I don't usually post reviews like this but I was so disappointed with our experience at the Caddy Man today. We booked our table for half past one in the afternoon (as it is Father’s Day, we booked because we anticipated it was going to be busy – made no difference to the speed of the service). Nearing half an hour after we sat down, the menu (on a board propped up by a chair) was dragged over (other tables were obviously waiting for this menu also). Why don’t they have simple in-hand menus for obviously busy days like Father’s Day? The starters were lovely apart from we got them at about half past two.. an hour with nothing but a bottle of wine between three. The main courses got to us at about half past three. As soon as my plate was put down, I picked a hair out of the side of my plate in front of the waitress. I moved it to the outside edge of my plate where she then tried to pick it off with her fingers.

My main course was dire – I had the guinea foul, please do not make the same mistake I did. It was presented wrapped in pâté with soggy bacon (obviously wrapped in clingfilm and boiled) around it, presented on a base of barley mixed with chopped tomatoes soaked in oil and lemon juice with spinach tortellini around it. I do not know what marriage of flavours they were going for all I can now taste is oil and lemon juice. The fish and chips Dad ordered was fine – and two thirds of the ‘trio of lamb’ Mum ordered was lovely – a third of the dish was completely inedible due to it being cooked on the grill – it was honestly like thick globs of rubber – do they know how to cook the different parts of lamb? Mum thought it strange as the other two thirds were cooked delightfully. Shame.

The food aside, the service was amazingly lacking – inexperienced staff (if they are experienced, I am amazed) offered no explanation as to the delay, dumped the wine on the table, and only offered 50% off the meal with a hair in it (and that is after the waitress had to go and discuss the matter with the chef – surely they should have been wearing hair nets??). With how long they have been going, I don’t understand why they don’t have a better system in place – surely they know that the large menu (with really small writing, don’t forget your hourglass) on a chair is just not working? Or at least, it doesn’t on busy days.

I have had great meals there in the past (although it has always had painstakingly slow service) the only thing I do know for sure is that with snail-paced staff who try to pick a hair off my plate, I won’t be going back in a hurry. PS. Whatever you do – don’t have the guinea foul.