Banana Tree Stevenage — Restaurant in Stevenage

It's a shame to give this such a low score but after being twice at least half of the food a drinks were such a letdown. For example, I previously ordered a Peach Iced Tea but what I got was a glass of water with what seemed to be a peach syrup in it. It tasted okay but was more like a very diluted peach squash than Iced Tea.

Onto the food, the starters, rice and sides have been amazing, the giant prawn crackers and the Bang Bang Broccoli was also very good! However, they seem to struggle with the meat in their mains. I have had a crispy duck and a simple chicken curry and both times the meat was massively overdone, was very chewy and actually inedible at times. The flavour of the dishes was good as was the accompanying parts of the meal but the meat is the reason you choose a dish so you'd at least expect that to be the best part.

The other negative I'd have to add was the waiters and the table placement. We were put on a table near the door that was very close to a partition. There was another set of 2 on the right and then a long gap or walkway for people to go up and down. For some reason, the waiter insisted on squeezing between our table and the partition with every new set of customers to bring them to their table. This left us feeling very uncomfortable and my husband was bumped every time throughout the whole meal. All they had to do was walk over one row and walk up the dedicated walkway!? Another odd experience we had was when the waiter placed our plates on the table, then backed up a few feet where the person simply stared at me until I took the first bite of my food. They then stepped back over to ask how the food was. Again it left me feeling very uncomfortable. I should say that the first time we visited at lunch the waiters were amazing, the lady was so polite and the service was very quick.

I think I will give them one last chance as some of it was worth it. Hopefully, it was just the odd fluke, as otherwise, they have really let themselves down as everything else...

I decided to get some food from here as a pick me up as I wasn’t having a good day. I spent £41 getting food for my partner and I. I got the duck as I love duck, with Calamari as a side. And my partner got prawn Thai green curry, with coconut rice. Firstly the food took an hour come remind you it was delivery and they kept pushing the time back for delivery. When I finally got the food, I immediately smelt the food was smelly funny. Like the food was cooked in old oil. I assumed I was just me being picky being pregnant and all but to my surprise partner said the same thing. I opened the Calamari first and to my surprise the portion was mega tiny. I couldn’t believe I paid £8.15 for that portion. The next shocker is that it tasted just like it smelt, BURNT OLD OIL. My partner and I love Calamari. We are always fighting for it. It didn’t even taste like proper Calamari it tasted like those cheap ones that has a filler in it like potatoes. Moving on I was most excited for the duck, but oh boy was I in for a shocker. The duck was dry, like it has been on heat all day. You know how meat is when it dry it’s kinda of whitish. The rice was crispy as wasn’t cooked properly or it was wasn’t fresh at all. We got 3 different sauces and they all tasted like fish sauce. I can’t really speak for my partner’s food as he ate it later on but rated it 4/10 and loves banana tree. He carried me to one of their branches years ago for my birthday as he knew I would have loved and did. So I was excited when they opened a branch here but unfortunately wasn’t able to go. So I was really looking forward to the food as takeout but was totally disappointed and won’t be going there ever. Banana tree I don’t know if you reserve your most freshest food for your eat-in customers but take away customers spend just as much as they do. So we expect quality and food that is edible as it wasn’t cheap....

Booked prior with a note regarding tables which was disregarded. Had to request to be moved as the 2 person tables are far too small if you're going here for anything more than a drink.

No staff acknowledgemen on arrival despite many walking back and fourth. Not overly friendly. Took a while to get the attention of anyone to take a drinks order and they also took quite a while to come. Pretty sure I was charged for large drinks (what was asked for), despite being sent regular. Lots of staff hanging around chatting but not much movement of actual drinks being made and taken to tables. It wasn't overly busy either, but there was a big backlog of dirty glasses on the bar which didn't look great.

Food came in good time, was alright but nothing to write home about. Small portion for the price and was still hungry after.

Waiter seemed rude and not very welcoming at all. Had him on a previous visit and he was the same then too. We hoped we'd get someone else this time and it was just a fluke. Because of this, we requested to remove the service charge which is added automatically onto your bill which is very cheeky and in poor taste. We'd have been more inclined to tip had it not been assumed, so didn't (but mainly due to poor service, we felt invisible!).

The bill actually stated if the service wasn't up to scratch (which it definitely wasn't), just request to remove the service charge with no questions asked. Immediately had multiple questions fired at us asking why (apparently manager had asked). What's that all about?

Imagine if you'd budgeted for a meal out with your family prior to arriving and then to get the bill and it be 10% extra that originally thought for food that is quite expensive in the first place. Definitely should be optional and absolutely no questions asked and certainly not assumed. Super cheeky!

Wouldn't bother going back...