The Swann Inn, Porthcawl Reviews

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Good Points: Location, quality of food, friendly staff and landlord, good cooking

Bad Points: Nothing jumps out thought their regular menu has stayed the same for years so I always go for the specials.

General comments: The Swann Inn, Mawdlam, Porthcawl stands proudly on a hill in a small hamlet above the M4.

I've eaten there several times over the years and always thought it pretty good. This time, a busy sunny Saturday lunch time (!) I found a table in the bar, camped out with a couple of newspapers and ordered the fish pie special.

I was told politely by the waitress of a 20minute wait (they really don't need people like me turning up when they are busily serviaing full tables of customers already!) which then quickly became 30mins.

Happy to read and people watch food arrived - a sea of potatoe topped fishy smelling pie with a slightly toasted brown crust, peas, salad and a bowl of chips.

Initial thoughts... didn't need the salad. Peas over cooked - but this is Porthcawl, a hotbed of middle class elderly couples who rarely have their own teeth so hardly unexpected and I wondered why the chips?

It was absolutely delicious but sadly the middle was cold. I mentioned this to the manager who swept it away without a blink of an eye (I suggested they "nuke" it for a couple of minutes and returned it without the salad - I didn't need a fresh portion!) and within minutes it was returned wonderfully hot, still as tasty and thankfully without salad garnish.

Comment: I would have liked freshly cooked peas, not overcooked ones, plus maybe a few florets of brocolli to add more colour. And please no potatoe with potatoe pie - leave off the chips and offer more fresh vegetable instead.

Chef, waitress and chef all needlessly apologies for an easy error on a very busy Saturday lunchtime serving.

Would recommend to all, families, business people, groups and yes... Porthcawl older community!