Crown Hotel Stamford

We've come here for our family Christmas meal for the second year, and plan to return for next year's celebrations. The Christmas menu we'd preordered was delicious and very well cooked, with a comfortable amount of time between courses. Although the restaurant was busy, the service and attention never faltered, and nobody hurried us out after the meal. Our table looked beautiful with its Christmas decorations. Well done to all the front-of-house, waiting, chef and kitchen staff.

For £22, the Caesar salad came as whole lettuce leaves tossed onto a plate, as if cutting them was too much trouble. The half boiled egg with mayo was quite a touch, just enough to remind me a whole egg exists somewhere. Then there was the chicken leg, bone-in and skin-on, with a slimy sheen that felt like a bold choice. It seemed to dare me to complain. I didn't, I was busy wondering if I'd been robbed. Perhaps the £22 pays for the emotional journey of staring at a romaine leaf like a small canoe and wondering where life went wrong. I'm saving for the bread basket. Michelin Star Imminent, Surely.

We'd planned to discuss holding my mother's 80th birthday lunch or dinner at The Crown in July, for about 40 people. I even mentioned this to the waitress and hope she passed it to senior management. After what happened, we didn't bother asking further and will take our business elsewhere. The four of us had come to lunch today to celebrate my dad's 80th birthday. He had booked by phone the previous weekend. At the bar we saw a notice offering a free bottle of wine with every two meals booked online for a midweek lunch. He hadn't been told during the phone booking that booking online would qualify us for it. We'd already bought champagne, which was perfect, but asked our waitress whether they might also honor the offer since it was his birthday and we'd ordered four meals. She checked with her manager and said they wouldn't. This isn't about the free wine, it's the principle. I don't understand why it should matter whether you book by phone or online, and I didn't find that a welcoming attitude.

The courtyard lights stayed on all night, bright enough for the International Space Station to see, and adding to Stamford's light pollution. If they want to waste electricity, so be it. Staff were friendly and accommodating. I didn't eat, even though breakfast was included. The room had tea, real coffee bags and hot chocolate. It was one of the hottest days, so the room felt like an oven, and the windows didn't give much ventilation. The Dyson fan helped.