Visited The Sondes Tea House before Christmas 2020. My summary of that visit was friendly staff, average food, expensive. Visited again March 2020, my summary is now unfriendly staff, lovely food, good portion size, expensive.
Two of us visited recently and had a couple of...platters, tea and side dishes. The mains, aubergine & pasta, and a tagine were really tasty, with a good rocket salad coucous and a huge dollop of humous (a bit bland). The veg sausage roll made with rice was delicious, and I really enjoyed the tea. Didnt leave hungry.
The place is now feeling a bit grubby. A lovely large mirror was filthy, the whole place needs a bit of TLC. I guess I was unlucky that the day I visited there was a child running around bothering guests, 2 screaming babies and a barking dog. Ambiance nil!!
The lady in charge was a bit of a let down. 3 things....she wandered off during my food order at the counter...when she asked me if I enjoyed my meal, I started to reply, but she then started talking to someone else, finally I managed to pay, and she made no eye contact at all. Everyone has an off day. But on this day service was chilly, rude and impersonal.
Given that our lunch came to £32 I feel a bit cheated. I place a value of about £16 for the food and £16 for service and the environment. I am not sure the venue earned its money for cleanliness and service, so I place a value of £16 on the overall visit.
I can forgive busy staff, and a bit of grime....but I think management need to take a hard look at their offer delivery. Appears to me that they take their customers for granted, strut around a bit high and mighty in a quite shabby place, and it seems that their demographic is dropping as fast as their charm.
They will hate this review....but once they calm down, should attend to the shortcomings described for the good of their own business.More
