Kimbridge Barn — Restaurant in Test Valley

Sadly, a big disappointment. Having eaten in other restaurants from Ideal Collection, I was looking forward to visiting their new venue. I had read quite a few negative reviews in some of the Romsey Facebook groups and TripAdvisor, especially regarding them being overpriced, poor quality of food and service and small portions. I did not pay too much attention to them since I know how much this company tries to deliver a good quality product/service and how difficult this past year has been to the restaurant industry that has struggled to keep reasonable prices and portions after quite a considerable raised of food prices. The first thing I would like to say is that the place looks lovely, very welcoming and cosy and that the staff, although quite lost and untrained, were very nice to us. We arrived a little bit before 2 pm and we asked for a table. They were quite busy and at first, the lady who greeted us seemed to struggle to find accommodation for us (5 adults and 3 children). In the end, she asked if we would mind waiting for around 20 minutes. We did not have any problems with that. However, when we asked if we could have a coffee or a tea while we waited, she said that she did not think they could do that. A few minutes later, the manager came and asked us if we wanted to order something to drink while we waited. We did not have to wait long for the teas. However, they forgot the sugar and for various reasons we could not have it until we finally sat on the table. Also, one of the teas was extremely strong and we had to ask for some extra water to weaken it a bit. They did that without any problems. They have a breakfast menu from 8/9 am until 11 am and another one for lunches from midday. I am not quite sure what people can order from 11 to 12. The lunch menu has 5 sandwiches (2 of them vegetarian) and another 4 vegetarian dishes (soup, salad, roasted squash and risotto). They also offer a “dish of the day” that ranges from chicken Kiev on Tuesdays, fish and chips on Fridays to Roast on Sundays (unpriced by the way). Being Sunday, we asked for the Roast, but they told us that it was not available. The options left then where some vegetarian options and sandwiches. The cheapest option was a mushroom and cheese toastie for £7 and sandwiches which could cost up to £10.50. If you wanted chips, you had to pay £2.50 extra. We ordered a few sandwiches, chips, soup and a superfood salad. The disappointment came with the food. The food was occupying just half of the plate, the bowls of chips were not full and the coleslaw came in the smallest ramekins possible and looked almost empty. The bread of the sandwich was quite thin. The salad came with cheese when we specifically ordered one without it, and did not take even half of the plate. To be honest, they changed the salad and did not charge for it, but you cannot charge £12.50 for a salad that does not fill half of the plate. After all the food had come, we still did not have cutlery nor napkins. At first, we thought they may be looking for them, but we had to ask for them when it became apparent no one was going to bring them otherwise. To finish our experience, we also had issues with the bill, which were fixed after talking to the staff. In my opinion, this could be a great place, but I am not sure if people will give them the chance to take off, unless they change a couple of things: Staff should be trained in the basics of catering service (guide customers though menus and explain missing items, how to prepare hot drinks, bring sugar with them, prepare the tables with cutlery, sauces, salt and pepper and napkins before food arrives, etc.) For this, the roll of the manager is vital, as they need to be vigilant and make sure that their staff get the training they need. Prices have to reflect the quality and appearance of the food. Likewise, if you cannot afford bigger options, use smaller plates and present the food in a way that makes it look more than what...

Disappointing menu & service. We were expecting great things from this place but unfortunately this was not the case. The menu is very limited therefore you would expect everything to be perfect and for the prices good value but we felt very let down. We had 2 sandwiches (a club sandwich and a mushroom and cheese toastie) a portion of fries and 2 cold drinks at a cost of £29.75 we do not mind paying for quality and for this price we expected better. The club sandwich was similar to what you would traditionally expect and the chicken was very well cooked with the exception that I bit into a wishbone that hadn't been removed and that all of the ingredients had been mixed together between 2 slices of toast rather than the traditional 3, both sandwiches were served with the smallest portion of homemade coleslaw (which was tasty) I have ever seen and some vegetable crisps although as my wife had ordered a portion of fries they omitted to putting the crisps on her plate despite paying extra for the fries. There were plenty of staff (too many to be frank) who unfortunately are in need of lots of training, they do take your order at the table but are ill informed as to what to do after that, cutlery and condiments were being forgotten to be taken to tables, customer were being misinformed regarding information about allergies and menu content and preparation (very risky in this day and age). No table checks were taking place or empty plates being cleared before customers having to get upto pay their bills at the counter. Very unlikely that we will be returning or recommending to...

Met a friend here for lunch-table booked for 12 midday and informed on the website that the table was only available for one hour and three quarters so until 1.45pm. Upon arrival, informed that we had the table for an hour and a half until I pointed out that online it said an hour and three quarters. Food here is average and a pot of tea for one is £3.50. At 1.20pm a waitress was hovering by our table. I advised her that we had the table until 1.45pm so she immediately asked if we would like anything else. My friend ordered a glass of coke which was brought immediately. At 1.35pm the bill was brought unasked to the table and we paid it and, by this time had had enough of hovering waiting staff so we left. The waitress apologised for ruching us but said that they had afternoon teas booked and needed the table. By contrast a week later I met another friend for lunch at a different venue where the food was vastly superior to Kimbridge Barn, cheaper and my friend and I had our table for four hours and could chat away to our heart's content! I shan't be going back to Kimbridge Barn if I can possibly avoid it and I would r3comm3nd that you only book a table there if ypu are with someone that you don't really lik3 and don't want to spend much time with. There are a variety of places around the area that do a much better choice of food, are much better value and where ypu can spend a great deal of quality time with family and friend withput having to leave after an hour and three quarters with a great deal of unfinished conversation. Don't waste...