The Connaught Pub & Kitchen

Competent food outweighed by plain incompetent customer service.

Ate at Connaught 19 August, 2010. Firstly, let me say, the food was fine. A competent burger which, at £13, should be more than that. Frankly though, no particular complaints about the food.

I do have a strong issue with the service.

Late on a Thursday night service, order two dishes at around 8.45. At 9.45 finally go to ask after our meal (I only waited this long because my wife's experience has been that the Connaught has routinely taken over an hour to get food out). I think it was the manager took my question, went to find out. Came to our table "It'll be 5 minutes." That was it. No apology, not verbal nor non-verbal. When I pushed back and said that it had already been 45 minutes, we got the grudging "Sorry, it'll be 5 minutes"

No fulsome apology. No offer of a drink. Nothing which would communicate any concern that we might leave unhappy and not return.

Well, that's what happened. Four people leave the Connaught having eaten competent food served in the context of incompetent customer service.

Yet again I leave a gastropub in Brighton Hove disappointed and frankly annoyed that I didn't just stick to the Yeoman. It's the only gastropub which consistently delivers on quality and service and also on price.
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Thomas Power
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 3
Thursday, August 19, 2010

The food, atmosphere and service were great. Unfortunately, the food that was supposedly gluten free (risotto) definitely was not. Don't trust this restaurant to know their ingredients is my advice.
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Gavin Ayling
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Thursday, May 20, 2010

I have eaten here on 3 occasions in recent weeks and have found the food to be of a high standard with attentive staff. All food is freshly prepared and there is an excellent wine list. Gets busy at weekends.
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, March 02, 2010