http://www.essexrestaurants.com/ 65-1292 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/dedham-restaurants/the-boathouse-restaurant-dedham-essex.html The service was fast and the waiters/waitresses friendly and attentive, the food was of an excellent standard and the portion sizes good. The resturant itself is indeed a boathouse, but has been converted tastefully and unpretentiously. I was also pleasantly surprised at the low bill. I will definately be returning and would wholeheartedly recommend this restuarant to you. ]]> Mon, 09 Jan 2012 08:57:37 +0000 321-1268 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/dedham-restaurants/the-anchor-inn-nayland-suffolk.html Fri, 11 Nov 2011 16:38:28 +0000 321-1193 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/dedham-restaurants/the-anchor-inn-nayland-suffolk.html Thu, 21 Jul 2011 10:13:47 +0100 65-960 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/dedham-restaurants/the-boathouse-restaurant-dedham-essex.html Lovely location but let down by poor staff attitude.
What a pity. Lost my parties business by being rude. ]]> Thu, 02 Sep 2010 22:26:58 +0100 237-832 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/dedham-restaurants/milsom-s-restaurant-dedham-essex.html We'd been to Milsoms before and preferred it's informal style compared to that of it's big sister Le Talbooth, but I can honestly say I was underawed on this latest occasion. The staff seemed pre-occupied; the barman was the only person to welcome us when we arrived and no-one bothered to pick our written orders up when we'd finally decided for about 20 minutes. My burger was good, my partner's lamb stew was all a bit salty and dull. Puddings were so-so. They tried to hurry us up once we'd eaten pudding as we'd got there at 6 on the dot to be sure of a table but they obviously wanted a few more covers. Don't make the mistake of hanging around to enjoy your wine/coffee after you've finished dessert if the restaurant's busy; your reward is a waitress coming back to your table every five minutes asking if everything was fine, i.e can you please go now as we want the table. Nowhere else in the area has treated us like this before, especially after paying £68 for the priviledge! Will leave it a while before we go back. ]]> Sat, 01 May 2010 23:53:43 +0100 237-820 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/dedham-restaurants/milsom-s-restaurant-dedham-essex.html food as ok with a nice ambiance for a sunday night but unfortunately our order for the main course came wrong. we ordered sirloin and we got fillet. the waiter staff did'nt really care when we mentioned the mistake. he offer to change them with a little "attitude" so we felt a little pressured and kept the fillets. a real shame!! lovely setting but staff a bit rude. ]]> Mon, 26 Apr 2010 18:31:33 +0100 65-792 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/dedham-restaurants/the-boathouse-restaurant-dedham-essex.html The quality of the food is excellent, and this is reflected in the prices. The menu has a good range of dishes, and a wide wine list that includes some available by the glass.
Unfortunately the skills of the kitchen are let down by the front of house staff. Certainly, they are polite and reasonably attentive; but it is clear they have little or no idea how to wait and serve in a restaurant that aspires to be more than the usual run of the mill establishment. ]]> Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:50:43 +0000 138-619 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/dedham-restaurants/le-talbooth-dedham-essex.html Always made to feel very welcome, from the Maitre 'D' to the Bar Staff. I have had excellent food every time I have dined there, lovely surroundings. Would reccomend highly ]]> Mon, 28 Sep 2009 02:16:19 +0100 65-288 http://www.essexrestaurants.com/dedham-restaurants/the-boathouse-restaurant-dedham-essex.html Having decided to treat my elderly, mother to lunch whislt in Dedham I chose the Boatyard; what a mistake! When we arrived the patio was full but inside the restaurant it was virtually empty and asked to be seated where there was plenty of light as my Mum has very little sight indeed, she is registered blind. My request was refused and before I could take in what was happening my Mum was being escorted to a very dark area of the restaurant - there is nothing worse than a sudden change of light when you can't see properly - and without any warning that there was a step my Mum fell - hard!

Did the staff run to aid - NO
Did they offer any first aid - NO
Did they offer a drink - NO

We sat for 15 mins before anyone came to take our "order" of sandwiches and drinks. My Mum kept asking me not to make a fuss but I could see she was in pain.

Our sandwiches arrived, if you can call them that! tiny pieces of crusty bread with "plastic" ham on top with a few crisps - they were truly horrible!

I could keep quiet no longer and spoke to the Manger about Mum's treatment. Why is there no warning of a step in a dark place, even I hadn't seen it? Why was Mum not offered an ice pack for the bruising? Why were we kept waiting so long. His response was to provide a napkin wrapped around ice cubes, they had no proper first aid facilities.

Did the manager charge us for our drinks and the inedible food - YES

Did we receive a proper apology - NO

I am now home and about to contact Environmental Health at the council and write an official letter of complaint to the owners of the restaurant

But, the saddest thing of all is my Mum is badly bruised and upset - not much of a treat really is it!! ]]> Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:36:28 +0100