Chef & Brewer Review

Overall Rating

Good atmosphere. Good location.

Very poor service. Food varies from good to terrible.

Chef & Brewer - I have frequented The Fox a great number of times over the past 2 years. Most of these occasions were to drink and enjoy the environment but other occasions - probably 10-12 times - I have taken family or friends for meals. Apart from only one occasion of eating there, our experience of the service has been very bad. On that one occasion, despite being close to Christmas and very busy, the service was swift and efficient and the food was good. Unfortunately it was the only time we saw that particular waiter working. All the other times the service has been very slow and several times when the waiter/waitress is questioned about how much longer we will have to wait for our food they respond by telling us that they will check and then don't. On one occasion we had to ask five times in the course of one sitting and the waiter was rude and defensive when we expressed our disappointment at the wait. I'd never presume to know the details of running a restaurant but as a customer I'd be happy to pay the extra for polite, efficient and professional service - could it be that a high staff turnover does them no favours? - otherwise the time spent there is resented. If food is late all that is required is a little polite communication from the waiter/waitress to put the customer at ease but at The Fox you need to make a fuss before you get this sort of attention. Twice the waiter has brought the wrong dish and so the period between ordering and eating has been extended to such a degree that once we considered simply walking out.

The food generally is good, especially the fish dishes and desserts but more than once it has been unacceptable, particularly the roast lamb that was so overcooked and dry that it was tasteless.

I believe that the pulling power is their location and atmosphere more than the food or service but there is a finite period that they can rely on this to attract diners. We continued to go because we felt that perhaps they would give a better service than before. However this has not happened and unfortunately we will no longer be eating there - at least until we have confirmation that the management has improved greatly.