Northampton
Church Bar & Restaurant

Church Bar & Restaurant

Northampton, 67-83 Bridge St, NN1 1PD, United Kingdom

Pubs • Fish • Steak • European


"Tonight my husband and I came to the restaurant for a meal. It’s our 10th Wedding Anniversary and my husband had booked a table with yourselves as over the years we have had lovely meals at the restaurantUnfortunately tonight wasn’t such an experience. I don’t usually write emails but out of pure annoyance and frustration I find myself writing this one. The whole experience from us arriving to us leaving was one of great disappointment. There was a larger group of diners on the mezzanine floor, we were told by our waitress once seated she would be back in 2 or 3 minutes to take out drinks order, this was way more as she then helped serve mains to the group booking.Our menus were different when we opened them, my husbands had no starters page, we had to ask for a correct menu, once Katie came back she then took our meal choices and drinks order. My husband ordered a Budweiser to which we were told she wasn’t sure if they sold Bud and she would find out. I ordered a Mojito. We were informed there was no Bacardi so I couldn’t have my drink, I chose a processco, the drinks took about 10 minutes to arrive, however when they did, there was a mojito as turns out you did have barcardiOur antipasta was served and before we’d finished and it could clearly be seen we weren’t, we were asked if we had finished. I replied no and waitress went off, we’d hardly finished our mouthfuls and again she was over asking if we’d finished. Plates were cleared and our mains turned up shortly after. Mains were sea bass and pulledPork with a side order of sautéed veg. We were disappointed by the meals but neither of us said to each other at the time as we were trying to make the most of the evening even though we were already disappointed by being left and then rushed to eat our antipasta. Our meals had clearly sat under heat lamps/ or a hot plate as we hadn’t finished quick enough with the antipasta as the skin on the sea bass had burn marks from Heat lamps, the mash was stodgy and the peas were burnt.My husband later told me the pork ball was all soggy as had been sat on the jus that was on the plate. Both meals were bland and lacked seasoning and certainly wasn’t up the standard we expected. When this was cleared away, we were asked if we wanted desserts, when we replied no, we were told ok I’ll bring the bill!!! When the bill came and the card machine was brought over, we were run asked if we wanted to tip!!!!! Surely that is not something you should be asking in such an abrupt manner???????????from arriving to leaving was roughly a hour, at no point was this a relaxing celebration meal, it was rushed, we were made to feel an inconvenience and had ruined our evening. my husband and I had both kept quiet at our disappointment as not to ruin the evening for each other, however I was upset when got outside and I nearly came back in to talk to the management. My husband told me to leave it but I’ve come home and decided I wanted to let you know how poor of an experience you delivered tonight as would hate other diners to have to have the same and also a thanks for running what was meant to be a celebration meal/evening"