The Wavendon — Restaurant in Sunderland

What a difference a week can make . We were last at the Wavendon a week ago for a family birthday meal , unfortunately on that occasion the food was sadly quite underwhelming . I was very pleasantly surprised to be contacted the day after our visit by Mark , the manager, who had read my review and apologised for the uncharacteristically poor food . He explained that it was the head chiefs day off on our visit and invited us back to sample the food when his head chief was working - and what a MASSIVE difference it made . On our previous visit we were impressed with the friendly and attentive staff . To be honest , it was the staff that had stopped the meal being a disaster. They really were superb . Tonight the same two staff were working , and again , they were brilliant . What was strikingly different however, was the food, which was simply amazing ! The difference in the quality of the food from last week to tonights was as different as night and day . The head chief even took time away from his busy kitchen to ask how everything was and it was DELICIOUS . I don't eat out much these days because Ive grown accustomed to poor service and tasteless , joyless , food but tonight's meal has made me question my position . Each of the ingredients tasted so fresh , with each element seemed somehow elevated above what I expected - I could gladly have eaten a huge bowl full of the red pickled cabbage with the deep friend squid. The food was clean and unpretentious and the flavours 'sang' because of it . The portions are generous and filling but despite this, I still managed to eat a started AND a main because the food was so 'moorish' . The four of us there tonight all had very different style dishes but all of them were prepared and executed to the highest ( and tastiest ) degree - each with their own distinct , unique flavours . There was nothing bland about this food , its huge , punchy flavours that leaves you planning your next visit - A week ago , I would never have thought I would be saying that but a week ago I hadn't tasted this chiefs food . I would again like to thank Mark, his head chief and their great service team for their amazing generosity , friendliness , professionalism and for the chance to change my opinion - (which I have .) Myself and my family will be back in the very near future . Thanks for a...

Well what can I say! Disaster. Had table booked and all meals pre ordered, taken and approved by the manager Mark. On the night 9 of us turned up at 7pm for our booking, spent an age waiting for someone to take a drinks order, had to ask. By 8pm we were still waiting for starters, had to ask. We were asked if we wanted menus? No as we pre ordered. Still waiting. Two or three times we repeated we had pre ordered. Eventually staff informed us that they had lost our pre order form and the manager was off..had to order again!! Starters arrived as well as one main..other meals arrived all but one, my mam's who was out celebrating her birthday. We were told hers would be five minutes. Others had finished their mains, twenty minutes later still nothing! Mam still had no meal by almost 9pm. I approached the kitchen and told them to scrap the last meal as were leaving. Assistant manager came out I explained I was fuming and really disappointed with service and birthday was ruined. Jac? I think her name was tried to explain it was Marks wrong doing and she would adjust the bill. She discounted the bill and we still paid over £120. The meal she gave us to take home for mam was like something the dog brought up. Was meant to be panacelty I will try to attach photo so you understand exactly what I mean. Definitely not worth a second visit although staff offered us a twenty percent discount if we gave them another chance. Not a...

If anybody is thinking about doing the bottomless brunches in The Wavendon, don’t waste your money. Disorganised chaos and unlike any bottomless brunch I’ve been to before. Appreciate it’s their first and they’ve got A LOT to learn, but you’d think they would have gone to a few first to see how they work!

👎🏼 Told we couldn’t change drinks and had to stick to the same one throughout the brunch. Immediately got everyone’s backs up

👎🏼 Played the whole sing-a-long film (2hr 40) but the brunch itself was only 1hr 30, so once time was up, had to pay for expensive drinks or leave and miss the end of the film and the main song from the film

👎🏼 Had to go get drinks at the bar. Everyone from the brunch queuing, people just grabbing any drink that was offered. Spent more at the bar then enjoying the sing-a-long

👎🏼 Gin and vodka drinks served in dumpy whiskey tumblers and cocktails in half pint glasses

👎🏼 Needed to take our own glasses back to the bar and would only be given a new drink if we proved we’d drank the last!!

👎🏼 Food absolutely deep fried to death and swimming in grease

👎🏼 Unable to see the TV’s and lyrics from where we were seated - couldn’t even hear the film properly either

👎🏼 Staff took videos and posted online when everyone was singing songs to make it look like everyone was having a good time, when in reality between songs, everyone was fuming about the shitshow...