written by on 19/06/2011
The Bistro food was overpriced pub fare in a casual atmosphere billed as if it is some fancy restaurant. The owner makes NO apologies for his bad food nor bad service. We went for a family birthday. I would NEVER eat here again or recommend it to anyone. The view of the bridge is nice but since you can get the aame view elsewhere that is exactly what we will do!
written by on 06/04/2011
I was stunned by how disappointing I found the Boathouse in Queensferry this week. I have never had such a bad customer experience in my life. The waitress was rude and exceptionally unhelpful and the food was very average and not worth the inflated prices. I suggested we left soon after ordering to which the response was 'fine, but you'll have to pay first'. I have noticed from other customer reviews that I am not the only one to have this experience. I strongly recommend that potential customers visit the other considerably better restaurants in Queensferry (with friendly staff and excellent food). I will not eat in the Boathouse again.
written by on 27/03/2011
Walked out of Boathouse Restaurant in Queensferry even before seated. Went weekday lunch. After carrying down baby in buggy down all those steps then bumping buggy up steps to door made our own way inside and stood waiting to be seated. No-one else there apart from manager in corner doing paperwork. Plenty tables and space to accommodate us with small baby in buggy. Waitress asked if we wanted a table then pointed to the worst table - beside bar against radiator and TOLD us to put the buggy behind 1 of the chairs. I asked for 1 of the other tables as wanted to have our baby beside us not behind my back and was offered a high chair. I said the baby was too young to sit in highchair and I pointed to 1 of the tables by the window and asked if we could not have 1 of those. I was told "there is no room for us to get past so no", I disagreed and said there would be plenty room and I was told there wasn't. So despite the fact we had made an effort to carry the buggy down to the restaurant, wanted a table to have the baby beside us (not an unreasonable request), there was plenty room to do so (other restaurants with less space between tables have been happy to let us do so) and there was nobody else in, we had no option but to leave. What is more disappointing is that the manager in the corner clearly overheard the discussion and thought it perfectly acceptable to be spoken to so rudely and unfriendly. Or maybe he chose the venue deliberately as access is difficult with those with small children and would minimise families in his restaurant???? Went along to Orocco Pier, received warm welcome there and were told could sit anywhere and no problem to keep buggy beside us!
written by tam30 on 13/05/2007
Ordered the tapas for 2 as a starter, which had a medley of very different tastes on the plate. Thankfully, we have broad minds when it comes to food, and a very varied appetite for different origins of foods, as it was a mixture of pitta bread, pate, olives, sun-dried tomatoes, squid, smoked salmon and Parma ham. It was OK, although not great. Completely different to the restaurant. We then ordered Haddock in beer batter and home made chips. Well, this was an incredibly disappointing. I expected much better than this, especially at £8.25 for glorified fish and chips. To be honest, I wish I had gone to the local chippy. The fish was placed so undelicately on top of of undercooked grease sodden chips, just in case they weren't greasy enough, to soak up the grease from the batter from the fish. I complained and was met with a very unhelpful member of staff. And no apology was given, and she offered to take £4.25 off the bill for the trouble. To be honest, I couldn't be bothered to argue any more, especially because she made sure the whole bistro turned around from their table of delights, so she had an audience. My partner ate the fish in the middle of the batter and nothing else, and yet, they didn't offer to refund any of his food bill. This was clearly the worst fish and chips I have ever had the pleasure of paying for.
So to conclude; what an utter disappointing waste of an afternoon. Should have gone to the restaurant instead, as we normally do. I won't be going back to the restaurant in the future. I work in the catering business and have done for years on and off.
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As rated by our community of reviewers
Edinburgh Diner's Response to tam30's Review
Written on: 09/07/2007
I totally disagree with tam's "review".
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<br/>The Boathouse is an excellent restaurant which makes fantastic use of local available produce. The fish is always fresh and cooked to perfection. Its a 9/10 for me. Tam should go back to his day job - which I can guarantee does not involve either the use of his taste buds nor intellect.