Chilli Crab
The Ugly Duckling

The Ugly Duckling

Long Lane, Telford I-TF6 6HA, United Kingdom

Grill • Vegan • British • Vegetarian


"Shocking dining experience! An absolute travesty!! This used to be a superb pub (service and fayre); in the days when its exterior was adorned in a lovely duck egg blue, in keeping with it’s wonderfully quirky name. Stood at the bar we were ignored by the 3 members of staff engaged in private conversation. After a few minutes of awkwardness, we had to ask for some service. The menu (which had suffered more than it’s fair share of spillages) was not very extensive (only 3 grill choices). The wine menu was poorly constructed of single sheet papers squeezed into a narrow binder, not easy to open and peruse (it fell apart in my hand). The wait for food was substantial and our 2 sirloin steaks were under par. Not very hot, too much fat, and under cooked but still a weighty price at £24.00 for 8ozs. We weren’t asked if everything was ok and given the poor staff patronage, we lost the will to complain! I ordered a second glass of wine and was alerted to a conversation between two members of staff who couldn’t locate my order. So, one advised to ‘just give him Malbec, as it’s already open’. I hadn’t ordered a Malbec but it was poured and they gave it to another member of staff, without telling him it was the wrong wine. He duly apologised but much uncomfortable toing and froing ensued, while we were trying to eat, to locate the wine I had ordered which was to no avail. Staff clearly lack managerial direction. A disappointing experience; a clear demise of service and standards in this establishment, we couldn’t wait to leave! NOT recommended and will NOT be going back!"

No 5

No 5

5 Grove Street, DN22 6UX, Bassetlaw, United Kingdom

Steak • Vegan • Seafood • British


"No.5 appears to be in a state of transition of owners and it shows. We have never had a disappointing meal here until this last one. I have always had a little whinge that the menu hardly ever changes so despite previously loving the food when you have been a few times it becomes a bit samey . Recently went to the under new management White Houses and they have a fixed menu but lots of specials to add variety. Definitely top notch competition locally to No. 5 Service was initially very attentive but ended up as none existent. If I had been on my own, and not with a party, I would have abandoned the sweets the time we had to wait. Our server was young and clearly new and didn 't seem to have a clue when asked questions. Starters were generally very good apart from being a bit surprised when most of the party got a slice of brown bread that appeared to come straight out of a standard sliced loaf. What happened to the tub of warm rustic quality bread? Definitely lacked class. Mains were generally well presented and OK. I chose Beef Stroganoff again due to the limited menu, on a previous visit I had this and frankly it was the best I have ever tasted. Not so this time. Difficult to spot my strips of fillet steak , It seemed to be all mushroom with what steak I tasted being grisly and the sauce was just not right. The sweet menu selection was very limited and again unchanged. The jewel previously was the assiette of sweets which has now gone. Time has come to move on unless they re-vamp the menu and bring things back up to the standard of the old No. 5."