"Was meeting a friend for lunch here, had heard good reviews about the place. Arrived and noticed that although there was a small queue, we were the only group of 2 and noticed 2 empty tables for 2 sitting empty and ready for use. You’ve to wait at the door to be seated. The staff were back and forwards past us numerous times as we stood there for at least 5 minutes. As they went past they deliberately avoided eye contact each time, and no one greeted us, or acknowledged us. Others were coming in behind us and with no service whatsoever, 2 pairs of visitors left. We were getting fed up waiting and being deliberately ignored. Stopped a staff member and asked for a table for two. He was rude and abrupt, muttered something, handed us a menu and walked off. I called after him that there were 2 empty tables which we could use. He ignored me and walked away. At this point we decided to cut our losses and we left. Very bad customer service and rude staff who deliberately avoided eye contact as they repeatedly walked past us. A quick and simple “we’ll be with you in a moment” or “sorry, there may be a short wait”, or even just an acknowledgment that we and others were queuing would have been polite. But none of this, we may as well have not been there. First impressions last and I’ll remember the way we were treated and I’ll not be back. I’d give it a miss if I were you. Shame because the food looked nice and I’d heard good reports. But they clearly couldn’t handle lunchtime which I wouldn’t have described as busy. As I said, there were several empty tables which we could have been directed to. There’s no space for queuing so the staff, and there are plenty of them, just no one taking charge, really need to up their game to even get customers in the door to stay while they faff around and ignore new arrivals. Our lunch in the Secret Garden just up the road was first class, we were immediately made to feel welcome, and had our table and food ordered in minutes!"
