The Fo'c'sle, Padstow

Like many previous reviewers we visited this cafe purely as it had free tables, the penny dropped for us within seconds why. It is a complete and utter shambles with terrible food operated by rude and indifferent staff.

We ordered two coffees, a salmon and cream cheese sandwich, a beef and horseradish sandwich and a side order of chips. the order was taken by a girl who made no eye contact.

Within a few minutes an empty cup and saucer was placed in front of me "for the tea" The waitress left the table before I was able to ask why. She returned shortly afterwards with two coffees. I asked why I had an empty cup and she replied "for the cream tea" ??? I put her straight on our order and wondered what would arrive.

In the meantime we witnessed two more incorrect orders reaching tables nearby leaving families to finish their meals well before the affected diners in their parties.

Our meal arrived minus the chips, but was delivered to the table in such a brisk manner that there was no time to protest. My husband's bread was very stale indeed, the edges of the sandwich were hard and the texture was cardboard.

I took the sandwich up to the waitress and pointed out that the bread was stale only to be told it was not. I invited her to feel how hard it was, she insisted it wasn't hard. "do you want another one then?" she asked. I said yes and another arrived 10 minutes or so later which was acceptable.

I should point out that my salad contained dry wilted leaves mixed with fresh leaves but I was beyond complaint by this stage. We paid the £17 bill, extortionate for two teacup size coffees and supermarket bread.

My husband tried to express our dissatisfaction as he paid however the rude and indifferent waitress said " you ate it so you pay for it" when he was commenting on the service "well I'm busy" on the chips non arrival "well you didn't pay for them" on the stale bread "avoid the bakers over the road then cos thats where we got it"

This restaurant is so bad it makes you look for hidden cameras in the belief you have been set up. And to the previous reviewers who commented on the rude waitress -she appears to have been promoted to deputy manager

Chose The Fo'c'sle for lunch today as everywhere else was heaving (should have wondered why this place wasn't!). Ordered the crab claws salad (husband), white crabmeat sandwiches with no butter, (me) and a macaroni cheese for my 8 year old. We asked for 2 kirs, a large coke and a blackcurrant squash. My husband asked for garlic mayo with his crab claws. So far so good.......

The coke and squash arrived without any problem and, to be fair, my daughter enjoyed her microwaved macaroni cheese (though she complained that the cucumber in her side salad was very dry).

When I asked where the kirs were, I was told they were on their way. What we got was 2 tumblers of wine with a ridiculous amount of creme de cassis. When I complained that we could not drink them, the manager admitted he didn't know how to make a kir! Why not just say so?!

My sandwiches came out, only to be taken back by the kitchen as they had put butter on them. Then I found a piece of plastic in the last quarter sandwich.

My husband's crab claws were as dry as they could be and he had to ask again for some garlic mayo - in a desperate attempt to moisten them - only to be told they didn't have any - so, plain mayo it was.

By now, the whole experience was so unenjoyable that we decided to leave and have an ice cream on the quay, rather than face a dessert here.

When I brought to the waitresses attention the dry crab claws, the plastic in my sandwich, the fact we had to ask for garlic mayo twice (only to not get it anyway) and the poor attempt at making kirs, she handed me an undiscounted bill. When I queried this, she couldn't have looked less bothered and excused the experience with "we have lots of positive feedback".

How this place survives is a mystery. Surely in the Winter, when the passing trade has gone, the locals must give this place a wide berth? We certainly won't be going back. Next time we will settle for a pasty or fish and chips from one of the takeaways.

we should have known when they were the only restaurant in town with a table available and just walked away to get a fish and chips takeaway. £20 for a crab salad which consisted of a bowl of iceberg leaves arranged around the bowl, chunks of cucumber and tomato and about £1 worth of crab,my £15 bbq ribs which seemed the safe option were microwaved. boys pizza could be mistaken for a pop tart except for all the oil, kids shepherd pie with microwave burnt bits in the corners! what a shame for a place in such a great location with all the fresh seafood and fresh cornish ingredients available to be so inferior. ssooooooooooooooooooooo DISAPPOINTED! what a rip off!

I tried to rate the service, food and value money as zero, but the website wouldnt let me - I gave them a 1, but they deserve a zero. Whilst this establishment pretends to be a restaurant, you will get better food in any pub. Everything is pre-prepared and microwaved, nothing here is fresh -its disgraceful and the management should be ashamed of themselves. They must rely on a constant stream of tourists like us who walked in off the street having not read reviews.

Absolutely the worst meal I have ever had in a restaurant anywhere! Paid £23 for a lasagne (like findus) that would have left a small child hungry, 2 slices of cucumber, 1 tomato and a pile of iceberg, 1 bowl of chilli with the rice underneath and a crust on top with the same amount of salad and 2 cokes.

The menus were dirty, the pictures on the walls had splashes of crud on them. The carpet was stained - they actually dared to have a fish dish on their menu which was £30 - EACH.

Abandon hope all ye who enter here. No, don't - buy a pot noodle instead.

This close to a major fishing harbour any restaurant should have no trouble providing a menu using fresh local ingredients. Unfortunatley this one did!

The fish platter starter was ok but maybe not all freshly caught.

The real dissapointment is the main course, a 'boil in the bag' lamb shoulder and 'boil in the bag' pork hock! both with overcooked potatoes and salty veg.

A rather dissapointing £60 meal for two!

the fo'c'sle has a very extensive menu with plenty for seafood lovers but also plenty for those who prefer something else. The service was very helpful and accommodating towards those with children and the meals were served quickly and efficiently even though I had a starter but my husband did not. I thought it was a little expensive but appreciated that my husband was advised not to have a starter as the main course was generous. The atmosphere was lovely and i would go again.

The Fo'c'sle is truly awful. Over priced rubbish for food and the staff are totally clueless. One waiter dropped a plate of danish pastries, picked them up off the floor including scrapping the jams off the carpet and then served them!!! I had a bread roll with my meal that was greener than a piece of stilton.

The Fo'c'sle was truly dreadful. Overpriced, microwaved and ambivalent staff when challenged about the foods quality. Dated interior, tourist prices, menu too busy, childrens pizza was a soggy microwaved mess.

I would avoid The Fo'c'sle for lunch as the meals are very expensive and have nothing special about them. I had a toasted sandwich at £5.85 and this was simply hovis sliced bread hardly toasted at all with a few bits of garnish!! My wife's jacket potato was a yellowy colour instead of White and tasted rank!