Food at the Plough - disappointing?

[kristymac1]

Hi,

I've been using the Plough pub since its reincarnation from local drugs den to nice family hang-out and have been really disappointed with the food lately - anyone else find the same? They have a good beer and wine selection and the bar staff are great, but the food has been lousy for us the last few times (one time totally inedible so that went back). I have pointed this out to them in the hope they'll sort something out, but to no avail. Yesterday we only popped in for a drink and had the 'light' snack of pork pie which obviously came from a value packet from Budgens and the piccalilly looked like a sneeze- it was bloody awful.

Have I just been unlucky, should I give them a (third) last chance or just stick to the wine list? Advice please......

[SeanMacGabhann]

I generally don't eat in the Plough, much as I like the place and go there quite a bit

Unfortunately I'm not sure if management can do that much - my understanding with Mitchell & Butler pubs (which the Plough is) is that all the food and processes are centrally designed and sourced - so it's not as if a new chef can come in and decide to re-source ingredients and so forth. I could be wrong on this mind..

.

[mockney piers]

Who is this *name deleted* who has hacked your account Sean? You should log off on public computers you know.

[Keef]

I do know that their chef was leaving or has left, so maybe they haven't found a new one yet... The manager did say to me that once the previous chef had handed in their notice, they were just taking the p!ss because they obviously couldn't be bothered any more!

It's a real shame, because they really are making an effore to make the place work.

[Brendan]

It is unfortunately true. As a (fairly) regular at the Plough I don?t often bother eating there anymore as the food is generally disappointing.

It doesn?t stop me from going there for a drink or six though.

[SeanMacGabhann]

doh - good point Piers

[Ultraconsultancy]

As a general rule, I have always refused to eat anywhere that has a photograph of the food on display; if theres a photo in the window, there's a photo in the kitchen so the bumbling fool can make the freeze/fry look right.

recently a friend said to me he won't eat anywhere that has a ubiquitous nut warning on every menu page; contract jumbo-suppliers 3663 insist that restaurants taking their stuff run the warning as they can make no promises to the contrary.

Whatever happened to publicans wives rattling up a daily pot of stovies/scouse/hotpot, and a block of cheddar for the veggies?

[KidKruger]

Ate there yesterday for Sunday lunch and food was fine although could have been slightly warmer.

I guess all our 3 x dishes weren't ready exactly same time and something had to wait.

Overall was good experience - give 'em another chance.

[LibraCarr]

Hi,

When food is served, it should all get to the table at the same time. It is quite embarassing you eating and a female not and still waiting. The joy of multiple orders is that you prep up the more time consuming meal first and the simpler meal to prepare last (on a sliding scale) wallah (or how its spelt) all meals are served at the same time... Happy customers.

One company that is at fault is Morrisons the supermarket. They take the orders as first come first served, which is nice but imagine that that you have done your shopping and want a bowl of soup and a roll. The roll is ready and the soup is in the cauldron nice and hot. Before you are ten or more meals on order, instead of bypassing the run of orders you may have to wait 30-40 minutes for your quick snack.

Sadly, common sense does not prevail in kitchens anymore.

Regards,

Libra Carr.

[Ultraconsultancy]

had to read that a couple of times there libra, and think you mean 'voila!' - there it is!

wallah is the hindi word for 'man who does' ie char-wallah, dhobi-wallah, gin-wallah.

but i'll take correction on this from any hindi-speaking-wallah.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Gin-wallah - that's what I need. Stovies - great Scottish fare UC, my mum makes a mean one.

When I was a teenager I worked in a country pub. The landlady kept a black cauldron on the fire and just added to it daily and boiled it up. It produced the most wonderful soup but probably contravened every health and safety known to man.

[HonaloochieB]

LibraCarr Wrote:

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

> Hi,

>

> When food is served, it should all get to the

> table at the same time. It is quite embarassing

> you eating and a female not and still waiting.

> The joy of multiple orders is that you prep up the

> more time consuming meal first and the simpler

> meal to prepare last (on a sliding scale) wallah

> (or how its spelt) all meals are served at the

> same time... Happy customers.

>

> One company that is at fault is Morrisons the

> supermarket. They take the orders as first come

> first served, which is nice but imagine that that

> you have done your shopping and want a bowl of

> soup and a roll. The roll is ready and the soup

> is in the cauldron nice and hot. Before you are

> ten or more meals on order, instead of bypassing

> the run of orders you may have to wait 30-40

> minutes for your quick snack.

>

> Sadly, common sense does not prevail in kitchens

> anymore.

>

> Regards,

> Libra Carr.

Libra, what does Morrisons have to do with the matter at hand? I'm puzzled.

[chocaholic]

have to agree with alot of the other posts...i have given the plough more than 4 attempts at serving up a decent meal but have been disappointed. great place to go for a drink, staff are friendly. just don't go hungry!

[kristymac1]

Think I'm of the opinion of chocaholic and will sadly stear clear of all non-liquid fare.

I was also told that the chef was leaving and when the menu changed I assumed the new one was in post, but the food has been just as dismal. Sorry to make a point of the pork pie (I like a pork pie), but for ?3.50/?4 they could get William Rose to supply their fab pork pies, cut them in half (since this is the only prep required) and still make a ?3 profit - not difficult. Presumably any half decent chef who is forced to continue to source crap ingredients and supplies won't last long in a foodie pub - shame really 'cause the place has the potential to be a great place to spend the whole day - not so if you have to nip to the Costcutters mid-round for a decent pie............

[Brendan]

Hmmmm William Rose pork pie. Now I would buy that to chase down a pint of Guinness.

[Domitianus]

I used to go there almost every Sunday for the lamb roast. Last few times, however, there has been a definite reduction in portion size (fewer varieties of veg etc) and they also very unwisely removed the lamb from the roast menu. Big shame. Sunday lunch there used to be scrummy.

[lorraineliyanage]

Yes I do find the food at The Plough rather disappointing. It's usually slow to arrive, and the choice is not that great if you are vegetarian. And it's quite pricey, although it is East Dulwich, so no point really mentioning that, but I don't think it's good value for money.

[kristymac1]

I think there's a big point in mentioning food prices in East Dulwich - I do get a bit cheesed off being offered the same mediocre fare across East Dulwich pubs for a premium price, take the burgers for example - all about ?7/8 but mostly pants - I exclude the Bishop in this which I reckon does the most consistently good, value for money grub of all the pubs/bars in ED.

[lorraineliyanage]

Well, ED prices are ED prices. The only way to make a stand against it is to not frequent the said establishments. Having said that, the prices in Peckham are rapidly approaching, or sometimes overtaking, ED prices. Check out the prices of food in the Clockhouse on Barry Road and the Rye Hotel - shocking! The only cheap place to eat in Peckham is at the superb little caff in the Rye Market.

I must check out the Bishop, have never eaten there.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Second the pizzas in the market caff.

[woodie]

funny you should say that, today 4 of us had a let down in there. looong time coming, 1 meal sent back, took ages to return not tasting like, stale fish in that beer batter.was good a while back, deffo not right now.feels pricey too all in all.

[lorraineliyanage]

Well, the Plough is generally quite busy at any time of day. Not sure how many people are eating their food, but hopefully they'll buck up their ideas if enough people complain, send the food back and eventually stop ordering it.

[wee quinnie]

The short answer is:

YES