written by Leeni1981 on 23/07/2012
After deciding to go since the change over, I'm seriously dissapointed, the food was just ok. It not worth the £40 bill, don't even know where to start, but no cutlery on tables had to ask for napkins as they were sticky where the drinks had been out down, no guacamole with the nachos an just a sprinkle of cheese, should have been told if things were not available. Had re ask for cutlery again and more napkins, also heard another table ask for this too, common sense would tell you to set the table, most of the staff were sat down at a table and we had to continuously get up to ask for things, all in all a shocking night, either there is no management there to watch over, or it's run by kids, I won't be going back, which is dissapointing considering how fab it used to be .
written by foodpoo on 23/07/2012
The 'New' Connection Diner As locals of the area we chose this restaurant as we had seen it had been refurbished for the first time in years. As soon as we walked in no one came to see us at the door or offered us a drink. You can see straight into the kitchen from the bar and one of the first things I noticed was how messy the kitchen was, pots pans and dirty bowls thrown all over. It wasn’t as if it was busy (2 other tables on a Sunday night) so I’m sure they would of had time to clear up. We got taken to our table, the tables have defiantly not been replaced since the refurbishment. Dirty, scruffy and sticky. The table didn’t have any cutlery or napkins on. Which we still didn’t receive until we asked for them after the “waitress” had given us our starters and walked away. We were never offered any more drinks. When our cutlery finally arrived we asked for some wine which the girl replied “what wine do ya want?”. We ordered a bottle of red and a bottle. The girl walked away and never returned, I saw her walk into the kitchen with a glass of wine and then she was stood chatting. We had to go to the bar to see where our wine was 9after waiting 10 mins and finishing our starters. We were informed that the white wine we ordered they didn’t have in, or our second choice. Where they not going to come and tell us this? Our mains came and it was average. We were never offered any sauces or any other drinks again or asked how our meal was. While we were sat with our dirty empty plates for ages the staff where sat at a table eating what they had ordered for them self’s with a glass of wine in hand. I also saw another member of staff walking around with a glass of wine, still with our empty dirty plates sat on our table. Our table was finally cleared and we where never offered to see the desert menu or any coffee. We will never come here again. The service was the worst I have ever experienced. You get better service at a two meals for £10 pub and the food is probably the same quality.
written by Ersti70 on 30/04/2012
Food was quite good..service was a shambles..7 people trying to work the till....customers left waiting around...no staff by the door to seat you..and so on! Shame really dont believe the hype!
written by Rightguard on 24/06/2011
Had a fantastic evening there with my girlfriend. The staff were great, the food was good and it had a very happy friendly atmosphere. We had ordered a bottle of wine and they even turned the music to something a little softer for us... we didnt even ask! Fantastic place, we really enjoyed the evening and wont hesitate to revisit next time we are in the area. Note: Its a shame there are so many negative reviews for this place... but I do notice the majority of them are from 'guest' users. Perhaps someone has an axe to grind? Maybe a disgruntled ex-employee or a rival establishment??. I am so glad we did'nt read this review site before we visited, as we would no doubt have gone elsewhere and missed out on discovering this little gem hidden away in Shipley.
written by on 07/03/2011
What a shame, this once wonderful eating house has lost all its charm, value for money,and quality of food.
I wont go on, reading what other people have written seems to sum the place up.
The only saving grace is the old owners (phillip or simon) returned BRING BACK THOSE DAYS FROM THE 80s/90s
written by on 02/03/2011
Connections has been going for over 35 years so they were doing something well consistantly. Not sure if they have changed hands, but we (2 people) spent £40 last night (£39.90) for a couple of cremated starters, a couple of overcooked main courses and a couple of drinks. The drinks took a life time to arrive and when they did they the inexperienced waitress managed to pour most of it over the table....need I go on.
Very sad to see this place destroying its own history - we would not go back if paid.
written by on 20/02/2011
I spent a great deal of my youth at the Connection and the wine bar which used to be attached to it but apart from attending a reunion a few months ago I havnt been for years. I was therefore both sad and disappointed when I arranged a meal on Friday with a couple of old friends. I should have been wary when at 8pm on a Friday evening there was only 1 other family in the whole place and they left soon after we sat down leaving us as the only customers! The service was fast (but they didnt have anything else to do really) but the food was truly awful. Obviously there was no atmosphere and although we had planned to stay for a drink after eating we felt we had to leave at 9.15 as it looked like they were closing up for the night. I cant see it staying open for business much longer which is a huge shame as it has been a popular and lively place for many years.
written by on 18/01/2011
we have been goin to the connection for many years and have recently stoped going as much. since it has got new mannagment we have noticed a decline in service and food. waitresses seem lazy, distant and rude. we have been left waiting at the bar on entre and not recived service for about 10 mins. staff do not seem as friendly as previous staff did.since the connection has changed hands prices have increased and food portion have got smaller. the quality of food has decreased and the recepies keep changing. i recently ordered a pepperoni pizza which cost nearly £8 and was charged an extra £2 just to have some jalpeno peppers on half of the pizza. when the pizza arrived 45mins later it was possible one of the smallest pizzas i have had. after my past few experinces i have not been happy and wilol no longer be returning!
written by on 27/12/2010
We've been going to The Connection on Christmas eve for over twenty years and it's become something of a tradition. We won't be going again though - this year it was AWFUL! We should have known the writing was on the wall when booking was difficult and calls not returned. In the end ten family members arrived to start Christmas as we have always done and what a disappointment! Grandma's lime and soda arrived with something suspicious looking in the bottom and had to be returned (no apology). It was cold with plug in heaters all over and clearly dangerous. The service was so slow and when the food finally did arrive the order was wrong. Staff were conspicuous by their absence and disinterested. Eventually we instructed someone to come and take a drinks order and clear the table, and helped ourselves to the relish tray when clearly no-one else was going to bring it. So its the end of an era and we won't be going again. The staff were more interested in eating at a table at the back of the restaurant themselves, and took no interest in customers who seem to be regarded as a nuisance. Save your money and don't go. It really is awful and such a shame
written by on 19/12/2010
The Connection has recently changed hands and you can really tell the difference.
I have been going their since I was a child and I am now 35 and have always loved the place for relaxed evening out.
But after our visit yesterday evening I don't think we will be returning. The garlic bread was burnt and you got far less than you use to, we orange and lemonade was all orange and hardly any lemonade. Then there was a mix up with our order which meant we had to wait for our main course. Then to make it worse the staff were sat in the restaurant evening which did seem very professional to me.
Overall very disappointed and just not the same.
written by on 12/10/2009
I had the nachos starter which was huge but with a meagre cheap cheese and salsa topping and slightly odd whipped sour cream dip. Next I had the tuna which was unfortunately rubbery and served with a fresh but basic green salad and a spherical potato "fritter". All this was swimming in a sea of green pesto - something which I feel should have been mentioned on the menu and failed to complement the other food flavours. The "fritter" was apparently trying to be "crushed" potato but instead gave the impression of just being badly mashed! As my first visit for over 15 years - rather disappointing as it used to be much better. That said, the espresso I had afterwards was excellent, on a par with the best espresso I have had in a restaurant.
written by afirth on 25/07/2008
At The Connection my steak was cooked to blue, and although it takes little cooking to get it to that stage - it was cooked to perfection.
spag bol is to die for
along with the 4 cheese cannolonni.
the menu may not of changed in 20 years, but why change a winning combination.
Overall, great times, great drink, great food. amen
written by on 19/04/2008
The Kids meal deal was great value and the ice cream with the sparkler in was great fun. I think it's a great place to take the kids for a nice meal out. The decor is great and it beats the burger bars!
written by mariew on 04/09/2006
I used to go to Connection every week when I was a child and it was great but it seems to have gone down a little. The menu and appearance of the place has been the same for over 20 years. Think they tried to change the menu last time I went but all they had done is changed the names of the dishes? I took my parents and family there recently for a meal as they used to do for me and came away disappointed. I had chicken fajitas which it was nice but there were no mini sweetcorn in as stated on the menu and I don't no how they can justify charging £12 for the dish! My mum got Tuna which was clearly not fresh rather like cardboard so I asked the manager "is the tuna fresh or frozen?" the reply I got was that it was fresh when he got then was put in the freezer? and he would have to travel to the coast to get fresh fish! OK. Anyway we got that dish free after they admitted it shouldn't have been sent out in the first place.
I don't get why they put things on the menu that they can't do justice to when they do such good other dishes.
Apart from all that pizza, burger good desserts to die for.
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