Eating Out.

• Guest 690

  • Registered: 10 Oct 2009
  • Posts: 4,150
  6 April 2010     12:1846263
  #1       report
  Why are some places more successful than other`s for eating out. What do people look for in an establishment that makes them go back again? Staff, decor, type of people normally in there? I`ve noted at both ends of town and in the centre part, that while some places are packed, and the staff are so busy as to not notice you`re giving them business, other`s remain, poorly used and yet have freindly staff and time to chat and are no more expensive than the full up one. Why?
  Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
• Guest 693

  • Registered: 12 Nov 2009
  • Posts: 1,266
  6 April 2010     13:5946265
  #2       report
  Quality, quantity, atmosphere, personal friendships, previous experience and personal preferences all play their part........
  True friends stab you in the front.
• Bob Frost

  • Location: Deal
  6 April 2010     14:4346267
  #3       report
  Excellent lunch last Sunday at the Timber Batts which is in the middle of nowhere between Ashford and Folkestone. Just over three figures spent for three people. Absolutely packed. Needs usually a weeks advance booking.
  
  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/pubs/6455232/Kent-Pub-Guide-The-Timber-Batts-Kent.html
• Guest 653

  • Registered: 13 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 10,540
  6 April 2010     18:2246297
  #4       report
  I think Andy has summed it up quite well there; also reputation and value for money.
  
  
  
  
  Roger
• Sid Perkins

  • Location: Dover
  6 April 2010     20:4846338
  #5       report
  Yep, I agree. If the food and service are good I don't worry too much about the price as I consider it worth paying for.
• Guest 653

  • Registered: 13 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 10,540
  7 April 2010     07:1946359
  #6       report
  That's true Sid, but some people (me included) have very limited disposable income, so can't go to the "good" restaurants as often as we'd like to, so have to settle for second best sometimes.
  
  Having said that, we went to La Scala Saturday evening and had a wonderful meal.
  
  
  
  
  Roger
• Guest 693

  • Registered: 12 Nov 2009
  • Posts: 1,266
  7 April 2010     10:5846391
  #7       report
  I had a business lunch in The Park Inn (Ladywell) last week and it was excellent, really top quality and a good price, too. Thoroughly recommended!
  True friends stab you in the front.
• Guest 653

  • Registered: 13 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 10,540
  8 April 2010     07:2746461
  #8       report
  Thanks for that tip Andy - have you tried the White Horse now that they are doing lunches Monday to Friday ?
  
  
  
  
  Roger
• Guest 693

  • Registered: 12 Nov 2009
  • Posts: 1,266
  8 April 2010     09:1946473
  #9       report
  Not yet, Rog - but I picked up a menu whilst I was in there yesterday, and liked the look of it. It won't be too long before I do.
  True friends stab you in the front.
• Guest 645

  • Registered: 12 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 4,463
  8 April 2010     09:2646477
  #10       report
  Hi Lads
  Any chance you could post the Menu on the DF as my wife will be in Dover later this month and would like to have lunch there.Thanks
  Marek
  I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
• Terry Nunn

  • Location: London Road, Dover
  • Registered: 12 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 4,304
  8 April 2010     13:3446495
  #11       report
  When the Duke of York first opened we went there. What put me off was the doggie doo under the table. We didn't go back again until a few weeks ago when we said, ok, let's give it another go. It was excellent, friendly efficient service, well done I thought.
  
  It transpired that the following day after our shopping at ASDA we decided to go again. We were told that the food would be "a little while". It was in fact 65 minutes before the food came. I had the meat pudding which was great, all the veg however was stone cold. It had obviously been done earlier and put to one side. On complaining I was told to write in. The staff were totally different to the previous evening and couldn't care less.
  
  Never again.
  
  
  Terry
  Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
  • Asda
• Sid Perkins

  • Location: Dover
  8 April 2010     14:3146498
  #12       report
  Walked in there once Terry, and straight back out again. The place is a disgrace and probably could do with a visit from the Health police.
• Guest 693

  • Registered: 12 Nov 2009
  • Posts: 1,266
  8 April 2010     14:3246499
  #13       report
  Marek
  
  The White Horse Menu, Mon-Sat 12 Noon - 2.30pm, 5.30 - 8.30 & Sunday 12 Noon - 4pm:
  
  Small Plates & Side Orders
  
  Soup of the day & warm ciabatta £3.95
  Soup of the day & a toastie £4.95
  Ardennes pate & warm ciabatta £3.95
  Portion of chips or wedges £1.50
  Cheesy Chips £2.25
  Garlic Bread £1.80
  Cheesy Garlic Bread £2.25
  Onion Rings £2.50
  Mixed leaf side salad £2.50
  
  
  Warm Ciabattas
  
  4oz rump steak with sautéed onions & mushrooms £5.50
  Bacon Lettuce & Tomato £4.95
  Bacon, melted brie & cranberry £4.95
  Smoked ham with salad £4.25
  Tuna mayonnaise with cucumber £4.25
  Mature Cheddar £4.25
  Egg mayonnaise & cress £4.25
  (each served with chips or wedges, salad garnish & coleslaw)
  
  
  
  Jacket Potatoes served with sald garnish & coleslaw
  
  
  Tuna mayonnaise £5.95
  Egg mayonnaise £5.95
  Mature Cheddar £5.95
  Heinz baked beans £5.95
  Smoked bacon & brie £6.10
  
  
  
  Ploughman's lunch served with salad, pickle, coleslaw, apple & bread
  
  
  Mature cheddar £6.95
  Stilton £7.25
  Brie £7.25
  Ardennes pate £7.25
  Smoked ham £7.25
  
  
  Big Plates
  
  Three-egg omelette with a choice of cheese, ham or mushrooms £5.95
  Scampi, peas and tartar sauce & chips or wedges £7.95
  Ham, Egg & Chips £6.25
  Beefburger with chips or wedges & salad £6.95
  Veggie burger with chips or wedges & salad £6.95
  Fish & Chips with peas or salad £7.95
  8oz rump steak with chips, onion rings and peas or salad £9.95
  
  
  Why would you pay Jeanette £1.50 for a wedgie? Or am I thinking of something less innocent than food?
  True friends stab you in the front.
• Guest 684

  • Registered: 26 Feb 2009
  • Posts: 635
  8 April 2010     15:0046507
  #14       report
  The Allotment is the best by a country mile in Dover. It's not in the Good Food Guide for nothing.
  
  Further afield, 81 Beach Street in Deal and Eddie Gilbert's in Ramsgate are absolute class acts - while pubwise the Red Lion at Stodmarsh always thrills, thanks to the Walmington-on-Sea old-world atmosphere, the irreplaceable Robert Whigham (innkeeper par excellence) and the fabulous proper unpretentious food.
  
  Getting hungry now!
  
  Andy
• Guest 655

  • Registered: 13 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 10,247
  8 April 2010     15:1446511
  #15       report
  I could not agree more Andrew.
• Guest 679

  • Registered: 7 Sep 2008
  • Posts: 162
  8 April 2010     16:0046514
  #16       report
  Thanks for posting the menu up Andy.....we also have a specials menu so keep an eye on that too.
  Just one thing - what's a wedgie?? Terry is sat next to me insisting he's far too innocent to know but the smirk tells me different!!
  I know a million ways to always pick the wrong thing to say
• Guest 645

  • Registered: 12 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 4,463
  8 April 2010     16:4446524
  #17       report
  Thanks Andy for posting the menu.
  Andrew my wife doesn't drive so a trip out of town would be a problem but thanks anyway for taking time out to post,much appreciated.
  
  Marek
  I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
• Guest 693

  • Registered: 12 Nov 2009
  • Posts: 1,266
  8 April 2010     18:0246530
  #18       report
  Gosh, one so innocent, Jeanette!!!
  
  A wedgie is where one's undergarments are forcibly yanked at speed in an upwards direction, thus forcing said undergarments into the body's natural crevices. Apparently the wedgie is a favourite 'prank' in certain areas of Great Britain.
  
  A visual for your enlightenment..........
  
  

  
  True friends stab you in the front.
• Terry Nunn

  • Location: London Road, Dover
  • Registered: 12 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 4,304
  8 April 2010     18:5546538
  #19       report
  Really Andy, have you no shame?
  
  Terry (Smirh, smirk)
  Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
• howard mcsweeney1

  • Location: Dover
  • Registered: 12 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 62,352
  8 April 2010     18:5846540
  #20       report
  you didn;t tell me the menu was so long when i saw you in town the other day jeanette.
  
  i got the impression it was a very limited range.
  
  will have to pop down there soon.