Claireg's first ever blog and review!!

I have just returned from a weekend in York where I have been served with some of the worst food that I have ever had the misfortune to endure.



This has prompted me to write my first ever blog.



On Saturday night, 9th May 2009, seven of us arrived at restaurant 31, Castlegate, York, UK.



The entrance would have prohibited anyone with a walking disability from entering the restaurant as there were several steps to negotiate before entering the restaurant.



However, first impressions were all good. It was a fairly small restaurant with seating for approx 34 people, with a further few table downstairs. There was a small seating area in the reception area, but not large enough to accommodate our party. It was spotlessly clean, always an encouraging sign.



We were shown straight to our table, and offered drinks. Apart from not having any Cinzano, a favourite tipple of my mother-in-law, all was well.



The menus were handed to us by a cheerful and competent young lady. Disappointment was apparent for two vegetarian members of our party, as there were only meat and fish dishes to choose from.

My husband was also disappointed as the only fish dish was Sea Bass which he had eaten the night before (yet another culinary story to relate another day), as he prefers not to eat red meat in the evenings.



However, we all eventually chose our dishes and waited hungrily for our meals to arrive.



All was well with the starters, and the homemade bread was delicious. I had scallops, and whilst they were a long way from the best ones I had ever tasted they were perfectly acceptable. I was also informed by members of my party that the soup and cold, thinly sliced tuna starters were very good indeed.



And then it was downhill all the way.............



I chose duck breast, served pink, for my main course, and when it arrived it just looked wrong. However I didn't want to make a fuss, as we were being treated to this meal by my father-in-law, so I took a bite and I am not exaggerating when I say it was so awful it made me feel quite sick. I could not even pretend to eat it it.

It neither looked nor tasted anything like duck, and believe me I have eaten plenty in my time. My husband took a bite and said it tasted more like liver than duck and agreed that it was inedible.



The waitress was very good and immediately offered to change it for something else. Reluctantly, not wishing to spoil the evening, I agreed to try the chicken. By the time this arrived, everyone else had finished their mains, and I had lost interest.



The chicken was bland and tasted cheap, whilst the chips were soggy. There were no vegetables, just a bunch of cherry tomatoes.

My husband and brother-in-law chose the sea bass with risotto and found the portion of fish minuscule and the risotto could only be described as 'stodge'

I do like to be fair so it is important that other members of my party found no particular fault with their dishes other than to say the portions were small and the experience was unmemorable.

Deserts were ordinary, except my husband's ice-cream could have been drunk with a straw. It had obviously been standing a while before being served.

Coffee would have been more enjoyable had it been served with chocolates or mints.

I was also reliably informed that the ladies toilet left a lot to be desired!

At at rather expensive £36 per head (inclusive of drinks) the overall dining experience was disappointing to say the least. We will not be visiting it again.