Crab and Winkle - Whitstable, Kent
Description
Expensive seafood restaurant in harbour location. Only accepts "well-behaved"children.There was an ownership change in March, 2005.
Style of food on offer: Seafood, British
Price Guide: £30.01 - £45.00
Parking: Street Parking, Pay Parking
Bar Facilities: Full bar
Smoking policy: Smoking only at bar
Review Summary
Crab and Winkle has received 30 reviews, giving the following average ratings (out of 10 - higher is better):| Overall: | 4.4 |
| Food: | 5.4 |
| Service: | 4.9 |
| Ambiance: | 5.9 |
The reviews can be seen in full below these details.
Recommended dishes: Steamed mussels, scallops and monkfish oysters, paella garlic king prawns crab and Waldorf salad divers caught scallop thermador wild sea bass, oysters oysters Paella (Not on menu on last visit, but when it was I enjoyed it) Cod Cakes, Rhubarb and Apple Crumble Scallops, Bream, Chewy Choc Pud None of them! Over priced n/a oysters Oysters and Scallops Mushy peas lemon sole, grey mullet. Chocolate pudding. oysters Get some chips at the chippy round the corner instead.... whole mackerel and lentils
Address and Contact Details
|
South Quay Harbour Whitstable Kent England CT5 1AB |
Telephone: 01227 779377 Website: Click here Opening Hours: Daily 11:30am - 9:30pm |
Other Information
Accepted payment methods:Bank Debit Cards
Cheques
Visa
MasterCard/Eurocard
Seating capacity: 75 with a largest party size of 50
Dress code: Casual
Customer Reviews for Crab and Winkle - Whitstable
Well Run Family Restaurant - review added on
A small excellently run family restaurant which caters for all types/ages/pockets.Fantastic views over the working harbour.We had a great time and were made to feel most welcome.
Recommended Dishes: steamed mussels, scallops and monkfish
Great Sunday Lunch - review added on Mon 22nd Sep 2003
An informal seafood restaurant with views over Whitstable harbour.The fish couldn't be fresher - the restaurant is under the same ownership as the fishmongers downstairs - so there's little point in choosing anything else.We were impressed by the friendly welcome, and throughout the service was attentive without being oppressive. Half a dozen oysters is almost compulsory in Whitstable, and there's something special about eating them in their native habitat. I followed with the seafood paella which was crammed full of mussels, king prawns and langoustine.Highly recommended.
Recommended Dishes: oysters, paella
Poor Service and Poor Food - review added on Mon 2nd Aug 2004
Very poor service and food.The only great dish was Garlic King Prawns. Thai Crab Cakes were horribly burnt. We had to order some bread 8 times until we finally got them. By then we finished main meals already. The manager (female) was arrogant.1 hour to be served starters, 1 more hour to be served main dishes.We will never go back there. It was such a waste of money and time.
Recommended Dishes: garlic king prawns
Amazing - review added on Sun 18th Jul 2004
Great place for fresh fish! Chefs obviously know how to cook fish, and cook it well! Everyone I know enjoys a meal here. Service is very lacking but the young waiters/waitresses make up for the older ruder management "type"with their youthfulness. Balcony is best view in town.
Recommended Dishes: crab and Waldorf salad
Tourist Trap - review added on Sun 16th Jan 2005
There are some good dishes at the Crab and Winkle but they are few and far between. The restaurant survives on day tourist trade into the harbour. Some of the platter dishes are an absolute disgrace for a place that clearly seeks to make mileage from its position above a harbour and the Augustine fish-sellers because they feature deep-frozen and compiled seafood when every other decent restaurant locally serves it fresh.If you're after decent seafood in Whitstable, almost anywhere else will give you better.The C&W is really a prime opportunity that's done very poorly and very lazily. I only wish our local papers would get off their arse(s) and give this place the review it deserves. With a good slap around the chops for complacency, a decent couple of chefs and a shot in the arm for the boring wine list, this could be the place it should be...
What The Heck? - review added on Thu 28th Apr 2005
It would help if the previous reviewer had actually bothered to comment on a particular experience he/she has had in my restaurant! I have looked at the "anonymous diner's"other reviews and it appears that this person has sampled the menu and wine at two or more restaurants in the same day?I'm not suggesting that we are perfect, but since I bought the restaurant from my parents in March 2005 we have received an AA rosette...the only restaurant in town to have managed it so far!I intend to build on this success in the future and hope that any diner that is served in my restaurant has a favourable time.Those that genuinely do not have a good experience at my restaurant - - please could you write and let me know?To avoid spam you can contact me through my web site:http://www.seafood-restaurant-uk.comRegards Andrew.
Poor Service and Patchy Food - review added on Mon 2nd May 2005
Booked a table as it was May day Bank Holiday. Arrived on time with place only 1/4 full and plenty of staff. Despite this we suffered endless waits and poor service - we had to ask for menus, reminder about drinks, requests for cutlery, etc. All small points but not a good sign.After an hour and still no starter (6 oysters) we were beginning to regret our decision. When the food arrived the battered cod was excellent, although the chips were rushed and not fully cooked. The frito misto was a disaster - dry and tasteless fish with an overcooked rock hard breadcrumb crust. The worst suprise was a scallop with the taste and texture of a golf ball.We will not be going back in a hurry, despite being given 50% off.
Review added on Mon 16th May 2005
Nice meal here the other evening for my wife's birthday. First came here a few years ago and I must say how much it has improved. Much better menu, and the young staff friendly and attentive.
Recommended Dishes: wild sea bass, oysters
Good Food, Appalling Service - review added on Mon 27th Jun 2005
The food was excellent, well prepared and imaginative. The restaurant is let down by the woeful service, examples of which were a) the time spent waiting to give our order b)drinks not arriving despite constant reminders c) bread never arriving despite being asked for d)waitresses asking if we wanted drinks/condiments/etc. then completely ignoring the request e) tables only being half cleared between courses...and so on. One of the problems was the number of new staff (helpfully identified as being under training by their badges, although by the amount of crockery and glass dropped this badge seemed a little superfluous), but also the attitude of the elder staff left much to be desired.
What a Rip Off - review added on Wed 29th Jun 2005
Overrated tourist trap as previously mentioned. If it wasn't for the location, this "restaurant"would have nothing to talk about, apart from the appalling lack of knowledge and experience of the staff. Food is well overpriced, and not even near fresh, which is a sin being next to the sea. Owners/management define rudeness.Could be so good, just run by the wrong people.Greed.
Recommended Dishes: oysters
OK - review added on Fri 1st Jul 2005
Great location - terrible restaurant. This place has such great potential, but just can't get it right.My partner and I have experienced more atmosphere in a morgue than this place. The food was average, the wine pleasant enough and the service adequate. But value for money is shocking.If you have an ever-expanding wallet, go here, otherwise avoid.
Has potential, but currently underperforming - review added on Tue 9th Aug 2005
My father lives in Whitstable and I have visited this restaurant 4 or 5 times over the past few years, most recently on 6th August 2005.Positive points:* Fabulous location/view* 10% discount at the downstairs fish market on presentation of meal receipt.* Reasonably interesting menu* Reasonably talented chef(s)* Andrew (owner) seemed like a nice bloke* Funky toilet seatsNegative points:* SERVICE, SERVICE, SERVICE -More on this later* Not a huge range on the menu - most of the time I like a limited selection, but one or two more options here would have been nice.* Too expensive - I don't mind paying £20+ for a main course if it is worth it, this however is not and should definitely be more in the £8-£15 mark. (It should be pointed out that only two items on the menu were over £20 - but I did taste one of them and it wasn’t all that)* Need to start making their own chips – the ones they served were frankly crap. ReviewI should start by saying I’ve never had a big problem with the service here in the past, it’s never been wonderful or even vaguely good, but it has never previously detracted from the meal as a whole until our last visit.However on this occasion the service was truly abysmal - slow, rude and completely unacceptable; at one point when we had been waiting 25 mins for some one to take our drinks order I counted 6 (SIX!) members of staff standing within less than 15ft of our table and still despite wild gesticulation and repeated eye contact with each and every one of them still I actually had to get up and ask one of them if we could possibly be served if it wasn’t too much trouble, which begrudgingly and with much rolling of the eyes we were. In the end we couldn’t face another interminable wait for desert/coffee and paid up and left. Despite a complaint to the maitre d’ (and I use the term in its loosest possible sense) no real apology, explanation or discount was forthcoming.Andrew from your position behind the bar you can see the diners, and see the service being given. Sort this out. Please. It sucks.As for the food it was ok. That’s all. I had the scallops and avocado (around £6) in an orange dressing to start, avocado was perfectly ripe, dressing was zingy without being overpowering, the scallops were ok, but very small and lacking in flavour. For main course I had the mackerel (around £13) in a cider apple sauce with samphire. Mackeral was a tad over cooked, but otherwise very tasty and the sauce was surprisingly good – very suited to the mackerel. The samphire was woody – seriously some of it was totally indigestible, I may as well have been sucking on an oak tree.And then the chips, which were simply awful. Limp, tasteless. Don’t be lazy, make your own it’s not hard – and then (and this is crucial) FRY THEM TILL THEY’RE CRISP it’s simple! What is it with the English and chips – try serving that up in Belgium! You’d be shot. No questions asked. So in all I won’t be going back until I hear some better reviews. I hope the Crab and Winkle does sort itself out because there’s no reason why this place can’t succeed with just a few very basic changes.In the meantime your best bet in Whitstable is to take the ludicrously large pile of cash you’re going to give to some pretentious over priced restaurant, take it to the Threshers on the high street buy a couple of nice bottles of wine, head back to the fish market picking up a disposable BBQ on the way, choose your fish and get cooking on the beach. Far more satisfying, and in my experience far more tasty.
Recommended Dishes: Paella (Not on menu on last visit, but when it was I enjoyed it)
Poor Service - review added on Sun 4th Sep 2005
Very poor service, I attended 02/09/05 at 8.30 pm. There were about 12 other diners so was not too busy, the wife's mussels were lukewarm. I ordered the mackerel with mixed vegetables, which eventually arrived without the veg, then waited 10 mins for them not to arrive, in which time I had half eaten the fish, very poor service and over rated.
Really Disappointing - review added on Mon 26th Sep 2005
Nobody asked us if we wanted a drink when we sat down.We ordered our food and our wine, my dad ordered 3 rock oysters (£4.95), 3 native oysters (£7.50), my mum 5 langoustine tails (£7.50) and I razor clams. My clams were lovely, my dad only received the rock oysters which looked like they'd been open for hours, they were completely dry. We reminded our waitress of the other oysters which came and only two of them were edible. So that was 2 out of six oysters which were of any standard. The langoustine tails were ok but not worth £7.50.Although we asked for our wine again (the waitress admitted "I'm not doing very well with you tonight, am I?") it didn't arrive until the first course dishes had been cleared.The second course of half a lobster, rabbit and mussels was ok but there was hardly any juice with the mussels. We then waited for a very long time to be offered dessert when we did order we thought we should order our coffees and brandies then so we wouldn't have to wait to be asked. The coffees never came. When the bill came we were charged for 4 set meals, interesting as there were only 3 of us and one of us had ordered off the separate a la carte shellfish menu. When we asked for the menu to be altered the waitress made an excuse that she was sorry, it was late! We agreed that it was late mostly because we'd had to wait so long just to be asked to order anything. To this we were charged 12.5% service. We couldn't be bothered to complain to anyone, we hadn't seen the same person more than twice the whole evening, we were the last people there and just wanted to go home. If I had to say something good about the restaurant it would be it has good access for the disabled and there are good baby changing facilities, the staff are friendly but there were too many mistakes.We travelled from London for the famous Whitstable experience, we were very disappointed and a half full restaurant by 9 o'clock says others are too.
Poor Restaurant - review added on Mon 7th Nov 2005
Where do I start with the Crab and Winkle. I want to write this review jus to let others know what this place is like if they are planning to go for food there. We went here for a special occasion dinner and it turned into a nightmare, the food was to be polite not fit for a dog especially at the prices they seem to think they can justify charging. After waiting a good hour after are starters had arrived along came our dinner served by an unpleasant waitress who still had not got our drinks which we ordered 20 minutes before. My young son's fish pie dinner came to him very cold and my wife's cider cod was not the freshest of fish; I take a guess that they had had it out back for quite some time. Overall I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone.
Falls short of expectations - review added on Tue 8th Nov 2005
I just thought i would briefly comment on and share my experience at this popular fish restaurant. During late October I took my partner on a surprise birthday meal on a Saturday night. From the moment we walked in up the stairs we were greeted with sighs and unenthusiastic faces, this unfortunately set a dull tone on the start of the night. The starters, altough after a long wait were fairly tasty but the wait took the edge off what would have been quite a pleasant dish. Unfortunately for a second time that evening we had to wait quite a while for the mains, and the food was not of good quality or presentation, as though it had been rushed and not much effort put into it. The staff did apologise but it was an empty apology and I did not feel the staff sympathised with us. I can appreciate the restaurant being busy as it was a Saturday but in any case, the staff you would hope would be able to hide their discomfort and provide a positive and welcoming service, unfortunately this was not the case. The restaurant has potential but at this present time does not meet expectations and I believe a bit extra staff training in customer relations during busy periods should be introduced.
Recommended Dishes: none
Wonderful Experience - review added on Thu 1st Dec 2005
We are a retired couple that eat out often, lunchtime bistro menu 10/10 pumpkin soup delicious, in fact all courses including mushroom fettucine perfect. Service attentive, price and quality good. Would recommend.
Recommended Dishes: Cod Cakes, Rhubarb and Apple Crumble
Stop, winner time - review added on Tue 21st Mar 2006
Good food, not bad service and sweets looked good to eat.
Recommended Dishes: Scallops, Bream, Chewy Choc Pud
Warning - This Restaurant is Bad - review added on Mon 24th Jul 2006
My girlfriend and I travelled to Whitstable on Sunday 23 July for a day in the sun by the sea.We decided on The Crab and Winkle as it looked like a nice place to dine. After a pleasant day roaming around the lovely village we made our way for a special meal to cap off the day.It's hard to know where to start with this place, I was half expecting Basil Faulty to pop his head out of the kitchen at any time!Upon arrival, the reception area was unattended and after waiting for some minutes we managed to make eye contact with a waitress who begrudgingly came and spoke to us. It was obviously "not her job". At this time a more senior member of staff approached. Seeing a way out the original staff member turned mid-sentence and walked away.We were kindly allocated a table on the balcony which was appreciated as that is the reason we chose the restaurant.Happily we began reading the menus. Having a limited budget we decided on the set menu only to discover that the overwhelming majority of entrees and mains had a "supplementary cost"attached to them. Why advertise a set cost menu that is largely non-existent? We ordered a bottle of wine with our meal and than began to wait. For brevity, I will list the ensuing comedy of errors in bullet form:- Entrees arrived before our drinks.- The request to have our wine to accompany the meal was met with indifference as if it was all too much.- Wine arrives some five minutes later.- We had the lamb starter and it was quite frankly disgusting. It looked and tasted as I'd imagine cat food to.- We noted other diners being offerred bread so we asked if this was available to us given that we were ordering from the set menu. We were told it was and then offered some. Big mistake! The bread was stale and difficult to bite through.- As we were finishing our starter another waiter came out with a bottle of wine. When seeing that we already had a bottle he exasperatedly asked if we had ordered two bottles. We told him no and then he made out as if this was our fault and stormed off muttering under his breath.- The mains were ok but poor value for money.By this stage we'd had enough and got the bill as quickly as possible, paid and left feeling ripped off. It was explained to us that the restaurant was incredibly busy but my observation was that the staff are incredibly lazy and uninterested. Not every table was full and groups of wait staff were regularly seen huddled together talking. We were served by no less than 5 people. If anything they are over-staffed, poorly managed and inadequately trained.I have done my best to inform readers of the how ridiculous this place is but fear my words do not convey the black comedy that was our evening meal.To the management, please feel free to email me should you wish to discuss this further. I'm only letting you know what I and others think of your service.The Crab and Winkle would make excellent fodder for Gordon Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares.
Glad its not only me...! - review added on Wed 26th Jul 2006
I was really disappointed with the undercooked, overpriced menu.What a shame. It used to be sooooo good.
Recommended Dishes: None of them! Over priced
Is star rating applicable here? - review added on Thu 27th Jul 2006
I found it difficult to use the rating system. It may be worth reviewers expanded on in their thoughts of 'poor'. While one star is the closest option to to 'horrible', it must be clarified that 'poor' is far from equivalent to 'I can't believe this type of service and food quality actually exists.'
Recommended Dishes: n/a
Disappointing - review added on Sun 30th Jul 2006
Visited C&W on Saturday night during oyster festival. Food was average, in fact worse than lunch in the pub and service was very poor (for which they charge 12.5% in the bill). To make it worse, we got charged £16 for food we didn’t have– after lengthy discussion with manager still overcharged us £4 but I could not be bothered anymore. Avoid if you can, this place lives on tourists.
Recommended Dishes: oysters
Big Plates, Small Fish! - review added on Tue 15th Aug 2006
Went here for special occasion. Waited because a group of tourists came in - is that really unexpected?Fish arrived on very large plates, small fish, no vegetables, on top of that it rained and roof leaked on my chair. Not value for money, you are better off in the pub over the road!
Great food and ambiance. - review added on Mon 4th Sep 2006
As party of 4 for lunch we were the next day popping over to France to eat in a first class seafood restaurant in Etaple. This was to be a tester for UK food. It came up trumps, the grilled Oysters were excellent followed by lovely Scallops all this washed down by a local Kentish Rose from Tenterden.
Recommended Dishes: Oysters and Scallops
Overpriced and Pretentious - review added on Sun 3rd Dec 2006
My partner and I eat out at different restaurants regularly. We had been meaning to eat at this restaurant for some time, when we finally decided to go, we thought it best to book as we assumed it would be busy!!Arrived to find half empty restaurant at peak time of 8:00 pm Saturday, so we realised that booking had been unnecessary. The atmosphere was not what we would describe as friendly, the waiting staff seemed rather aloof, and indifferent. The acoustics of the restaurant were bad, some noise absorbency is needed.We couldn't wait to look at the menu, to find that both of us (although big lovers of fish) didn't wish to order any of the starters on the menu, so we choose the one starter advertised on the 'specials board' only to be told it was not available, although an alternative was offered which my partner had. So I opted for a standard dish of cockles. The cockle dish cost 4.95, which was a tiny dish served on a large Empty plate, no relish or bread with it, just a handful of cockles for nearly £5.00.Also a very small, stingy selection of choice of food on the main menu. My partner for his main dish ordered Battered fillet of huss, and HAND CUT chips with mushy peas. When arrived on a large plate, there was a tiny dish of limp standard chips, not hand cut as was advertised. What is the saying 'cheap as chips' so why so few chips?I ordered smocked haddock, which was nice, but no vegetables, just fish piled up with spinach, wild mushrooms and egg on top, although nice, still hungry.Also I have to mention on the menu is states an OPTIONAL 12.5 per cent service charge will be added to your bill. We were not given an option, they just added it to the total to pay on the bill? This just leaves you as a customer in an awkward position, as if you then were to say you don't wish to pay it, they would then have to change the bill!We were out within the hour, still hungry, feeling totally ripped off. Very disappointed with the whole experience.The only good thing, waiting staff were polite, restaurant was clean, and the mushy peas were nice.Won't be going again.
Recommended Dishes: Mushy peas
A bit disappointed - review added on Fri 29th Dec 2006
Visited between Christmas and New Year and it could be that some catering staff were away - I wasn't particularly impressed. The setting is nice and the waiting staff very attentive. Five of us each had different dishes with a range of experiences. My two son's fish was good, my husband's not so good and mine very poor. My daughter had a vegetarian option which was just ok. My experience: I started with a beetroot risotto, which was nothing special, rice cooked in red wine with chunks of beetroot in it salad and orange on the top. The flavours weren't quite right. Next course I had the Huss in beer batter which should have been great. It was completely dessicated. The batter was limp and the fish dried out. I wondered whether it had been cooked the previous day and reheated. The chips were ok but I have had better at my local fish and chip shop for a quarter the price. My daughter then had a creme brule which was curdled, although tasted not too bad. One son had a crumble burnt on the top. The cost for 4 starters, 5 main courses, 3 deserts and 2 bottles of wine £160, so not particularly cheap. As stated at the beginning could be we went at a bad time of year but I don't think I will be returning.
Magical - review added on Mon 27th Aug 2007
Had a wonderful three course meal here this Bank Holiday. The food was generous and tasty, the free sorbet was a nice touch. You can eat here cheaply from the set menu, but you will probably be tempted by the a la carte. Service friendly and attentive. Ask for a table near the window for the stunning views.
Recommended Dishes: lemon sole, grey mullet. Chocolate pudding.
Special anniversary - review added on Sun 7th Oct 2007
Last weekend enjoyed a lovely Saturday lunch for parents 60th wedding anniversary. Were offered a free glass of champagne before our meal and parents thoroughly enjoyed it with mother saying it was one of the best meals she had ever had. Service was good and there was a "buzzy"atmosphere - a very enjoyable experience.
Recommended Dishes: oysters
A PRICEY SLAP IN THE FACE - THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED! - review added on Mon 23rd Jun 2008
We went there with high hopes, but this place should be avoided like the plague. The service is appauling, arrogant, and incompetent. There were people leaving before their food had been cleared (after waiting AGES for their bill). It was our worst eating experience EVER, and we felt extremely upset that it cost us loads of money for a measely dour meal, poorly cooked, and meagre portions. It must be rich tourists keeping it alive... I can't emphasise enough - DON'T GO THERE!!!!!
Recommended Dishes: Get some chips at the chippy round the corner instead....
A very enjoyable experience-what a turn around - review added on Thu 4th Sep 2008
my partner and i ate here a couple of years ago and found it very poor. we were forced to tr here again as everywhereelse was busy and WOW is all i have to say. The food was a delight and the service charming and efficient. the prices are on the high side but definately fair for what you are geting in return. will definately be returning soon!
Recommended Dishes: whole mackerel and lentils
A small excellently run family restaurant which caters for all types/ages/pockets.Fantastic views over the working harbour.We had a great time and were made to feel most welcome.
| Overall: | 8 |
| Food: | 10 |
| Service: | 8 |
| Ambiance: | 8 |
Recommended Dishes: steamed mussels, scallops and monkfish
Great Sunday Lunch - review added on Mon 22nd Sep 2003
An informal seafood restaurant with views over Whitstable harbour.The fish couldn't be fresher - the restaurant is under the same ownership as the fishmongers downstairs - so there's little point in choosing anything else.We were impressed by the friendly welcome, and throughout the service was attentive without being oppressive. Half a dozen oysters is almost compulsory in Whitstable, and there's something special about eating them in their native habitat. I followed with the seafood paella which was crammed full of mussels, king prawns and langoustine.Highly recommended.
| Overall: | 6 |
| Food: | 6 |
| Service: | 8 |
| Ambiance: | 8 |
Recommended Dishes: oysters, paella
Poor Service and Poor Food - review added on Mon 2nd Aug 2004
Very poor service and food.The only great dish was Garlic King Prawns. Thai Crab Cakes were horribly burnt. We had to order some bread 8 times until we finally got them. By then we finished main meals already. The manager (female) was arrogant.1 hour to be served starters, 1 more hour to be served main dishes.We will never go back there. It was such a waste of money and time.
| Overall: | 2 |
| Food: | 2 |
| Service: | 4 |
| Ambiance: | 2 |
Recommended Dishes: garlic king prawns
Amazing - review added on Sun 18th Jul 2004
Great place for fresh fish! Chefs obviously know how to cook fish, and cook it well! Everyone I know enjoys a meal here. Service is very lacking but the young waiters/waitresses make up for the older ruder management "type"with their youthfulness. Balcony is best view in town.
| Overall: | 8 |
| Food: | 10 |
| Service: | 4 |
| Ambiance: | 6 |
Recommended Dishes: crab and Waldorf salad
Tourist Trap - review added on Sun 16th Jan 2005
There are some good dishes at the Crab and Winkle but they are few and far between. The restaurant survives on day tourist trade into the harbour. Some of the platter dishes are an absolute disgrace for a place that clearly seeks to make mileage from its position above a harbour and the Augustine fish-sellers because they feature deep-frozen and compiled seafood when every other decent restaurant locally serves it fresh.If you're after decent seafood in Whitstable, almost anywhere else will give you better.The C&W is really a prime opportunity that's done very poorly and very lazily. I only wish our local papers would get off their arse(s) and give this place the review it deserves. With a good slap around the chops for complacency, a decent couple of chefs and a shot in the arm for the boring wine list, this could be the place it should be...
| Overall: | 4 |
| Food: | 4 |
| Service: | 4 |
| Ambiance: | 6 |
What The Heck? - review added on Thu 28th Apr 2005
It would help if the previous reviewer had actually bothered to comment on a particular experience he/she has had in my restaurant! I have looked at the "anonymous diner's"other reviews and it appears that this person has sampled the menu and wine at two or more restaurants in the same day?I'm not suggesting that we are perfect, but since I bought the restaurant from my parents in March 2005 we have received an AA rosette...the only restaurant in town to have managed it so far!I intend to build on this success in the future and hope that any diner that is served in my restaurant has a favourable time.Those that genuinely do not have a good experience at my restaurant - - please could you write and let me know?To avoid spam you can contact me through my web site:http://www.seafood-restaurant-uk.comRegards Andrew.
Poor Service and Patchy Food - review added on Mon 2nd May 2005
Booked a table as it was May day Bank Holiday. Arrived on time with place only 1/4 full and plenty of staff. Despite this we suffered endless waits and poor service - we had to ask for menus, reminder about drinks, requests for cutlery, etc. All small points but not a good sign.After an hour and still no starter (6 oysters) we were beginning to regret our decision. When the food arrived the battered cod was excellent, although the chips were rushed and not fully cooked. The frito misto was a disaster - dry and tasteless fish with an overcooked rock hard breadcrumb crust. The worst suprise was a scallop with the taste and texture of a golf ball.We will not be going back in a hurry, despite being given 50% off.
| Overall: | 2 |
| Food: | 4 |
| Service: | 4 |
| Ambiance: | 6 |
Review added on Mon 16th May 2005
Nice meal here the other evening for my wife's birthday. First came here a few years ago and I must say how much it has improved. Much better menu, and the young staff friendly and attentive.
| Overall: | 10 |
| Food: | 10 |
| Service: | 8 |
| Ambiance: | 10 |
Recommended Dishes: wild sea bass, oysters
Good Food, Appalling Service - review added on Mon 27th Jun 2005
The food was excellent, well prepared and imaginative. The restaurant is let down by the woeful service, examples of which were a) the time spent waiting to give our order b)drinks not arriving despite constant reminders c) bread never arriving despite being asked for d)waitresses asking if we wanted drinks/condiments/etc. then completely ignoring the request e) tables only being half cleared between courses...and so on. One of the problems was the number of new staff (helpfully identified as being under training by their badges, although by the amount of crockery and glass dropped this badge seemed a little superfluous), but also the attitude of the elder staff left much to be desired.
| Overall: | 4 |
| Food: | 8 |
| Service: | 2 |
| Ambiance: | 6 |
What a Rip Off - review added on Wed 29th Jun 2005
Overrated tourist trap as previously mentioned. If it wasn't for the location, this "restaurant"would have nothing to talk about, apart from the appalling lack of knowledge and experience of the staff. Food is well overpriced, and not even near fresh, which is a sin being next to the sea. Owners/management define rudeness.Could be so good, just run by the wrong people.Greed.
| Overall: | 2 |
| Food: | 2 |
| Service: | 2 |
| Ambiance: | 2 |
Recommended Dishes: oysters
OK - review added on Fri 1st Jul 2005
Great location - terrible restaurant. This place has such great potential, but just can't get it right.My partner and I have experienced more atmosphere in a morgue than this place. The food was average, the wine pleasant enough and the service adequate. But value for money is shocking.If you have an ever-expanding wallet, go here, otherwise avoid.
| Overall: | 4 |
| Food: | 4 |
| Service: | 4 |
| Ambiance: | 2 |
Has potential, but currently underperforming - review added on Tue 9th Aug 2005
My father lives in Whitstable and I have visited this restaurant 4 or 5 times over the past few years, most recently on 6th August 2005.Positive points:* Fabulous location/view* 10% discount at the downstairs fish market on presentation of meal receipt.* Reasonably interesting menu* Reasonably talented chef(s)* Andrew (owner) seemed like a nice bloke* Funky toilet seatsNegative points:* SERVICE, SERVICE, SERVICE -More on this later* Not a huge range on the menu - most of the time I like a limited selection, but one or two more options here would have been nice.* Too expensive - I don't mind paying £20+ for a main course if it is worth it, this however is not and should definitely be more in the £8-£15 mark. (It should be pointed out that only two items on the menu were over £20 - but I did taste one of them and it wasn’t all that)* Need to start making their own chips – the ones they served were frankly crap. ReviewI should start by saying I’ve never had a big problem with the service here in the past, it’s never been wonderful or even vaguely good, but it has never previously detracted from the meal as a whole until our last visit.However on this occasion the service was truly abysmal - slow, rude and completely unacceptable; at one point when we had been waiting 25 mins for some one to take our drinks order I counted 6 (SIX!) members of staff standing within less than 15ft of our table and still despite wild gesticulation and repeated eye contact with each and every one of them still I actually had to get up and ask one of them if we could possibly be served if it wasn’t too much trouble, which begrudgingly and with much rolling of the eyes we were. In the end we couldn’t face another interminable wait for desert/coffee and paid up and left. Despite a complaint to the maitre d’ (and I use the term in its loosest possible sense) no real apology, explanation or discount was forthcoming.Andrew from your position behind the bar you can see the diners, and see the service being given. Sort this out. Please. It sucks.As for the food it was ok. That’s all. I had the scallops and avocado (around £6) in an orange dressing to start, avocado was perfectly ripe, dressing was zingy without being overpowering, the scallops were ok, but very small and lacking in flavour. For main course I had the mackerel (around £13) in a cider apple sauce with samphire. Mackeral was a tad over cooked, but otherwise very tasty and the sauce was surprisingly good – very suited to the mackerel. The samphire was woody – seriously some of it was totally indigestible, I may as well have been sucking on an oak tree.And then the chips, which were simply awful. Limp, tasteless. Don’t be lazy, make your own it’s not hard – and then (and this is crucial) FRY THEM TILL THEY’RE CRISP it’s simple! What is it with the English and chips – try serving that up in Belgium! You’d be shot. No questions asked. So in all I won’t be going back until I hear some better reviews. I hope the Crab and Winkle does sort itself out because there’s no reason why this place can’t succeed with just a few very basic changes.In the meantime your best bet in Whitstable is to take the ludicrously large pile of cash you’re going to give to some pretentious over priced restaurant, take it to the Threshers on the high street buy a couple of nice bottles of wine, head back to the fish market picking up a disposable BBQ on the way, choose your fish and get cooking on the beach. Far more satisfying, and in my experience far more tasty.
| Overall: | 4 |
| Food: | 4 |
| Service: | 2 |
| Ambiance: | 6 |
Recommended Dishes: Paella (Not on menu on last visit, but when it was I enjoyed it)
Poor Service - review added on Sun 4th Sep 2005
Very poor service, I attended 02/09/05 at 8.30 pm. There were about 12 other diners so was not too busy, the wife's mussels were lukewarm. I ordered the mackerel with mixed vegetables, which eventually arrived without the veg, then waited 10 mins for them not to arrive, in which time I had half eaten the fish, very poor service and over rated.
| Overall: | 2 |
| Food: | 4 |
| Service: | 2 |
| Ambiance: | 6 |
Really Disappointing - review added on Mon 26th Sep 2005
Nobody asked us if we wanted a drink when we sat down.We ordered our food and our wine, my dad ordered 3 rock oysters (£4.95), 3 native oysters (£7.50), my mum 5 langoustine tails (£7.50) and I razor clams. My clams were lovely, my dad only received the rock oysters which looked like they'd been open for hours, they were completely dry. We reminded our waitress of the other oysters which came and only two of them were edible. So that was 2 out of six oysters which were of any standard. The langoustine tails were ok but not worth £7.50.Although we asked for our wine again (the waitress admitted "I'm not doing very well with you tonight, am I?") it didn't arrive until the first course dishes had been cleared.The second course of half a lobster, rabbit and mussels was ok but there was hardly any juice with the mussels. We then waited for a very long time to be offered dessert when we did order we thought we should order our coffees and brandies then so we wouldn't have to wait to be asked. The coffees never came. When the bill came we were charged for 4 set meals, interesting as there were only 3 of us and one of us had ordered off the separate a la carte shellfish menu. When we asked for the menu to be altered the waitress made an excuse that she was sorry, it was late! We agreed that it was late mostly because we'd had to wait so long just to be asked to order anything. To this we were charged 12.5% service. We couldn't be bothered to complain to anyone, we hadn't seen the same person more than twice the whole evening, we were the last people there and just wanted to go home. If I had to say something good about the restaurant it would be it has good access for the disabled and there are good baby changing facilities, the staff are friendly but there were too many mistakes.We travelled from London for the famous Whitstable experience, we were very disappointed and a half full restaurant by 9 o'clock says others are too.
| Overall: | 2 |
| Food: | 4 |
| Service: | 4 |
| Ambiance: | 4 |
Poor Restaurant - review added on Mon 7th Nov 2005
Where do I start with the Crab and Winkle. I want to write this review jus to let others know what this place is like if they are planning to go for food there. We went here for a special occasion dinner and it turned into a nightmare, the food was to be polite not fit for a dog especially at the prices they seem to think they can justify charging. After waiting a good hour after are starters had arrived along came our dinner served by an unpleasant waitress who still had not got our drinks which we ordered 20 minutes before. My young son's fish pie dinner came to him very cold and my wife's cider cod was not the freshest of fish; I take a guess that they had had it out back for quite some time. Overall I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone.
| Overall: | 2 |
| Food: | 4 |
| Service: | 2 |
| Ambiance: | 4 |
Falls short of expectations - review added on Tue 8th Nov 2005
I just thought i would briefly comment on and share my experience at this popular fish restaurant. During late October I took my partner on a surprise birthday meal on a Saturday night. From the moment we walked in up the stairs we were greeted with sighs and unenthusiastic faces, this unfortunately set a dull tone on the start of the night. The starters, altough after a long wait were fairly tasty but the wait took the edge off what would have been quite a pleasant dish. Unfortunately for a second time that evening we had to wait quite a while for the mains, and the food was not of good quality or presentation, as though it had been rushed and not much effort put into it. The staff did apologise but it was an empty apology and I did not feel the staff sympathised with us. I can appreciate the restaurant being busy as it was a Saturday but in any case, the staff you would hope would be able to hide their discomfort and provide a positive and welcoming service, unfortunately this was not the case. The restaurant has potential but at this present time does not meet expectations and I believe a bit extra staff training in customer relations during busy periods should be introduced.
| Overall: | 2 |
| Food: | 4 |
| Service: | 4 |
| Ambiance: | 6 |
Recommended Dishes: none
Wonderful Experience - review added on Thu 1st Dec 2005
We are a retired couple that eat out often, lunchtime bistro menu 10/10 pumpkin soup delicious, in fact all courses including mushroom fettucine perfect. Service attentive, price and quality good. Would recommend.
| Overall: | 8 |
| Food: | 6 |
| Service: | 8 |
| Ambiance: | 8 |
Recommended Dishes: Cod Cakes, Rhubarb and Apple Crumble
Stop, winner time - review added on Tue 21st Mar 2006
Good food, not bad service and sweets looked good to eat.
| Overall: | 8 |
| Food: | 8 |
| Service: | 6 |
| Ambiance: | 6 |
Recommended Dishes: Scallops, Bream, Chewy Choc Pud
Warning - This Restaurant is Bad - review added on Mon 24th Jul 2006
My girlfriend and I travelled to Whitstable on Sunday 23 July for a day in the sun by the sea.We decided on The Crab and Winkle as it looked like a nice place to dine. After a pleasant day roaming around the lovely village we made our way for a special meal to cap off the day.It's hard to know where to start with this place, I was half expecting Basil Faulty to pop his head out of the kitchen at any time!Upon arrival, the reception area was unattended and after waiting for some minutes we managed to make eye contact with a waitress who begrudgingly came and spoke to us. It was obviously "not her job". At this time a more senior member of staff approached. Seeing a way out the original staff member turned mid-sentence and walked away.We were kindly allocated a table on the balcony which was appreciated as that is the reason we chose the restaurant.Happily we began reading the menus. Having a limited budget we decided on the set menu only to discover that the overwhelming majority of entrees and mains had a "supplementary cost"attached to them. Why advertise a set cost menu that is largely non-existent? We ordered a bottle of wine with our meal and than began to wait. For brevity, I will list the ensuing comedy of errors in bullet form:- Entrees arrived before our drinks.- The request to have our wine to accompany the meal was met with indifference as if it was all too much.- Wine arrives some five minutes later.- We had the lamb starter and it was quite frankly disgusting. It looked and tasted as I'd imagine cat food to.- We noted other diners being offerred bread so we asked if this was available to us given that we were ordering from the set menu. We were told it was and then offered some. Big mistake! The bread was stale and difficult to bite through.- As we were finishing our starter another waiter came out with a bottle of wine. When seeing that we already had a bottle he exasperatedly asked if we had ordered two bottles. We told him no and then he made out as if this was our fault and stormed off muttering under his breath.- The mains were ok but poor value for money.By this stage we'd had enough and got the bill as quickly as possible, paid and left feeling ripped off. It was explained to us that the restaurant was incredibly busy but my observation was that the staff are incredibly lazy and uninterested. Not every table was full and groups of wait staff were regularly seen huddled together talking. We were served by no less than 5 people. If anything they are over-staffed, poorly managed and inadequately trained.I have done my best to inform readers of the how ridiculous this place is but fear my words do not convey the black comedy that was our evening meal.To the management, please feel free to email me should you wish to discuss this further. I'm only letting you know what I and others think of your service.The Crab and Winkle would make excellent fodder for Gordon Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares.
| Overall: | 2 |
| Food: | 2 |
| Service: | 2 |
| Ambiance: | 6 |
Glad its not only me...! - review added on Wed 26th Jul 2006
I was really disappointed with the undercooked, overpriced menu.What a shame. It used to be sooooo good.
| Overall: | 2 |
| Food: | 4 |
| Service: | 4 |
| Ambiance: | 4 |
Recommended Dishes: None of them! Over priced
Is star rating applicable here? - review added on Thu 27th Jul 2006
I found it difficult to use the rating system. It may be worth reviewers expanded on in their thoughts of 'poor'. While one star is the closest option to to 'horrible', it must be clarified that 'poor' is far from equivalent to 'I can't believe this type of service and food quality actually exists.'
| Overall: | 2 |
| Food: | 2 |
| Service: | 4 |
| Ambiance: | 2 |
Recommended Dishes: n/a
Disappointing - review added on Sun 30th Jul 2006
Visited C&W on Saturday night during oyster festival. Food was average, in fact worse than lunch in the pub and service was very poor (for which they charge 12.5% in the bill). To make it worse, we got charged £16 for food we didn’t have– after lengthy discussion with manager still overcharged us £4 but I could not be bothered anymore. Avoid if you can, this place lives on tourists.
| Overall: | 2 |
| Food: | 6 |
| Service: | 2 |
| Ambiance: | 6 |
Recommended Dishes: oysters
Big Plates, Small Fish! - review added on Tue 15th Aug 2006
Went here for special occasion. Waited because a group of tourists came in - is that really unexpected?Fish arrived on very large plates, small fish, no vegetables, on top of that it rained and roof leaked on my chair. Not value for money, you are better off in the pub over the road!
| Overall: | 2 |
| Food: | 0 |
| Service: | 0 |
| Ambiance: | 0 |
Great food and ambiance. - review added on Mon 4th Sep 2006
As party of 4 for lunch we were the next day popping over to France to eat in a first class seafood restaurant in Etaple. This was to be a tester for UK food. It came up trumps, the grilled Oysters were excellent followed by lovely Scallops all this washed down by a local Kentish Rose from Tenterden.
| Overall: | 8 |
| Food: | 8 |
| Service: | 10 |
| Ambiance: | 10 |
Recommended Dishes: Oysters and Scallops
Overpriced and Pretentious - review added on Sun 3rd Dec 2006
My partner and I eat out at different restaurants regularly. We had been meaning to eat at this restaurant for some time, when we finally decided to go, we thought it best to book as we assumed it would be busy!!Arrived to find half empty restaurant at peak time of 8:00 pm Saturday, so we realised that booking had been unnecessary. The atmosphere was not what we would describe as friendly, the waiting staff seemed rather aloof, and indifferent. The acoustics of the restaurant were bad, some noise absorbency is needed.We couldn't wait to look at the menu, to find that both of us (although big lovers of fish) didn't wish to order any of the starters on the menu, so we choose the one starter advertised on the 'specials board' only to be told it was not available, although an alternative was offered which my partner had. So I opted for a standard dish of cockles. The cockle dish cost 4.95, which was a tiny dish served on a large Empty plate, no relish or bread with it, just a handful of cockles for nearly £5.00.Also a very small, stingy selection of choice of food on the main menu. My partner for his main dish ordered Battered fillet of huss, and HAND CUT chips with mushy peas. When arrived on a large plate, there was a tiny dish of limp standard chips, not hand cut as was advertised. What is the saying 'cheap as chips' so why so few chips?I ordered smocked haddock, which was nice, but no vegetables, just fish piled up with spinach, wild mushrooms and egg on top, although nice, still hungry.Also I have to mention on the menu is states an OPTIONAL 12.5 per cent service charge will be added to your bill. We were not given an option, they just added it to the total to pay on the bill? This just leaves you as a customer in an awkward position, as if you then were to say you don't wish to pay it, they would then have to change the bill!We were out within the hour, still hungry, feeling totally ripped off. Very disappointed with the whole experience.The only good thing, waiting staff were polite, restaurant was clean, and the mushy peas were nice.Won't be going again.
| Overall: | 2 |
| Food: | 4 |
| Service: | 4 |
| Ambiance: | 4 |
Recommended Dishes: Mushy peas
A bit disappointed - review added on Fri 29th Dec 2006
Visited between Christmas and New Year and it could be that some catering staff were away - I wasn't particularly impressed. The setting is nice and the waiting staff very attentive. Five of us each had different dishes with a range of experiences. My two son's fish was good, my husband's not so good and mine very poor. My daughter had a vegetarian option which was just ok. My experience: I started with a beetroot risotto, which was nothing special, rice cooked in red wine with chunks of beetroot in it salad and orange on the top. The flavours weren't quite right. Next course I had the Huss in beer batter which should have been great. It was completely dessicated. The batter was limp and the fish dried out. I wondered whether it had been cooked the previous day and reheated. The chips were ok but I have had better at my local fish and chip shop for a quarter the price. My daughter then had a creme brule which was curdled, although tasted not too bad. One son had a crumble burnt on the top. The cost for 4 starters, 5 main courses, 3 deserts and 2 bottles of wine £160, so not particularly cheap. As stated at the beginning could be we went at a bad time of year but I don't think I will be returning.
| Overall: | 4 |
| Food: | 4 |
| Service: | 8 |
| Ambiance: | 8 |
Magical - review added on Mon 27th Aug 2007
Had a wonderful three course meal here this Bank Holiday. The food was generous and tasty, the free sorbet was a nice touch. You can eat here cheaply from the set menu, but you will probably be tempted by the a la carte. Service friendly and attentive. Ask for a table near the window for the stunning views.
| Overall: | 8 |
| Food: | 8 |
| Service: | 8 |
| Ambiance: | 10 |
Recommended Dishes: lemon sole, grey mullet. Chocolate pudding.
Special anniversary - review added on Sun 7th Oct 2007
Last weekend enjoyed a lovely Saturday lunch for parents 60th wedding anniversary. Were offered a free glass of champagne before our meal and parents thoroughly enjoyed it with mother saying it was one of the best meals she had ever had. Service was good and there was a "buzzy"atmosphere - a very enjoyable experience.
| Overall: | 8 |
| Food: | 8 |
| Service: | 8 |
| Ambiance: | 0 |
Recommended Dishes: oysters
A PRICEY SLAP IN THE FACE - THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED! - review added on Mon 23rd Jun 2008
We went there with high hopes, but this place should be avoided like the plague. The service is appauling, arrogant, and incompetent. There were people leaving before their food had been cleared (after waiting AGES for their bill). It was our worst eating experience EVER, and we felt extremely upset that it cost us loads of money for a measely dour meal, poorly cooked, and meagre portions. It must be rich tourists keeping it alive... I can't emphasise enough - DON'T GO THERE!!!!!
| Overall: | 2 |
| Food: | 2 |
| Service: | 2 |
| Ambiance: | 6 |
Recommended Dishes: Get some chips at the chippy round the corner instead....
A very enjoyable experience-what a turn around - review added on Thu 4th Sep 2008
my partner and i ate here a couple of years ago and found it very poor. we were forced to tr here again as everywhereelse was busy and WOW is all i have to say. The food was a delight and the service charming and efficient. the prices are on the high side but definately fair for what you are geting in return. will definately be returning soon!
| Overall: | 8 |
| Food: | 8 |
| Service: | 8 |
| Ambiance: | 8 |
Recommended Dishes: whole mackerel and lentils
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