Sailor Boy Freehouse — Restaurant in Tendring

Donna's Restaurant - would give 0 stars if possible !!! Avoid at all costs !! Spend your money somewhere else !!! Went there with extended family (large table of mix of kids and adults-13 if us). menu is over priced considering the venue and location, the main reason for this review is down to the manager/head chef herself. Never, in my life, I have experienced such disgusting behaviour and attitude from someone who is suppose to be a professional business owner. Out of all the meals ordered, only one of them was an issue. None of the wait staff came over to ask us if everything was OK with our meals and only after when clearing the plates- half an hour after eating- did we get asked if everything was OK. To which we let them know there was an issue with the burger- (which was completely left due to it's arriving luke-warm and tasting like a piece of watery, bland, cardboard). 20 minutes later a women from the kitchen came over to ask if we enjoyed our meals, to which we replied that all of them was really lovely but the burger was disappointing. She then proceeded to grill us on the exact issues with the burger (if she was so good at grilling- I don't know why she didn't do it right the first time with the meal). After saying it was watery she said she didn't see how that was possible as it was fresh - don't know what that has to with it. Then when said it was also quite flavourless she then went on to state it was flamegrilled - HA!! You could see the pan marks around the burgers edge!! Had no 'flame-grilled' markings on it at all. Then when we said it didn't even arrive hot she said it came straught off the flame grill and out to the table - well the cheese hadn't even melted properly and was all lumpy inside the bun, but she couldn't answer why the cheese hadn't melted so kept quiet on that one. She then proceeded to disguise pure and utter rudeness as humour by joking that if we didn't like the food we could go somewhere else like mcds. When I called her out on her rudeness she then acted confused !! Take it on the chin ! You're suppose to be the manager. We complimented all your other food but you messed up on the burger. Just say sorry about that and move on, don't come out of the kitchen to have a row with your customers to defend your cardboard burger! Essentially it was the manager/head chef's - as she claimed to be both- attitude that lead to this being an awful night. Disgusting woman. If you do choose to go here and you order the burger, be prepared to have to go mcds after for a proper burger, because even they do a better burger than...

Not Covid Safe / Flouting Government Guidelines

After reading the positive reviews about this fish & chip shop, I went to collect a takeaway order this evening whilst on holiday.

Upon arrival I read the sign to wear a mask and socially distance, following the governments current guidelines. Ordered my fish & chips and waited outside as advised by staff.

When waiting outside it became apparrent that staff were not wearing masks or any ppe that's required currently to prepare, cook and serve food as per the governments guidelines:

Gov.uk: "Face coverings must be worn by retail, leisure and hospitality staff working in any indoor area that is open to the public and where they’re likely to come into contact with a member of the public.".

When being called to collect the food, we asked the staff casually and politely why they weren't wearing masks. One member of staff looked as if they didn't know there was a virus at all, the other simply stared before stating she was exempt from wearing one. The other two said nothing. I highly doubt all 4+ staff are exempt, and if they are, where were the visors as the alternative instead of the mask? Or a badge to say they were exempt?

There was no apology or reassuring response from any of the staff, and at this time another customer walked in. She did not socially distance from us or have a mask on, not following the sign on the shop front, or the governments guidelines. She was served and not told by any staff to pull her mask up for the safety of other customers or their own staff. It was only when we said, that she apologised and pulled it up. Antibac also out but no customers or staff using it whilst handeling cash transactions.

Highly dissapointed in the establishment and staff for not following the government's guidelines to be open at this time, or to make customers feel safe when ordering. They clearly had no care for the guidelines, allowing both staff and other customers to not follow the rules when being in the shop and around other members of the public. Completely unfair on the establishments going out of their way to follow guidelines to stay open at this time, and left us coming away feeling...

The sailor boy freehouse

Lovely friendly pub with always lots going on especially weekends and height of season. Kareokes on the green outside are great fun, and they also do evening entertainment inside. Bit dark and old inside, but dont be put off, still a lovely friendly local pub :) staff also great espacially as it gets busy.

sailor boy cafe

We love this place! We are a family of 6 & regulars that stay on seawick or martello and always spend days and evenings here! We LOVE the food here, often come for breakfast or lunch. Such a super service, quick but fresh cooked food, always piping hot, lovely staff, that do a great job on busy days amongst them all. Slushes and ice creams for kids can even get a cold beer or glass of wine. Outdoors is a fab atmosphere too in the nice weather between the freehouse and chippy next door also and arcades and things for kids right next door too. We love it here, one of our fave holiday spots and...