The Crow And Gate — Restaurant in Wealden

Visited on a week day for lunch. All the staff were super smiley, although the place wasn't that buzzy when we were there. There were a fair few cars in the car park though, but maybe half of them belonged to the staff!

The main problem for me was the menu - so many of the dishes had garlic mentioned, either directly or indirectly others like saffron aioli or pesto. If you don't like garlic, like us, then it reduced our choices quite a bit. In the end we ordered a Margarita pizza and the Greens salad with additional fritters on top.

So, the salad was pretty small as a mains dish, please see my photo. With the chopped fritter on top, the cost was close to £18. I was still hungry and unknowingly should have had fries on the side. But then that's well over £20 and really not being very sensible. Now to the pizza. Oh dear. As soon as it arrived, there was an air of garlic on the table. The base was quite greasy as if it had been cooked in a pan that had been used for something else... no doubt the garlic ciabatta that several tables were ordering. The pizza was not good - greasy, very thin and in reality it should have been sent back. Our error in not doing this. Unfortunately this was a major cross contamination event which is inexcusable. No way does a standard Margarita pizza look or taste like this one did.

I'm afraid, in my opinion, Vintage Inns is operating a traditional British pub here which they've bought at this location yet offering a menu more akin to Ask. Far too many Italian based dishes. Yes, they do lamb shank and fish & chips but lighter dishes are few and far between. Just three sandwich choices and these are not great. Jeez.

I'm of the opinion as I write this that the company has lost its way and really needs a rethink. I suggest I need to send in Gordon Ramsey to give them a help with their strategy and the menu. They need to start again. No chef can properly work with a menu like this... it's too big and undoubtedly food not used one day will be used the following day or the day after that.

UPDATE after company reply - Thanks so much for taking the time to reply to my original review. I do need to come back, however, to the pizza comments. A 'normal' Margarita pizza does not have garlic butter spread around the edge. We don't remember this being mentioned on the menu therefore it is unfair that you say this is "as per dish specification." What if you did this with nuts and somebody ordered a pizza thinking it a safe option with a nut allergy and your "dish specification" put a peanut butter spread around the edge? I'm sorry but a garlic butter spread must be an option and then you can have it on the menu for customers to choose. Just like a stuffed crust would be. We cannot possibly guess a bog standard Margarita pizza would have something extra added and it is not mentioned on the menu.

I have not found it mentioned on the head office general menu online, nor is it mentioned on the specific Crow and Gate menu online. Please view and enjoy my added video for confirmation of...

Quite shocked at the service we received today. We have been visiting this pub as a family for many years, and have always enjoyed our time here. The food can be a bit basic and unimaginative at times, but the cosy atmosphere and general ambience, along with pleasant, helpful and polite staff make up for that. Today we had a wait of about 15 minutes before anyone acknowledged us standing at the bar, and that was only because we had to say something to get noticed. Husband ordered roast turkey, very nice, my veggie tart was ok but coming with boiled veg and a blob of tomato sauce didn't really "work". Was told veggie gravy not an option. Not too bothered, not worth making an issue about, but in the past veg gravy had never been something that couldn't be produced. None of the old staff were there, all new faces, but they were seriously understaffed, with one till not working. This is stressful for the staff that are there, but the odd smile and word of apology goes a long way. Neither of these were forthcoming. Ordered pudding and a coffee, 30 mins plus later, the coffee had been drunk but the pudding hadn't arrived. Politely reminded a waiter and there it was. We had by this point been there for nearly 2 hours and needed to go. To speed things up I went to the bar to pay direct, rather than wait for the bill to turn up. Having waited for nearly 15 minutes I pretty much insisted I be allowed to pay for the meal. Was told I couldn't be served as she was serving someone else (who was ordering for a large party and therefore becoming confused and taking ages). I explained that I couldn't wait any longer and had been patient throughout the meal which had taken nearly two hours. The waitress replied that I wasn't a priority and would have to continue to wait. Another 15 minutes later we left. Needless to say they didn't get a tip, and unless there is new management we will never return. Such a short sighted attitude of this current management, they have ruined a really nice pub with a ...

Visited at 1725 hours on Sunday 10th October 2021. Drinks served quickly and ordered a Turkey Roast and a Trio of Roast with Cauliflower cheese at 1730 hours. That was it, a very simple order. Half an hour later, were informed that the beef had run out so was happy to double up on the Belly Pork. Another half hour went by to then be informed that the Cauliflower cheese was off. Ok, can make do without but now it was 1840 hours and guests who had arrived half an hour after us had already received their meals. 2 of us and 5 of them! Both dinners arrived within minutes of being told the Cauliflower cheese would be missing. What a disappointment! Both dinners were lukewarm. Both were missing the Lemon and Thyme stuffing with bacon. The carrots were still hard and certainly not thyme-roasted. The turkey was shredded, not slices as one would imagine hand carved to be. The roast potatoes were of the consistency of worn shoe leather. They certainly were not ruffled beef dripping roasties as described. And the inexplicable wait of 1 hour 15 minutes rounded of a woeful visit to the Crow and Gate. We have been regular customers of this establishment for over 20 years and in the past it was always a hit or miss affair. Then the arrival of Pietr as the manager some 6 or so years ago saw a dramatic improvement in standards , in so much you could always guarantee a great visit even if something might not be available or go according to plan. However, since his departure just prior to lockdown, everything he had built up has slid to a point where, after todays debacle, we will not be revisiting until a steady management structure is back in place. To be fair to the front of house staff, they did their utmost to provide a welcoming experience but were ultimately let down by the woefully poor kitchen, both in cuisine and communication. Absolutely appalling. Vintage Inns, you need to get your...