Marino Lounge — Restaurant in Wirral

So this is an update to my previously good review of the place (included below.)

I'm a big fan of lounges, some are better than others, some slowly slide... this one has slid. Since my previous review I've been back twice and I'm basing my review on two visits and poor service/food on both visits.

The second to last time the staff were curt with us, specifically the older lady who barked at us to go to the front and wait for a table despite there being plenty of free, although not cleaned yet, tables. Not an issue we thought, so sat, then ordered, then waited, and waited.....

My partner is gluten free, and it turns out the kitchen had made her meal with gluten... so, they remade it, great they noticed and fixed it you think....ahh yes, but mine and my little boys meals had been sat... you can put fresh fries, bun, salad etc... but it's still a semi warm, half dried patty on the burger.

Either way, we decided everyone has their off days and chalked it up to experience... roll forward to today....

We arrived, they're busy, they're also used to being busy and handle it well... yeah that bit where I said some places slide earlier..

Today's visit was a cataloge of errors, from no OJ to no kids coloring stuff (but managed to find/ give some to a table that arrived 20 mins after us! ) to another long wait for the food (40 minutes) and with no mention of a wait on food when ordering. We had to chase for the kids hummus etc too.

When the food did arrive it was 'okay' but certainly not of the standard I've gotten used to with lounges, with a luke warm burger that the cheese hadn't even managed to melt on.

In the local area I'd say Brasco longe in Liverpool is still the best for service a d quality of food, which is a shame because Marino is in a great location that we visit regularly. But at the price, mediocre service and food quality isn't something well be returning for.

‐-‐-------------------------------------------------------------- The old (good review) I'm a big fan of the lounges and visited here on 21/08/21. The service was great, no tables for three... is a six okay for you?

Welcoming and friendly to my little one, with fresh orange given as they'd run out of frobishers (comes with the kids meal). As always the food quality was good, quick, and decent quality although I always feel like they need more chips to make it a man size portion.

The kids service is what impresses me though, with coloring stuff and free hummus and bread sticks to keep the little one happy whist we wait for the mains. Such a god send to not have a gripey little one if the food...

The food and drink was delicious. But was distilled by the strange atmosphere.

There was a drunk man shouting at his dog and punching lightshades. He was letting his run around the place and shouting at it. I know this cause were sat right next to him. He let the dog off the lead and told him to go then proceeded shouting and whistling at the dog who wouldn't come back. The dog even ran behind the counter where they serve food and drinks. The staff looked at the guy and did/said nothing.

So, I chose to get a drink first whilst I looked at the menu. I seen they had peanut butter syrup on the shelves. My partner went up for me asked for a hot chocolate with the peanut butter syrup. They said they didn't have any. He pointed at it and said, it's there. They looked and said yea we don't have it. So he just got me a hot chocolate. When he went to tell them where we were sat the staff said yea table 8 with an attitude. We guessed this is because there was only 2 of us on a 6 seat table. We were waiting for others to arrive but I guess they weren't to know, just uncalled for really.

Anyway, come to choosing food. I wanted the breakfast muffin which came with eggs. My partner asked if they used red lion eggs. All staff looked confused what he was asking and even the chef didn't know what he asking. Which really shocks me as I used to be a chef myself and you don't know what produce your using? So he ordered pancakes instead. Which were delicious and would recommend to someone, just shocked of the price of them compared to a full breakfast. Just incase this is read by a manager or staff, red lion eggs are eggs with a red lion stamped on them to show they were produced in the UK. When someone ask this its usually because the person eatting them is pregnant and are only allowed to eat British eggs 😊 Sounds far fetched and I usually just avoid eatting them rather than asking but I really fancied the muffin. I'll stick to avoiding it next time 😅

Overall, the food was really nice. I would say a tad over priced which I wouldn't mind in a nice atmosphere. Just this time was ruined by the man shouting around the place and staff...

I had really high hopes for this restaurant due to the nice looking menu, good vegan options and being allowed to bring my puppy in. However, the high hopes began and ended there. I cannot fault the staff at all, they were lovely

My friend and I both ordered the vegan burger, one with chips, one with salad. Both came with chips so we asked about the salad and the staff member was very polite and brought out a bowl of salad for my friend. All that was brought out was a tiny bowl of wilted lettuce and spinach that looked like it had sat in a fridge for 5 days. Safe to say that was a disappointing start. My vegan burger came with no vegan cheese on it, which when I asked I was assured that the cheese was put on and had melted on the burger (vegan cheese doesn't really melt in that way). My friend asked another staff member and she told us they had ran out of vegan cheese. So the vegan burger entailed of just a bun, plant based patty and sauce. My chips were cold also - very disappointing. I ate about half of my meal but I was still happy paying for my meal since I could deal with it being below average, and i got a free glass of wine with my meal as it was a Monday.

As i was hoping for a redeaming factor of the food at this establishment. I secondly ordered a portion of halloumi fries, which were the most disgusting things I have ever eaten. 3 medium sized halloumi strip came out in a tiny bowl, breaded, with a big dollop of sauce on the top of them. There was no mention on the menu of the halloumi being breaded. Call a spade and spade, and just title them "breaded halloumi sticks" as there was nothing fried about this measly wet disappointing portion. Understandably, I asked for my money back for this and I was given it back no questions asked and the lady also gave me a free drink as an apology. Again, I cannot fault the service of the staff members at all.

Overall, a disappointing meal and a disappointing review. It was my first time visiting the Marino Lounge and it will...