The Rake and Riddle — Restaurant in Wales

Mixed bag experience here today. Only been down for drinks since it re-opened but today went down looking for a Sunday Roast. We sat outside in the play area so our toddler could stay entertained. This is one of the best beer gardens for kids/toddlers on the Gower with slides, swings, climbing apparatus and a nice soft artificial grass flooring down. We had a Sunday Roast from The Welsh House, sharing platter for two which was really good with nice mix of meats and veg at a reasonable price. And a good pint of Madri to wash it down.

What let it down today was the service side. Big sign as you walk in saying order from all three restaurants on the app however I could only get through to the pizza place on the app nothing else showing up despite selecting ‘The Welsh House’ the app just took me in to the Pizza ordering screen. Decided to order inside, couldn’t find a table number on the bench (assumed they would be giving out paddles/flags with the order). Went in and was asked for a table number, explained I couldn’t find one but was told I needed a table number to order and it should be engraved on the table. Went back outside, checked table over .. no number. Went back in and explained, staff then checked with someone else who informed them there were issues with those table numbers so in the end it was put against a false table number. Service for food was quick enough once my order was placed. Our Toddler had a kids meal which came with an ice-cream but when ordering was told to come in and ask for it after we had eaten. Did this but the ice cream never came, my partner went in to check where it was and it had been forgotten, as we had waited a while decided to leave. It was a shame the service let it down as the food was nice. It may be a complexity of serving 3 different restaurants in the same establishment. The staff were all lovely, no issues there just felt disorganised and difficult. I really hope it’s just early kinks they can work through as being local I really want this place open (as I’ve already mentioned one of the best beer gardens in the area) and really missed it when it was closed recently. Won’t put me off trying again but does need improvement as having to go inside 5 times for one drink and one food order felt...

Visited on Sunday 9th June for a Sunday lunch, phoned on the day at 1pm and they were able to fit us in, no problem, but last order for the Sunday lunch was at 2:45pm, which was fine. Arrived on time, we had a warm welcome at the entrance and were taken to our table where then our waitress met us. Both lovely and friendly ladies, happy and smiley, so welcoming. Drinks ordered, arrived very quickly to our table, locally brewed ciders and lagers, delicious! The one starter that we ordered was different and delicious, the Gouda and bacon donuts. Fried cheese is very much my thing and it was very well prepared, served lovely and hot and was a very good portion size. Then we ordered our roast beef lunches and a roast lamb lunch (50p extra for stuffing and a Yorkshire pudding, but it was worth it!! And a large portion too!!) the meat was lean, 3 roasties and then tureens of carrots cauliflower cheese, red cabbage, peas and swede were served (they even made up a tureen of fresh mashed potatoes for my dad! Honestly, nothing was too much trouble!!) an extra gravy boat was promptly served and horseradish sauce for the beef ... The dinner was exceptional! It was large, hot, tasty, well-presented and wholly recommendable! I sadly couldn't fit in a dessert, but my mum had the honeycomb cheesecake which made her groan with delight after each forkful! The staff were so upbeat, they really enjoyed their job, they were so courteous and approachable, nothing was too much trouble! It was, all in all, a completely lovely dining experience (we sat in the downstairs restaurant) and we can't stop raving about it! I want to return to try the other starters and the fudge cake! The decor of the restaurant is lovely, the price of the dinner is the regular price for a dinner these days, but the quality here is high! The local beers are around a fiver per pint, but everywhere is getting more expensive these days. But here at least, you get what you pay for! Attention to detail, phenomenal service, delicious food and local products! Well done Rake and Riddle - 5 stars...

DISAPPOINTED wouldn't really describe it, the two stars are for the actual food which was tasty and well cooked and the drinks which were nice and served quickly.

The meal was for a 30th birthday, we booked a table for 6 adults plus 4 children under 9 years old (one child didn't come so ended with 3), when we arrived, we had one table for 4 and another for 6. Bearing in mind two of the children were under 7 and couldn't be left on the table on their own so that meant splitting the adults up in a 30th birthday party.... sitting with our backs to the birthday girl, and completely separate.

SERVICE was great from the bar, TERRIBLE from the food side, on at least 3 occasions we were approached by a Staff member with a plate of food, even though they were supposed to be on other tables, The first meals to arrive, both brought one plate at a time, a small amount of time apart, then there was a decent wait til one of the kids meals came out, then nothing for ten mins, then two more kids meals and about 5 mins later was another two adults meals, by this time the first two adults had finished their meals,

The birthday girls meal didn't turn up until after EVERY adult meal had been finished, and only after we pulled 2 different staff members to one side and asked where they were. The meal was ordered via app at 6:58pm, and the last meal arrived at the table at 8:20 after everyone else had finished.

The food was enjoyed although not value for money, no salad or coleslaw or anything on the plates, just simple order a burger, get a burger (with chips). (maybe I expected too much for a £12.95 price)

One thing I would also add, might be better to put TABLE numbers on the tables, the staff had no idea where to take food.... we had to go to the bar to ask what table number we were on at the beginning of the night and it went downhill from their.

We made the best of it but it could have been so much better had the service been up to some sort of...