Turtle Bay Winchester — Restaurant in Winchester

We turned up at about 7pm with a booking for 7:15. They seated us as they were very quiet. We had booked as a table of 4 and we’re waiting for our friend to come who was at an event. We expected that we would be seated and we would get drinks and a starter as he was gonna be a while.

We were sat down with no welcome at all, no offer of ordering drinks at all. We waited 45 minutes to order drinks and that was only when someone walked past and we asked them for drinks. The drinks then took a further 20 minutes. Again they were DEAD there were literally 5 tables seated, plus us. Everyone else had their food and they looked really happy which we took as a good sign. When we got our drinks we weren’t asked if we wanted to order a starter so still had to wait to even order food. At this point we were all so exhausted that we didn’t have the energy to leave and find somewhere else (which we really should have).

Then we finally asked if we could order starters, which they reluctantly agreed to. Took nearly half an hour for those to arrive, by which point our friend had arrived and the food had arrived cold. He was seated and wasn’t asked if he wanted a drink. They took away our starters plates without asking if we wanted to order mains.

We then stopped one of the waiters who was a different person to before and asked if we could please order a main and some drinks, something which we thought would be quite quick as they were somehow quieter than when we came in. This took about half an hour to arrive, which then arrived and i immediately realised i couldn’t eat any of the stuff that i had been served.

I had ordered the seafood soul bowl (which costs £16!!) and it had come with: chilli’s, onions, lime and brown rice, all things which weren’t on either the main menu or on the allergens and are all food which i CANNOT eat as i am allergic to most of them and have complex medical needs that are visible as a wheelchair user. I immediately asked to return the food as i couldn’t eat it and was met with a really rude reply of all 14 main allergens are on the menu so why didn’t you bring it up when ordering, but because i hadn’t found the ingredients or allergens anywhere.

We hadn’t been asked the entire time if we have allergies, at any stage or the ordering process and we also hadn’t been asked if we were okay or anything even though we were all looking visibly pissed off.

The food had arrived stone cold for all of my friends, including the meat and they all said the only good thing was the chips. We ended up being sat in here for over 2.5 hours, in a nearly empty restaurant at the VERY FRONT OF THE BAR, so wasn’t even like we were hidden from view.

One of the staff members even had a beer from the bar WHILST ON SHIFT outside which a wait dress joined him for, ignoring the fact that there were waiting customers.

I’ve left starving hungry (literally had a packet of crisps from my bag), me and all my friends are annoyed as hell and again had no customer service. Once I finished my drink, i realised that there was lime in my drink, which i hadn’t even clocked and had asked for no lime so have now had to take emergency antihistamines and may end up in hospital with an allergic reaction due to this. It wasn’t even visible in the drink, so i hadn’t noticed it. I’m so fed up, hungry and now violently ill and will never be returning here.

Very disappointed, especially with the cost, we were meant to be able to enjoy a nice meal to finish off the end of our degrees and have been left feeling sorely disappointed. 0/10 would...

My husband and I were celebrating our wedding anniversary (which I mentioned on the booking) - and decided as we wanted to celebrate with our twin daughters who are 12 - nearly 13, we'd try a different vibe to our usual fave - The Ivy.

One of the reasons we chose it was the menu - I'm a big fan of the sweetcorn fritters, so is my husband! 2 of us are vegetarian and 2 aren't so there was plenty of choice looking at the menu.

From the minute we walked in it was not a great experience - there were hardly any customers and hardly any staff which I completely understand based on the time of day - but rather than getting great service we were sort of forgotten. I'd asked for a cosy special table on the booking but we didn't have a set table.

Lots of things were unavailable - including Orange Juice which I found odd. We ordered starters that took forever to arrive - and when they did - the sweetcorn fritters both my husband and I ordered were so overcooked they were impossible to enjoy and tasted like burnt batter - the garlic bread with cheese my daughters had on the other hand looked anaemic like it hadn't seen the oven.

We wanted to order more drinks - so my husband tried to get some attention - we saw no one - he found a lady who said I'll come to your table to take your order - your mains are just coming out. She didn't and they weren't - she then served food to another table. we waited 10 more minutes I went up to the bar to say can we be served drinks please - she said I'll get someone over to you - no one came for a long time. We then waited another 20 mins for mains when I asked the waitress where they were she said I've just to them to plate up now...

When they arrived my chicken was cold and looked like it had been cut for a toddler to eat with barely any gravy on it - I guessed it was sat waiting while the burger, pizza and aubergeine were prepared. But I did take it up to a waiter and complained as it was just simply not what you should expect.

At this point I was very upset - our anniversary meal was completely ruined and all we'd talked about was bad service, no drinks and now we weren't even going to eat together 20 ins later I got a new chicken dish and yes it was hot but my family had finished and my sides were cold.

The waiter was understanding and did offer a considerable amount off our meal - he completely understood we'd had a really poor experience by this point. We did thank him and appreciated the gesture but all we'd wanted was a lovely meal out - time to reminisce about our wedding and a night off from...

A Caribbean Dream at Turtle Bay - Oscar, You’re a Legend!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My dining experience at Turtle Bay was nothing short of legendary. The vibrant atmosphere, mouthwatering cuisine, and refreshing cocktails transported me straight to the sun-drenched shores of the Caribbean. But what truly elevated my visit was Oscar – the waiter whose service deserves its own standing ovation!

The moment I stepped through the door, Oscar greeted me with a smile that could light up an entire island. His energy? Pure tropical bliss. He didn’t just take my order – he curated an experience, guiding me through the menu with the enthusiasm of a seasoned tour guide, making sure I tasted all the hidden treasures Turtle Bay had to offer.

The food was spectacular, each bite bursting with flavor as if the chefs had bottled the essence of the Caribbean sun and infused it into every dish. I never knew I needed jerk chicken this tender, coconut-infused rice this fragrant, or cocktails that felt like a mini vacation in a glass. But Oscar? He was the star of the show. His recommendations were so spot-on it was as if he had some divine connection to the kitchen. I still dream about that Reggae Rum Punch – and Oscar’s expert pairing of it with the Beach Brisket left me speechless.

He was attentive without being intrusive, and somehow managed to be everywhere at once – topping up drinks, delivering food, and ensuring that every guest in his section was having an unforgettable evening. It was as if the man had superpowers! When I say his service was seamless, I mean he floated through the room like a Caribbean breeze, leaving everyone in awe.

Turtle Bay is a tropical paradise in the heart of the city, and Oscar is the shining pearl that makes it truly special. If you visit and don't get Oscar, demand a rebooking – the man is hospitality royalty.

Do yourself a favor: Go to Turtle Bay, soak up the island vibes, and let Oscar guide you through a dining experience you’ll never forget. Oscar, you’re an absolute...