Hickory's - Burton Green — Restaurant in Warwick

Went there yesterday (Friday) at 7:30 without booking but managed to get a place at bar for 2 people. Definitely need to prebook if you go. It was a good atmosphere but quite loud.

I ordered the veggie burger but they brought out a burger which 100% was the wrong one and had beef. I have previously ordered this veggie burger and I know it does not come with 3 buns and I could taste the beef as soon as I took a bite. I got my friend to try it and she said it was beef too. Called staff over and explained it wasn’t the veggie burger and asked if there was a mistake. They ended up getting manager who said it was the right burger and it was infact veggie. My friend told them to try it themselves and she took the burger to the chefs to try and came back and said it was the veggie one but would make a new burger for us. This was absolutely a cover up to the fact they just gave me a meat burger when I’m vegetarian. I refused to eat anymore and asked for a new one. When the second one came through they set up the burger as the first but with the veggie patty (soy based - hence distinctive flavour). This patty was like the burger I had had prior and just confirmed that they gave me a beef one to begin with. They came back over to ask how it was and I said how it tasted nothing like the first and that I can tell this one is soy, I mentioned how I know what beef tastes like (I used to eat meet 2/3 years ago). They ended up taking this off the tab at the end but definitely with hesitation to do so.

I’m really upset with this. I feel like I’ve been mistreated here as they gave me beef and then tried to make me out to be the wrong one and gaslight me into thinking it’s veggie. I eat soy based products regularly, I know what they taste like. I can tell if it’s meat or not. I’ve been here several times and never had an issue so why would I make one now over a simple burger. I did not like my treatment and think it’s disgusting that they would act this way over such an issue of their own mishap.

You can see the difference in the burgers from the photos. The one with the macaroni and cheese is from this evening (it has multiple layers of cheese and 3 buns in total), the other only has the 2 buns and only 1 slice of cheese. They are different burgers. They gave me a beef one. On accident or not, they tried to make it out like I was wrong. I know what I’m eating, especially when I have had it multiple times before.

If you are veggie, check the burger first...

Starts fairly encouraging, good greeting complementary popcorn, yes popcorn, appetiser to sweeten your palette before all the salty sweetness of things to come. Then, our server approaches with such a sullen face, oh what joy he conveyed NOT(not all staff looked this happy!!). He took our order, the platter to share, and drinks. Good waiting time only 10 to 15 mins at quite a busy time of day. Now, this is quite a platter of meat after meat after meat after meat after sausage. Unfortunately, 1st failing point, the service plater and plates were bearly warm, not hot, so by the time you get to the bottom, it's all cold. 2nd failing of the dish, in a way, is all that meat and no real vegetables to go alongside it. Yes, you got fries and slaw, but no corn cob onion rings[had to order as side dish] or other veg? And the slaw was quite stingy, no a lot stingy. Don't misunderstand me. The menu didn't have any mention of vegetables, so it was as ordered. But until you start eating, you don't realise how much it needed that vegetable or vegetables. Especially when all that chard smokey meat (not sure if a couple of the dishes should have been burnt...chard) starts to go down. The chard meats were very tender and fell apart beautifully and tasted good without the outer blackness. Overall, not £60 of goodness. There was also a poor moment from the staff when I wanted to try the rootbeer float, sounded so nice rootbeer and custard cream float. Most decent restaurants or even pub food (as this is) places would admit before serving anything you ordered, you are not going to get what you ordered because they don't have it. No, they tried to palm me off with squirty cream float and just looked at me blank when I asked where the custard was. The manager did come and apologise and took the drink off the bill, but I wouldn't have expected less. (£90+ platter, 2 sides, 2 soft drinks, 0% pale ale, soda, shake & rootbeer removed) Finish on a good word.... hmmm MILKSHAKES. Yes, you need to try...

Warm welcome and sat at seating overseeing the kitchen. Was kindly greeted by the female chef sharing some offcuts of Brisket - very nice touch

However, during the visit the expo chef in the main kitchen (wearing black) did not showcase good food hygiene standards. Overly touching all food items for checking temperature etc by hand or using hands to sprinkle toppings, plate caramelised garnishes which looked unsightly where tongs may have been a better option to use. Handling of smallwares quite poor with fingers in fries cups and all over inside of plates/dishes etc which seemed very unnecessary or not completed with any etiquette.

At no point during the entire visit did he wash hands and was wiping across his apron multiple times. (The front kitchen did wash hands for the most part) Second chef in kitchen (wearing white) was also snacking: in particular double dipping cornbread into sauces and wiping brow frequently, again not washing hands.

Bar person entered kitchen and cut wraps that 3 other people then handled without care for another table.

All this in full view of managers at the pass with no regards to poor food practices on display which affirms that this may be normal practice.

If showcasing an open kitchen in guest view at least give the illusion of following basic food hygiene practices.

I felt sorry for the tables receiving that overly touched food, my friend and I ate around what was touched, luckily I felt the chef may have seen me watching his food preparation standards and was more cautious with preparing our platter.

Meats were tender but sadly microwaved for heat - I understand that not everything can be fresh but expect a smokehouse to have the meats fresh from the supposed smoker.

Whilst atmosphere was nice and relaxed, the kitchen practices psychologically made the food off putting to enjoy.

Sadly, wouldn’t return for the food referring to the practices mentioned above, although it’s a nice place to meet up with friends...