chips was £17 for that I expect it to be battered in the kitchen not bought in already battered. Cost of living crisis so when you go out to eat as a treat really annoying to get that.

No horse raddish for my mums roast ethier you would of thought the kitchen had ordered plently for a busy Sunday as the restruant was fully booked inside.

No salt or pepper om the table or knifes and forks.

To be honest I know how difficult it is working in hospitality I have worked nearly 10 years clearing plates and tables and I know how important it is to keep them clear so you can turn over customers quicker. But felt annoyed having to stand around waiting for someone to clear it.

This is what happens when you pay hospitality workers minimum wage . Minimum wage = minimum effort and that's why I left to pursue a career elsewhere which is why I am in Southampton at the college to study for a better life. But thats another story.

The only saving grace was the nice Irish lady with glasses.

If management does respond to this I'll only believe the fish is cooked in house if a picture is taken with it battered in the kitchen. Otherwise I won't believe you have cooked it in fryer if you say you have. Happliy take back my words if proven wrong. But but I'm 99% sure that fish was bought in already battered.

The reason I wrote this was the fact that the original server came and angrily dumped the drink on the table after she got it wrong by putting ice in the first one. It was the whole bad attitude that annoyed me.

I probably wouldn't of wrote this bad review as I know stressful a bsuy Sunday can be and hospitality is very demanding on your stress.

My only advice is get more staff on the floor inside the pub area helping...

I visited The Cowherds a couple of days ago, and as someone who had never properly been to a pub/restaurant setting like this—much less alone—I felt a bit timid at the start. I asked a bar member a few questions and was met with a superbly kind tone and informative answers. I was then guided to the seated restaurant area, where my server, Lexi, showed me to my table and provided a menu. From the outset, the service was excellent, accompanied by a warm welcome.

As aforementioned, this was my first proper visit to a pub restaurant like this, and I wasn’t sure what to order. I asked for suggestions and truly appreciated the receptiveness and assistance in choosing.

I ordered the Chicken Liver, Apple & Cider Brandy Pate served with hedgerow chutney and toasted ciabatta. Following the recommendation, I opted for the Slow-Cooked Pork Belly, served with a pulled pork & apple bon bon, creamy chive mash, green beans, and crackling, all accompanied by a red wine jus and a side of fries.

Along with the meal, I had 2 pints of beer. Admittedly, I asked quite a few questions of the waitress, but she answered them all very well, seemed extremely well-informed, and was happy to help. Throughout my time at The Cowherds, Lexi was very attentive, ensuring that I had all I needed. I also observed her serving other customers in a phenomenal manner, adjusting to their specific needs and requests, while ensuring each table was satisfied.

The food arrived in a reasonable time; the plates and food were served hot, with presentation and taste being impeccable. I chose to follow up with a mango, raspberry, and coconut milk sorbet, which, again, was excellent.

Overall, I found the experience to be outstanding and will most definitely be returning, bringing friends along with me. Although the food may be somewhat pricey, I believe the quality and overall experience more than justifies it. As someone who has worked in service and restaurants a fair bit, I must say that Lexi was amazing and truly made the experience...

We’ve been to this pub a number of times so decided to book in this afternoon for a little bite to eat. When we arrived the pub was not busy and we were greeted and seated very quickly. We were the only ones in the dining area.

When we sat down a waitress came to take our drinks order and was very pleasant but then a man approached her and politely asked where he could sign in his car as he had parked and was outside (not a problem to us) she spoke to him quite rudely like she couldn’t eh bothered to answer him which we found really uncomfortable and she just walked off?

When we got our drinks we started to look over the menu as we were the only ones in the cowherds dining area we decided we might like to move to the bar side and just have some snacks and have our drinks as there was more of an atmosphere that side, I got up to let the bar know and buy our drinks when the waitress started following me asking where I was going? I advised I was going to pay for the drinks at the bar and she kept saying I didn’t need to do this and she’d take my order now but I said I wasn’t ready and I then advised I also needed the toilet which was a little comfortable as she was still following me.

I then went over to the bar and the lady at the bar was really nice let me buy my drinks and advised I could sit anywhere with my partner. When going back to the table the waitress had a bit of a pop and said “well you didn’t need to do that did you? I will still be bringing food over that way anyway?!” I advised we just wanted to change and it was nothing against her. We both moved but felt really uncomfortable with these encounters so just had our drinks and left.

We’ve never really had this before there and it was a really odd and intense experience. We probably won’t be back...