The Old Custom House — Restaurant in Wales

In short: Really poor service and mediocre food with slow service, incorrect orders, forgotten meals and all massively overpriced. Much better places nearby for cheaper and far nicer food.

We went here based on some reviews for the first time for a birthday lunch with a table of 8 (4 adults and 4 children). The waiter we had was really rude and really unhelpful when we asked questions - just grunted and pointed as if we were stupid. After ordering at the counter (I'm still not sure why you have to order at the counter when waiters could easily take your order) it took about an hour for the kids meals and our starters. 3 of us had the salad, whilst I had the pork ribs. The salad counter had a good selection but was really off putting and quite unhygienic, as the serving tongs were just led on top of the different salad items and covered themselves in food after God knows how many people touched them - really quite gross. The ribs were bland, no flavouring, just plain ribs and not to my fancy at all, so left the majority. The kids meals were a decent size and I will say the battered chicken was good.

Another 30 mins later our mains followed. The adults all had the beef or lamb Sunday lunches. We were given minimal vegetables to share, mostly just mashed swede and less than 5 carrot slices. The roast potatoes varied massively, where one of mine was burnt whilst someone else on our table had practically raw potatoes. The meat itself was plenty but I would say too much personally, being quantity over quality. The waiters bringing the food/clearing the table were much nicer than our waiter.

At the end of the meal, we were all disappointed and just wanted to leave. We asked for the bill which ended up being way more than we thought. We were that annoyed with the service that we didn't want to leave a tip, at which point the waiter rolled his eyes at us whilst overlooking us paying, so this cemented the visit for us to not return again and for me to post this lengthy review. There are far nicer places for Sunday lunch very close by (e.g. The Deck). Really not sure what restaurant the other reviews had eaten at! Think people go here more to show off because it's so expensive than have actual quality food.

I imagine all the waiters aren't like the one we had, but the service and food we received really spoiled my nieces birthday, but thankfully was rescued later by some ice cream from the...

As a vegetarian going to this restaurant I was not expecting great things and I was right.

The vegetarian choice is not great. I had the garlic mushrooms to start which were nice but just a bowl of mushrooms, would have been nicer with some bread or a side salad.

For main I had the cauliflower steak which came with pak choi and corn on the cob. It was pretty bland. The only thing flavoured was the pak choi. There was no flavouring at all on the cauliflower steak, basically the main event, it was just a bit of cauliflower stuck under the grill and plonked on top of the greens. Even the corn was bland like there was no butter or oil on it at all. It could have done with a sauce at least or some imagination on flavourings to put on the "steak". It basically made me feel like an after thought and that not as much care and attention goes into the vegetarian option as it does the meat.

Another issue is that they don't give examples of the vegetarian main meals on their website and as most vegetarians and vegans, I like to look at the options before I book to see if they cater for me. I went with a group of people so didn't have the say in where we went but if it was just a couples meal I would never have booked their blind without seeing the vegetarian options and I would have been right.

Smaller restaurants that don't have the many years experience as this place does are doing a much better job at catering for the growing vegetarian and vegan audience. I think The Old Custom House are missing out on a trick here.

I have given my experience 2 stars, 1 for the building and 1 for the wine. So basically I would only go back for drinks and give the bland vegetarian...

We visited last night with a party of 8 to celebrate my wifes 63rd birthday. She had been there before and wanted to return. Without doubt the place is gorgeous with a fantastic array of foods and wines. I write this review which is the first review ever in my lifetime, I am 70yrs old. Whilst not wishing to denigrate the establishment in any way shape or form, this review is honestly based. My order was that of Swordfish. Our meals came and we all enjoyed them. However, at 3am, and clearly now well home and tucked up in bed I began to feel ill. I was sweating, dizzy, and genuinely thought ** what the hell was wrong with me? I made my way to the bathroom and sat on the toilet and within seconds I was projectile vomiting, luckily into the toilet wash basin. Furthermore, as I was sat on the toilet I could not stop myself with severe diarrhea, the like that I have never experienced before in my life. Clearly something I ate has violently disagreed with me. to say the least! As I write this review I feel totally drained. Of the other seven guests they showed no ill effect from their visit. They all passed comment of how nice their food was, as indeed was mine. Just before we left I had need to visit the Gents and for me this visit left me with great concerns about the aroma if you understand? I was clearly in the mens room so my nose told me. Not the kind of visit this place deserves. This post is meant to be constructive and is totally honest. Something made me ill! Was it the swordfish? Finally, this experience will not stop me and my family from...