The Crown - Colchester

The Crown - Colchester reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

1. MA

   MARKD

   Norfolk/Suffolk3 reviews

   1.0

   Dined on December 29, 2017

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 1

   Waitress had not got a clue as to taking our order or delivering it!! Food came out but only for the three meals instead of four, no steak knives came out with the food, incorrect sauce for my steak, had to wait while the other meal came out, which left our meals cooler. In all the years I have been going out I have never, never come across this much incompetence and unprofessional waitress, I will not be going back, even though after speaking to manager we had money deducted from bill.🤬🤬
   

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2. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Essex1 review

   3.0

   Dined on December 10, 2017

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 3

   Had to send meal back as the vegetables were served cold. Pie was ok but only pastry topped dish. Pudding order but not available nor the real ale requested. Lots of staff walking around but not very attentive.
   

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3. MH

   MickyH

   Essex2 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on November 22, 2017

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   We often drink & eat at The Crown , food is generally very good with a very friendly service and mostly very efficient . On this particular evening unfortunately one of our meals, a pie was slightly overcooked, but still eatable and tasty, after more gravy was brought out by the waitress. We did mention this problem but as it was not too bad, we did not think it was worth a major complaint or sending it back to the kitchen. On settling the bill we were told that the pie had been deducted from the bill, excellent policy with excellent service, problem resolved immediately by this action. Very happy to recommend this pub and we will continue to eat and drink here and make it our main Colchester meeting point to join up with friends.
   

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4. R

   Rayc

   Essex2 reviews

   2.0

   Dined on November 14, 2017

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 3

   Very slow service. Dessert took 45 mins. Not offered the meal deal. Venison sausages dry and overcooked. Disappointed.
   

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5. S

   Sw23

   Las Vegas2 reviews

   2.0

   Dined on November 10, 2017

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   The services was top class, couldn’t fault our waitress in anyway. However the food was such poor quality to the point I got halfway through my main and just left it as it took my appetite away completely. I had the garlic chibata with cheese which was just nasty. Then the pizza for main, the base was thinner than paper, to the point the cheese was thicker, the chicken was like sawdust it was so dry. Nice restuart setting, good staff but food was so poor! I wouldn’t return in a rush when the rovers tye down the road has much nicer food plus 40% off mains on a regular basis.
   

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6. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Essex1 review

   2.0

   Dined on September 24, 2017

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 2

   My wife and I have been to this restaurant several times before but on this occasion we very very disappointed where as before we have enjoyed a lovely meal but on this occasion it was very disappointing, for a start the beer I ordered tasted very bitter and had to ask for it to be replaced no apology was made only a comment "maybe the Barrell needs changing ". When our main course arrived the waitress was amazed that I should ask for warm plates instead of the cold ones we were given, also the vegetables were cold,dry & a very little portion,trying to attract the attention of a member of staff was impossible so we just carried on eating what we could. After our meal we were asked by our waiter "was everything alright "I replied no and explained about how our meal was and we had not enjoyed it, the reply was "sorry about that" and off he walked. I tried to find a senior member of staff to complain about our experience but one was not available, I then paid the bill left never to return unless an apology is received,
   

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7. JI

   JennyI

   Essex2 reviews

   4.0

   Dined on July 26, 2017

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 5

   Lovely this venue. Never had a bad meal here but what really always lets this place down in the lack of staff. Waiting just over 5 mins at the bar with no staff around. Got seated at our table and took about 20 mins for a waitress to come up to take our order. Other then that a lovely place. Please get more staff. This has happened several times now.
   

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8. Y

   Yogi2009

   Essex1 review

   4.0

   Dined on July 11, 2017

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   The middle section is by far the best on a Tuesday and Thursday because of the brilliant waitress - head and shoulders above everyone else!
   

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9. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Kent1 review

   3.0

   Dined on March 26, 2017

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 3

   overall good value for money, service a little slow but understandable given how busy it was and my meal could have been hotter! but I would go there again
   

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10. U

    Unhappycustomer

    Essex1 review

    1.0

    Dined on December 5, 2016

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3

    Having used the Crown for the last 15 years this was the worst experience I have had. The quality of the food was very poor, for my starter I had a prawn cocktail but what arrived was some old limp lettuce with a few partly frozen prawns and sauce. Historically this used to be presented in a glass with fresh lettuce and topped with a King Prawn. The service was extremely slow, having sat down at 1 pm we were unable to leave until 3.30 which I feel is too long for a business lunch. There didn't seem to be enough staff on duty and only one barman to serve on arrival causing large queues for drinks. Unless there is a change to the better I will not use this franchise again.
    

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