Carlton Hotel

The meal itself was good, but I still remember how bad the service was. Our waitress Rachel, a tall, slim blonde girl, had a horrible attitude and made me feel like an inconvenience. I’ve never been treated so poorly, which is why her name has stuck with me. I hope she’s left or been fired, because service doesn’t seem like the right job for her, and she’s doing the hotel a disservice.

We’d been there a few weeks earlier and the food and portions were fantastic, so dinner for our nephew’s birthday yesterday was a letdown. Most of the food was nice, but portion sizes were inconsistent and it seemed the kitchen couldn’t cope with our table of 12. The sizzling fajitas had been left sitting and weren’t sizzling by the time they arrived. The kids’ cheesy nachos came on warm plates, and they were told to watch their fingers. That’s worrying for finger food, especially for children. My son’s grilled chicken strips with mash were the worst part. He chose no vegetables, and the serving looked meagre. He’s independent and wouldn’t let us cut the chicken for him, but when I asked why he wasn’t finishing it, he said it hurt his teeth. It wasn’t that there was too much food. I tried it and found it overcooked and basically inedible. The waiter told the kitchen and removed it from the bill, which was good of him, but it shouldn’t have been served. I’m not sure what age child they thought that portion would fill. At £13.50 for a child’s three-course meal, it wasn’t about the price being low. I wonder if a different chef was working. The food just wasn’t at the Riverside’s usual standard.

The event was pleasant, and the hotel can put on a fun occasion with incredibly friendly staff. The food was the issue. While everyone else had a roast with all the trimmings, the vegetarian or vegan set menu was a curry with a couple of sweet potato chunks and a sliver of pepper and onion. Eating naan as finger food while everyone else had cutlery wasn’t great either. For a Christmas meal, there are plenty of better options: mushroom wellington from one of the many recipes online, made and sliced for vegetarian and vegan servings, or a plant based roast joint, sausages, pies or pastries. Serve it with vegetables and roast potatoes, which can be cooked without goose fat. Vegetarians would like something besides the same boring curry every restaurant seems to offer. Aside from the food, though, the experience was pleasant.

Quiet rooms, really comfortable beds and a nice breakfast. There’s also a decent menu for the evening. A good hotel.