written by on 03/06/2011
nearly every thursday i go here now with various sized groups of friends ever since they started their vegetarian specials every thursday, the pub is lovely and the team are friendly and with this addition of vegie specials it wins for me everytime
written by on 15/04/2011
Fixed price lunch menu is good value and their new menu is really nice
written by on 31/03/2011
We go here maybe 3 or 4 times a week at the weekend it can get really busy week day evenings can be a little quieter the food is always lovely and the service sometimes slow when busy but thats understandable but is always of as good standard. The team seem really friendly
written by SimonJackson on 19/03/2011
This place is a lovely pub, after reading the other reviews on here i didn't know what to expect, I've been going here frequently since just before chritmas, and I can honestly say that i've never had a bad experience. The staff are all friendly and helpful, the food is a good quality and the setting/atmosphere is just what you need when your looking for a nice decent place to eat or just go for a pint. Maybe i've just been lucky everytime i've been or maybe it's just improved a huge amount. I will return time and time again
written by on 25/10/2010
Went there on a Sunday afternoon with 3 kids aged 1-4. Not many people there, but had a room almost to ourself next to a nice warm open fireplace.
Inexpensive, good food, quick and friendly service. Just what you need when you go out with kids. I've read very mixed reviews, but we will definately use this eagain.
written by on 14/10/2010
I returned to the Crooked Chimney after a previous poor experience. I had heard good reports and was happy to give the bar a second chance.
There were three people in our party. The pub had a steak night promotion on offer - Two steaks, plus bottle of Wine for £25, My Colleague and I took up this option, the third member of our party ordered the Beer Battered Fish & Chips.
Service speed was Ok about 15 mins. Unfortunately all the meals were cool or at best luke warm, having clearly been stood for to long. The mushy peas from the fish and Chips were very dry and clearly reheated. One of the Steak dishes was missing the chips. Both Steaks were cool and very chewy. When we ordered the bottle of wine the bar had ran out of Wine glasses so instead offered us small beer glasses as an alternative.
When asked by the waitress (who was very nice) if the meals were ok, I said the meals were to cold, she offered to warm them up (presumably in the Microwave). We all declined the offer. Later after speaking to the Manger we were offered free deserts. We accepted and I ordered the Apple pie with cream. This duly arrived after 10 mins. Unfortunately the cream was off. Again I complained, and this timed I declined any more complimentary food. Any Pub or Restaurant that will serve up off cream should in my opinion be avoided at all costs.
written by on 20/09/2010
we had a great evening meal here, the manager was great, food great, drinks great, service great, good location lovely old pub in herts, opposite brocket hall.
written by WelwynFoody on 30/07/2010
We had not been to the Crooked Chimney for some time due to hearing a few negative stories but some family members (remembering going 10 years ago)were keen to go so we gave it a try again. The food was acceptable for the price but not great. The really disappointing and almost shocking aspect was the service which was extremely poor at every point of contact. Amongst the highlights in service was when the only member of bar staff ignored the 3 groups waiting to be served at the bar and instead merrily finished cleaning the dishwasher whilst being quite aware of those waiting. It will be some while before we try there again!
written by on 06/06/2010
My family of 5 and I visited the Crooked Chimney in Wheathamsted on a Saturday night in June 2010. In brief: extremely poor service, missing food and a side order of fly.
Firstly, on arrival at the restaurant we received a poor welcome from the bar staff. We had pre-booked a table but when we arrived instead of taking us to the table we were told to walk around the corner and find it. I asked the waitress what number table we were looking for and she said it didnt have one and did not offer any other advice. With an array of empty tables we decided to choose one that had enough chairs to fit us all. We then sat there for a while and were not offered any drinks. It was only when one of my party decided to go up to the bar to order our drinks that they said they would come to our table to do this. After another wait we finally received our drinks and had our food order taken. We then waited half an hour for our starters to arrive and were not provided with any culinary until we asked. We then had to wait a further 40 minutes for our meals to arrive. It was whilst eating these that we realised there were a number of things missing from our dishes. One of my party who had ordered the fish mixed grill, realised that there was no red snapper on his plate, even though it was stated in the menu. He was left with one small skewer of prawns and a small square of swordfish. Another member of my party was missing the pineapple from his gammon steak and another was missing any tomatoes from their dish. The steak dish was dry and luke warm. After waiting so long for the food this was a disappointment, especially as the restaurant was not particularly busy. I then discovered a fly amongst my hunters chicken and chips. We then spoke to the manager who seemed to lack confidence and did not seem to know what to do. He did agree to take two of the meals off our bill and offered some desserts, but after such a terrible experience we did not fancy waiting around (probably for a long period of time) and did not trust that the desserts would be satisfactory.
We will not be returning, and will not recommend this place to anyone.
written by on 19/05/2010
SHOCKING SERVICE. WAITED 40 MINUTES FOR A STARTER . THEN ANOTHER 20 MINS FOR MAIN - WHEN WE GAVE UP WAITING ANDWAS TOLD FOOD JUST BEING COOKED.
WHEN ASKED TO SPEAK WITH MANAGER ,WAS TOLD HE WAS TO BUSY BEHIND BAR.
ASKED FOR MONIES BACK ( ATE ELSEWHERE )
WAITRESS WAS RUDE TO US .
WILL NEVER GO AGAIN
AVOID THIS PLACE AT ALL COSTS !!!!!!!!
written by on 12/04/2010
We pre-booked a table here for a week day evening. There were 6 in our party. It took over 20 mins to get a drink from the bar and then a further 10 minutes before we could sit at our 'pre-booked' table despite the bar/waiting staff knowing we were there. On ordering our food we were told that at leat 7 items were not available. We all ordered our food and then proceeded to wait for 1 hour for our food to be delivered (this was with no update from the waiting staff) once the food was delivered all was cold and burnt. Spoke to the Owner/manager and got all meals for free!! Would never go back here again and have informed friends and family how awfull it is, I will be surpised if this pub is still open by the summer. Such as shame as the pub itself it very pretty and in a great location to stop off at if walking in the local area... All in all it was C**P!!
written by on 22/02/2010
really nice place to eat good for chillaxing time service always good and food bang on keep up the good work.
written by on 23/09/2009
Meal was warm, must had sat on side for at least 10 minutes before coming out, they weren't busy either. Offered to put in MICROWAVE!!! Microwaved chips - lovely.
Husband ate his as was hungry. Refunded money for the one meal. Basically they had £15 for one warm meal & 2 drinks that we wouldn't have bought if we weren't eating there. Would never eat at the Crooked Chimney again.
written by on 26/06/2009
Had a very disappointing meal at The Crooked Chimney - I ordered a medium steak but ended up with a very dry, tough, over-cooked bit of meat. Peas undercooked. Even the chips tasted like they'd come out of a warmer. They had run out of mushrooms. You have to try hard to murder a simple meal like that but they did it well!
written by chrissy hgg on 05/12/2008
I do not know what is going on in this place. It was a terrible meal and it was our xmas do - no crackers etc on table!
written by mentley on 13/11/2007
Lovely friendly place, old and young were eating and also families. Recommend.
written by lyndyloub on 25/04/2006
We went to the Crooked Chimney restaurant in the Hatfield area on Sunday at about 5pm. It wasn't overly busy, as there were empty tables at this point. On going to order at the bar, we were informed they had run out of roast potatoes, so the roasts were all off. My husband and mother-in-law then chose fish and chips, and I had the fillet steak. We had soup to start, which came very quickly in about 10 minutes, and it was lovely, hot and tasty, with huge chunks of bloomer bread. The plates were eventually cleared after 30 minutes, after that we waited and waited, and even when I asked the waitress what had happened to the food, we still heard nothing. Eventually, 50 minutes later, the food arrived. The fish was very obviously over cooked as the batter dark and very crispy. When my mother-in-law saw hers, she said to the waitress "that's very overcooked", and the waitress just said "is it? Enjoy your meals" and left. When she came back to check that everything was OK, my mother-in-law said "no! it's not; this fish is overcooked, and it is all batter and no fish", which was very true. The girl said she would take it off the bill, which she did. The couple on the table next door also seemed to be having problems, and when we left, they had been waiting 40 minutes for the desserts. I would not go there again.
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Thekwaze's Comment
Written on: 15/11/2009
What a coincidence!
<br/>I was saying just that to my wife as I battled through the worst Gammon, Egg and Chips I've ever encountered.
<br/>It was as though someone had gone to a great deal of trouble to ruin each component part in it's own special way.
<br/>As for my Wifes "Pork Stew".......Just don't go there.
<br/>To top it off the beer was bland and indifferent, which to be fair, was a vast improvement on the food.