Florence - very disappointing

[Fuschia]

We tried the Florence today, having seen posts about it being child friendly. Unfortunately we ended up feeling rather ripped off.

First impressions of the pub were good, it's very nice inside. Unfortunately even at 11.45 almost all the tables in the childrens area were reserved so we had no choice of tables... would have been nice to sit where we could see the playroom opposite.

The playroom was chilly and felt rather neglected ... no chalk for the blackboard, no paper, dried up pens, toys with no batteries.

We hadn't realised the lunch menu doesnt start till 1. So we chose breakfasts. The waitress said no veggy sausages left. They could do mini breakfasts for the children, no price on the menu for that. Our veggy child asked for mushrooms on toast.

When the food came, the mushroom on toast turned out to be one half of a flat mushroom, liberally sprinkled with salt and pepper, the child couldn't eat it but he had the slice of toast. The other children's meals were also very salty, everything in fact was far too salty, even I couldnt eat the tomatoes for eg... they also tasted fishy as a "free" fishcake had been put on to replace the veggy sausage.. unfortunately I don't eat fish (most vegetarians don't) and I didn't welcome the taste of fish on my plate. The waitress brought a free bowl of chips instead these were very salty too but it's not so unexpected with chips, at least.

I ased for a cup of tea, was told only earl grey was available (when it came it was ordinary tea after all)

We told the waitress the food was all too salty, at home we add salt to the food only at the table, not a large amount used in cooking.. especially for the children. Mushrooms, tomatoes, scrambled egg were all too salty. She said she would talk to the manager, and came back soon afterwards to say he would tell the chef. As the children wouldn't eat their meals, we asked for another bowl of chips... when it came it was as salty as the first.

We were surprised there was no real apology over the too salty food, so we asked for the bill. No discount was offered... I was a bit shocked to see the child's mushroom on toast had cost us ?4. Most expensive slice of toast he has ever had for breakfast, that's for sure.

I don't think we will go back. We are very disappointed, and our breakfast cost us ?35!

[Narnia]

That sounds appalling all round. I'm amazed with your patience and that you paid ?35 for that. There is just so much wrong.

[zeban]

What a nightmare, they should definitely have given you a discount for the fishcake- I can't believe people working with food still don't know what a vegetarian is.

[Fuschia]

I wan't really in the mood to make a fuss, having complained politely about the salt and been ignored I just wanted to get out of there tbh.. the bill was ridiculously high for what we had but I couldn't be bothered to argue.

[Princess]

We were there at the same time today and I have to say we were disappointed with it too. It was our first visit and despite reserving a spot for 10 and 5 high chairs (sorry Fuschia!) they weren't ready for us and tried to squeeze us around a table which was obviously too small.

The kids menu was very small and nothing was served with veg just chips. Unfortunately, the macaroni cheese which I've enjoyed at The Bishop numerous times was dry and the bacon fatty and chewy. It could of course just have been a 'bad' day but I don't think we'll be back again in a hurry either.

[sidll]

Ok you had a rotten meal- get over it. Are you so short of things to do with your kids on a Saturday afternoon that you have posted on every conceivable thread that has got restaurant or Florence in the title. Also it is just possible by contemporary standards the food was correctly seasoned.

[DJKillaQueen]

That's a bit unfair sidll. The meal was being paid for and the point of using salt for seasoning is to enhance flavour of the food not leave a salty tatse. And poor service is poor service after all.

[Narnia]

I tend to value genuine posts sidll whatever the subject. I don't believe any food should be served with salt added. Have you never read something on the forum that provided you with good advice?

[Administrator]

Moved to the Lounge as it's not an East Dulwich business.

[taper]

The children's bit of the Florence is a special kind of hell. Even worse at the weekend. The food went downhill about three months ago when thye changed the menu.

[PeckhamRose]

Why does no-one actually write to the Manager of the place?

(There was me thinking you were writing about the place in Italy!)

[Narnia]

Doesn't he hang out here quite a lot or is that the owner?

[Mick Mac]

sidll Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Ok you had a rotten meal- get over it. Are you so

> short of things to do with your kids on a Saturday

> afternoon that you have posted on every

> conceivable thread that has got restaurant or

> Florence in the title. Also it is just possible by

> contemporary standards the food was correctly

> seasoned.

I doubt that very much sidll. I like salt but it seems to be a common problem, also happens at the Herne.

[DJKillaQueen]

The other thing of course is that salt increases thirst and well......just saying like.

[Keef]

Ha ha, I too thought you meant the place in Italy, one of the places I most want to visit. Glad to hear it's just a crap pub instead.

[aspidistra]

Maybe the title should be 'THE Florence' (as in the name of the pub), rather than plain Florence (as in the name of the city).

I had been expecting a diatribe concerning Michelangelo and the flippin Renaissance :))

Oh, and the tourists.

[aspidistra]

Keef, a lovely Italian train will convey you betwixt Venice, Florence and Rome. Get on down there. It won't disappoint.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Call me shallow, but I was thinking "Florence and the Machine".

[????]

Call me stoned but I was thinking Magic Roundabout

[kpc]

Whoa - this is about kids' meals in pubs. What happened to a bag of crisps and a lemonade standing outside the pub while your dad supped his pint in peace.

[aspidistra]

dee di-di dee dee

di-di-di-di dee dee

[Keef]

???? Wrote:

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> Call me stoned but I was thinking Magic Roundabout

Post of the week!

[flapjackdavey]

Peckhamgatecrasher Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Call me shallow, but I was thinking "Florence and

> the Machine".

lol. yeah they're shite are'nt they . :))

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

You don't diss the locals fjd!

[aspidistra]

+1