The Checkers (restaurant) — Restaurant in Wales

We booked this restaurant some while ago, at the time of booking. We no doubt got a confirmation email that stated 72 hours notice is required for cancellation. I do not recall getting this but I’m sure we did. Two days before we were due to go to the restaurant. We get a email from Resi diary, Asking us whether we wish to confirm or cancel the reservation. I clicked the cancel button and was told I was unable to do this and I need to call the restaurant. I called the restaurant, Tried to cancel , where upon I was told I am unable to do so as I’m outside their 72 hour cancellation policy. I proceeded to tell them that was unacceptable. Sending a reminder email out 48 hours before a booking whether you wish to cancel or confirm surely common sense is to send that 3 to 4 days before the allotted time at the restaurant to give people the option to cancel. I dine multiple times a week with various booking systems and I’ve never had a Restaurant contact me to confirm or cancel reservation outside of their cancellation policy.

The manager would not let me cancel without incurring the FULL Cost of the meal which has now been taken from my account. The owner Showed No willingness to change this absurd policy and to Improve their confirmation email Therefore, I’m writing this review as a warning to others.

I’m sure the food is excellent here. There was certainly an unwillingness to change or to admit where Your policy could do with improving. I met with the response ‘oh we’ve never had this in the three years of our trading’ so here my My friend is an excellent opportunity to make the changes needed and make improvements - but sadly, I doubt this...

The place was nice and relaxed, fantastic service, The worst part was the food... I had the tasting menu, was great until the fish course, line caught plaice served with a handful of salt, I ignored that, maybe it's just taste then the meat course..... Wagyu was cremated, and served with those crispy hotdog onions, couldn't finish this course, it was far too salty, I paid my bill before I'd finished the menu, was just soo bored, I left after 2 hours, 5 dishes in 2 hours was far too slow,89 considering the amount of food they were preparing, Wasn't all bad tho... The little snacks were the best thing I ate, well... That and those Harrisa carrots, they were good, The whispering waitress was lovely, couldn't fault the service, ..... Just after I posted this review the chef phoned me, I felt like he was telling me that I was wrong, he had a bit of an attitude towards my honest opinion, The guy was being a bit shirty with me, even tho i explained that this was my honest opinion and an honest review, he continued to try and justify the food, without and apology, was going to just be done with the review but.... After the phone call.... I have a far worse opinion of the place, Again..... The chef is continuing to call me wrong, my opinion of the place was a valid one, Perhaps earning a star, a while ago, had gone to this mans head, unable to accept the opinion of a paying customer, I didn't raise an issue at the time because I'm polite, and just wanted to leave your boring restaurant. DON'T GO TO CHECKERS, THE CHEF ISN'T AS GREAT AS HE...

Having visited as a party of five , we were disappointed with various parts of the tasting menu , Namely food served cold and cold plates , which we bought to the attention of the manager , but the chef at the end , said he was aware of our issues , but did not offer to replace the dishes , or take them off the bill , @ £110 a head including wine , it needs to be 100% right.

The knowledge about the wine pairing was poor, no list to know what you were drinking , or basic knowledge of which country the wine was from .

One of my party left a one star review on trip advisor,

2 weeks later I get a call from the chef owner about the review,I’m not sure what his ideal outcome of his uninvited call was, but I see why he’s not front of house , as he soon became argumentative . So I terminated his call.

To me we let it pass, but due to his aggressive call , I felt it would be remiss of me not to provide a personal review .

I wish him and his team well, the feedback was and is constructive, and with training can be fixed , however I doubt he will listen and another one will probably bite the dust .

Only time will tell, good luck to...