The Coach House

We had mussels in the thai sauce. Thai sauce and bread - lovely. Mussels - mostly closed and those that were open were a scarily red colour I have never seen before in mussels. (The thai sauce was a coconut based soup so the red colour of the mussels was definitely not from any spices in the sauce!)

The roasts were so pitiful that we called the waitress over, ready to complain. We literally just said "We're not happy with the roasts" and before we could say anything else she took them away and gave us a look as if to say "I know, I agree". It was very bizarre!! The warning signs were there when right at the start they told us they had run out of yorkshire puds. What do you mean you've run out of Yorkshire puds? Make some more! Oh - what you really mean is that you don't know how to make them and you use frozen ones. I see.

The restaurant was half full and they had plenty of waitresses on but they clearly couldn't cope. It took over 2 hours to finally receive the roasts and then we walked out coz it was so poor. I'm still baffled by the lamb - it was like a strange grey coloured wafer thin ham. V odd.

Luckily they forgot to charge us for our Pimms so that was the only good thing but then again, clearly shows another area of incompetence. Be warned!
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Thursday, August 07, 2008

We were recommended this place by some trusted friends. We thought we'd go there with some other friends to try it out as they were celebrating their engagement and had come down from London for the day.

The restaurant was fairly busy, probably 90% full. It took about 30 mins to be served and we ordered mussels to start and a mixture of Sunday roasts. I was advised the beef had run out so went for a nut roast.

About 45 mins later our mussels turned up. They were not in good shape! 50% were closed and those that were open had no flesh to them.

We didn't complain at this stage but we were starting to get a little uncomfortable! Our mains turned up some time later. GUTTED! Bearing in mind it's £9, the portions were small. The nut roast was salty, the veg was raw, the potatoes were not cooked (2 very small roasties) and the yorkshire pudding was a no-show. The lamb looked like it had fallen out of a doner kebeb!

We complained, they were taken away and we left. A complete waste of 2 hours! We will not be going back!
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Jon
Sunday, August 03, 2008

Our meal on friday night was just appalling. The service was the worst i have ever experienced. the guy serving couldn't remember our orders for more than 5 seconds and then, once two main courses were served he turned to one of my friends and told her that he'd made a mistake and what she'd ordered had run out! There was no apology or offer of a refund or anything!!! The woman wasn't much better. By the end of the evening (we all finally got served by 11pm - even though we'd arrived at 8!) she was complaining to us that she was tired and couldn't wait to go home.

I think the food was ok but i really can't remeber as the poor service just spoiled the entire evening.

The second night of our stay was at the Seven Dials - just perfect service - a dream in comparison.

Please don't waste your time or money on the Coach House - they don't deserve you.
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Tuesday, July 29, 2008

6 of us went on a Monday night. The review of this restaurant is simple:- We were on of 2 tables, quiet to say the least. It took an age to get served, once we did we all ordered starters.

The portions were tiny, with top end prices and they were about as bland as they get.

The mains arived much quicker. 2 of us ordered the muscles, they were stone cold. 3 ordered the steak, they were cooked fine, but given to the wrong people (all 3 ordered them different). The lemon sole was dry. All in all poor mains. The deserts to their credit were very good, but then I suppose they couldn't get cold, they were cold already.

My biggest problem with this restaurant is they are charging near to top end prices for Brighton, yet the food does not deliver on pretty much everything and the serivce was terrible. I will never go again under the current ownership.
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Nick
Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Awful service. The only people at the bar, we were left standing there for 15 minutes whilst 2 staff members lingered in the kitchen at the back of the bar, waiting to take out plates one at a time to a large table, pretty much the only table they had.They had both noticed us but had chosen to ignore us and when they finally asked if we were being served, claimed they thought we had drinks. We then said we didn't think we wanted to stay,expecting some form of apology, but the bartender pulled a face and walked off. Quite unbelievable and a shame because it's a really lovely spot especially at night with the warm, fairy lit outside area. It wasn't the first time we've been there, previously had friendly if not a little slow service, and the food is averagely tasty but nothing special, more of a cosy place to grab a drink. Working in the catering industry myself i know sometimes you cannot serve a guest straight away, but you can at least let them know that you will be with them shortly. Poor show, especially as they were rude to some of the people we were with as well.
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Wednesday, July 09, 2008

I have been to the Coach House a number of times, usually at lunchtimes (Sunday luch there is really good). The food is consistently superb and the atmosphere (laid-back without being too lazy) is perfect for a relaxing meal out. However it has always taken me a long time to be served, so every meal has ended up as being a two-hour-ish visit - fine when you're at a loose end or with good company, but frustrating if you are on a schedule, have somewhere to get to afterwards, or have easily-bored kids. It's not the cheapest place either. Would recommend for Sunday lunch when all you have planned afterwards is a walk along the beach.
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Sunday, June 08, 2008

Food was good but the service was far from satisfactory on Sunday evening... we waited for hours for a 5 portion cheese tray whcih arrived looking ridicously small... and after further delays we were charge for an extra bottle of wine when paying the bill... the staff might have been tired but altogether it was not a great experience Verdict : avoid on a sunday night at least
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Gildas Andre
Sunday, August 12, 2007

Originally we popped in for a drink to escape the rain and ended up staying all evening, had a wonderful meal, served by friendly staff in a cosy environment. The experience was faultless. We were so glad we stumbled upon it and will visit again when in Brighton. Many thanks to all.
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Neil and Wendy Moone - Croxley Green Herts
Sunday, March 04, 2007

I've lunched at the Coach House on numerous occassions and have never been disappointed by the food; consistently good, served promptly by courteous staff. The atmosphere is extremely pleasant: the courtyard is a delightful place to eat in the summer (providing you're not too close to the pavement and road), and the restaurant is warm and cosy in the winter. My only criticism is that, iof anything, the staff are over-keen, and reserve too many tables for 'dining only'. I have seen people put off by this; they want to sit down, have a drink and peruse the menu, not be assailed by the expectation that if they sit at one of these tables they're commiting themselves to eating.
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JJ
Friday, November 10, 2006

One Saturday night, ravenous and not a little drunk, my boyfriend and I were walking aimlessly around the Lanes trying to find somewhere for a decent meal, but everywhere was packed. We'd been to the Coach House a couple of times before for lunch and had always found it a nice place with generous portions, affordable, tasty food and stumbling distance from the Hop Poles across the road (incidentally, check out the Hop Poles' Sunday roasts - yumminess). The Coach House's little, leafy courtyard is a lovely, laid back place for a drink on a summer's evening, while inside it's very cosy during the winter when the huge, circular fireplace in the centre of the room is in full blast.

So, this Saturday, we were pleased to discover the Coach House wasn't packed; we went in and were seated immedietely. A bottle of icy cold rose and basket of crusty, warm sliced baguette with butter arrived promptly, which we fell upon like the starved. Wanting to get straight to the main courses, I ordered duck breast which came with roasted Mediterranean vegetables, while my other half had fishcakes and an enormous side salad. Both were very flavourful and hit the spot, and were washed down nicely by the lip-smacking rose. Neither of us could manage dessert, but the baked figs with mascarpone and honey very nearly swayed me.

The Coach House is a good place to have on your emergency back-up list ... it's not quite fancy enough for a special night out, but is ideal if you want some very decent food without making a night of it, would be good with a big gang of friends, and has an intimate atmosphere and the friendliest of staff.
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Marin
Thursday, June 29, 2006