Have you ever looked forward to an evening out knowing and then arrived at the restaurant thinking it was going to be an abject failure?
Well I experienced that at a Harvester in Christchurch, Dorset. It was an opportune meal out. My two eldest children are at university, while my youngest is away for a couple of nights on a school trip. Therefore there was no need to organize any baby sitters. For the first time in years we only had to organize ourselves and could be spontaneous and just go out. We weren’t seeking anything lavish, just a humble meal with a drink or two and then home. Sadly like most things today the representation and the reality are two different things.
Set on the outskirts of the New Forest the Cat and Fiddle thatched roof complements the tree lined green landscape surrounding the pub to the extent the busy A35 is easily ignored. However this natural beauty is immediately lost when you walk through the doors into the restaurant. The place looks tired; the seat covers on the chairs are dirty and stained by the food and beer of yesteryear. Some fixtures and fittings are coated in a grease coated dust. Light fittings are undermined with extinguished bulbs that look unlikely ever to be replaced. This isn’t a good way to start an evening out.
Nevertheless, the lady who took us to our table was extremely courteous and there was also the Harvester brand name, which perversely can as a comforter to my better instinct. Therefore I decide to continue with the experience. It was my biggest mistake for some time.
The first let down the Nacho starter. The tortilla chips were rancid and tasted like they’d bathed in low temperature oil rather than cooked in it. This was immediately returned. Next on the menu was my Ribeye steak. It tasted fine but soon after heartily tucking into the ‘meat’, I soon realised that 40% of the steak was gristle, which was a massive let down at £12.99. My wife by coincidence chose a similar steak meal but this too had more gristle than meat.
The fries and garnish which accompanied the meal were fine but nothing more. The problem was by now I just wanted to leave so we did. What a waste of an evening out especially at £31.13!!!
