The Stamford Public House — Restaurant in Trafford

It’s been a while since we last visited The Stamford Public House.

It’s a lovely spot opposite the church and under a sprawling tree with plenty of outdoor seats - a mix of tables and benches although every time we visit it’s a little untidy and grubby - it needs a little more love.

It’s Sunday lunch and we opted for the two course but shared the starter and dessert.

There are good options in the menu with veggie and vegan roasts represented well.

The Hummus was basic but garnished well, my partners veggie roast was delicious and enjoyed enormously and my fish and chips was of a good standard, good size serve and very nice chips. However being a fan of mushy peas I’m always disappointed when they are of the tin variety.

Usually the vegan dessert option in many restaurants is SORBET!!’ However, here the vegan chocolate torte with raspberry sorbet was very respectable as many vegan desserts are frankly weird, totally over processed or tasteless. Thanks chef, my partner for once was happy to stay for pudding!

Ok, the service…Orders are taken at the bar with your table number. Not sure if the server was flustered but the dessert was missed on our initial order… Maybe get the team to repeat the order back to the guests to confirm or pay more attention to guests and not themselves.

The hummus arrived with no cutlery/ napkins which we had to remind the server who looked a little surprised! Is it a dish to be eaten with hands ???

We then waited quite a while for anyone to notice we had finished the starter - we again prompted the server ( I think manager ) to check on our main course. The food arrived, the plates slamming down on to the table in haste and once again we asked for cutlery.

By the time we had worked out the issue with dessert order we felt like we were ‘the problem table’ with numerous servers now visiting our table double checking all was in order pfff.

Being honest, the young team seemed uninterested from the get go, it was a hot day so it could have also played a part but The Stamford is not a cheap place for food and drinks. I would also of thought they would have been a little more savvy and not placed the 12.5 % service charge on our bill! As ‘service’ we did not get plus we always feel mean asking for it to be removed !

Food great, service not…

Come on management, this place is good but with a little more love and attention...

We arrived, no one to seat us 2 people walked passed made eye contact and said nothing: Went to the bar to ask if we can be seated to our table and was met with “I don’t know where you’re sitting” followed by an awkward laugh.

Sat us down no menu’s etc.

Blonde lady came over (manage or a senior member of staff) was accommodating and moved us to the restaurant. When she took our order, we asked if the meat comes pink on the roast beef, she said “yes, however you like it cooked we can do it” Partner asked if there’s a veggie option as the menu at the table does not reflect the one on the website.

She said yes the kitchen can do you a veggie tofu roast. We asked does it come with all the trimmings like the other roasts. “Yes, it comes with all the trimmings mate”

Food arrived.

Unseasoned bland

Beef was well done over cooked. No roast potatoes

Veggie option was a vegan one so had one parsnip and a bit of cabbage no seasoning, no flavour. Not once were we told it’s a vegan option.

Blonde lady came back with potatoes no apology, potatoes which had looked like they have been cooked by the heat of a lamp soaked in oil.

I mentioned the issue with the beef. Was told; “I found out last week, that’s how’s it’s cooked as it’s cooked the day before it so comes like that” so I mentioned if you said that from the start I would have ordered something else, but you said I could have it how you like.

“Sorry about that mate” that was it. No discount off the meal nothing. Not very...

What a shame, great pub but the most disappointing Sunday dinner. They had obviously been very busy, which is great, but when you run out of food you need to stop filling tables. Worst Sunday dinner ever. £21 for two courses, not bad but ended up only having one and leaving as the main course was a plate of cold roast beef, frozen overcooked Yorkshire puddings, some cold cabbage and lashings of salty gravy. They had run out of the veggie option and couldn’t offer anything else initially (not great when your veggie has nothing else on the menu to choose from) they had no vegetables left and told us the kitchen had run out of food but continued to serve up this joke of a dinner. Then to be charged the full £21 per person! As I said at the beginning, shame as it’s a great pub but no restaurant. Won’t be eating...