Nags Head — Restaurant in Vale of White Horse

Waitress nagged us right out of the Nag's head. We arrived about 20 minutes ago headed to the almost empty outdoor area ( no wait to be seated sign or anything similar we could see) started ordering using the QR code on the table and a waitress came over and said we had to leave if we didn't have a booking, we highlighted the many many empty tables around us and were then told the kitchen was closed, we asked to order just drinks, like the 2 other occupied tables had done but then she said we had to leave in case anyone that booked and was inside wanted to come outside, to the around ten empty tables. We then checked their website and they had plenty of tables available to book. Terrible way to do business. We walked across the road to the Abingdon riverside cafe, turns out it has a much better view with tables closer to the water and staff and service that puts the Nag's Head to shame. Recommend their blueberry ice cream if you are in the area.

Now responding to the Nag's head reply reply to my review: we didn't see a host station between entering via the bar and the straight walk from the bar door to the steps down to the door outside. I'll take your word for it, perhaps we missed it. We certainly never spoke to or seen a host or spoke to any member of staff before your waitress came over to us while we were browsing the menu online. We wanted to order food and had accessed the menu using the Qr code when you waitress came over - why did she tell us the kitchen was closed? You never addressed that. It was after she said that that we asked about only drinks. We checked about booking online and could book no problem so either your booking management doesn't match the availability on the website or there is something else going on. We weren't seated at the only empty table, there were at least 6 other empty tables, probably more but I didn't count so don't want to exaggerate. I can perfectly remember however that only 2 other tables were occupied, we were the third, so however many tables you have in that seating area, minus 3, is how many empty tables there were. There were a lot of options available to you waitress, she could have asked us to book online right there to help you keep track of bookings, she could have told us what time we needed to vacate the table by, she could have asked us to move inside. Instead she said your kitchen was closed and we couldn't order drinks because you were fully booked, both so ridiculous that we got the message. For whatever reason we were being refused service, perhaps we offended your waitress or management by walking in and taking a seat instead of finding someone to seat us, but as I said, we didn't see the host station you mention. We saw staff at the bar serving drinks, but didn't approach them thinking they would deal with the bar only, maybe that was a mistake on our part. Between the bar and outside we saw a member of staff clearing a table inside, I didn't interrupt them to ask about booking/being seated, maybe I should have.

Also when we left the riverside cafe around 30 minutes later, we could see where we were seated from the bridge. All of the tables were still empty, except the 2 that were occupied when...

We booked lunch on the terrace on a sunny day. Greeted by a guy in a multi coloured checkered shirt. Really welcoming. Sat and our waitress, was good too. Plus, very clean toilets. We’d spent over £70.

The food was fabulous. Really good. At that point, a well deserved 5 stars.

Then, we went to the drinks part by the river and ordered a drink via the QR code. The drinks came and my wife’s Diet Coke was flat. It happens. No worries. A lovely day. So, she went to the outside bar to get it replaced. This is where the review went from 5 stars to 1 star.

My wife came back, most unlike her, and said, ‘I’ve not been treated that badly for 15 years’. His defence will be that he didn’t say much. Agreed. It was more the slamming down of the replaced Diet Coke accompanied with a look & body language that attempted to make you feel like ‘You dare to come to my bar with this’ - I’ll punish you to do so.

About 30 minutes later, drinks finished, I confronted him about his poor service. I could see what she meant. I shared how unhappy my wife was with the service, and his reply was, ‘The drink was replaced, wasn’t it?’. Then, he attempted to stare at me until I looked away. I didn’t. His only response was an attempt to stare a customer down. Very sad. You are front line customer service.

Shocking customer service.

Then, the manager stepped in and asked me to share. I did. She apologised. I walked away very unhappy.

I see in other reviews that you criticise people for not bringing their concerns to you & then they write damming google reviews. I brought my concern to you and you did very little. If you want customers to bring concerns to you then, you need to be able to deal with them beyond a basic ‘Sorry’.

My wife also noticed how the same bar guy had treated the guy in the queue before her. Not well. The customer had ordered a beer and the bartender was pouring when the customer told him it was the wrong beer. The bartender’s similar reply - non verbal but a slamming down of the pint glass to then pour the correct beer. It’s not the words that the problem. It’s the attitude.

The chef, maitre d, waitress - all their efforts destroyed because one young guy had no clue how to treat customers and thought he’d get away with it until a customer confronted his poor behaviour.

Disgusted. I feel for all the other members of the team who wanted to provide a fabulous experience, let down by one person who did not care in the slightest.

I waited by the bar for my wife, as she went to the toilet. The manager was discussing my complaint in the upper bar with the guy in the checkered shirt. Please don’t discuss customer complaints in public. I wanted to step in and say ‘I am here. Ask me’. You didn’t notice me.

Lovely location. Great food. Customer...

We visited the nags head last night as we’re visiting Oxford from Doncaster for a weekend away. The restaurant was very clean, bright and airy and atmosphere was upbeat and cheery. I ordered the king prawn curry which was to die for! Plenty of prawns included in the dish, flavourful explosion and really well presented. My husband had the wagyu and pancetta burger. Great portion size, burger cooked medium and full of flavour!

Service however could be massively improved. We aren’t from here and aren’t regulars of this pub so we didn’t know what we were doing or where we were going. We went to the bar and said we had a table booked for 7:10 and the guy behind the bar mumbled and just pointed to the stairs - leaving us confused on if that’s where our table is or if that’s where we needed to go to check in. We went downstairs and was greeted by a woman who I’d describe as “having a bad day” checked us in then just told us to go back to the bar and find our own table.

Once we sat down, a waitress came over with our cutlery and napkins and just told us to order our food & drinks at the bar and then left us to it. We ended up moving tables as ours didn’t have a table number on it. I ordered food using the QR code on the table as 3 interactions with mardy staff made us not want any more human interaction. Food came quickly with the drinks and as I said was fantastic. But staff need to learn customer service and how to smile. It wasn’t a friendly experience, and if we are ever in Oxford again we would return only for the food. Not for...