The Talbot

Fantastic setting, cosy inside, however there were candles on the table, which required asking a member of staff to light. Staff member quite vacant to surroundings and customers. Stated she would come back to light it following her taking the food order, but never came back to light the candles. There was a party of 7. Food did not come at the same time, therefore some had to wait before eating so we could eat together. Most dishes were warm and not hot. In fact one meal was sent back, as when it arrived it was not hot but aired. However this was instantly changed when raising the problem and the staff member was very apologetic. Having received the bill at the end of the night, we discovered the initial disinterested staff member had added someone else’s food bill onto ours! Going to the bar I thought would be problematic because there was quite a few people waiting, and only one member of staff at the bar. However the one member of staff recognised myself as a diner that evening, and I was served quite quickly.

You support Good dishes and poor dishes. Salmon, Chicken pie, steak and ale, Gammon are tasty and good. Your recently introduced Lobster fishcake falls short of expectation and rated very poor. The fishcake is very small; does not contain any recognisable meat,( not even a claw), tastes of M&S mush and at £3 + vat per cake is ridiculously expensive. Snob value only. I also found it difficult even confusing to check whether the bill was correct after 33% discount for food was made. Not good.