Island Harbour - "The Bistro"

EddieA

EddieA

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 Mar 2007
Messages
206
Location
Lives: Richmond, West London. Boat: Southsea Marin
Visit site
Island Harbour - \"The Bistro\"

Spent a cracking weekend in the Solent and stayed at Island Harbour Saturday night, which is one of our favourite marina's in the Solent.
Booked a table for 8.45pm in The Bistro, and arrived at 8.30pm for drinks. At 9pm we asked for our table, to be told it wasn't ready, we asked again at 9.15pm - still not ready. At 9.30pm I asked to speak to the manager, crikey what a grumpy woman!!!
We finally got to the table a few minutes later, to be told there would be a wait until we could order - we'd looked at the menu's while we had our drinks and decided what we were going to order.
Any chance we could have some bread/olives whilst we wait? I asked, 10 minutes later, a tiny bowl of olives, 4 slices of bread and some ice cold butter arrives (for 7 people)!
I ask to speak to the manager again..."what is it now" she asks me!!!
I bite my tounge and ask when we can order, now she says. But she says.....can I just let you know that the lambs kidneys, the homemade chicken kiev, and the fish is off the menu. Ok, how about the steak? That's off the menu too!!
We then got up to leave, telling the manageress we were very unhappy with the service. "If you don't like it, then leave"
We ended up getting a taxi to Newport to eat Kentucky Fried chicken.
I'm sure some on here will reply to say that they had a wonderful meal/evening in The Bistro.
For those that haven't been there.......don't!!!!
 
Re: Island Harbour - \"The Bistro\"

It's such a shame that the bistro isn't what it could be. We've only eaten there once and that was the day after it opened. The food and service were promising and we put the 'hiccups' of the evening down to everything being new.

I assume it's not the same people running the bistro as used to run the 'cafe' that was there before? Always had reasonable food and service then.
 
Re: Island Harbour - \"The Bistro\"

Nope, she's not the owner. Its owned by the new owners of Island Harbour Marina who are also the developers of the new marina houses there, Dominic Chappel and Kevin Clancy. They have had difficulties in getting new people to take "The Bistro" over on a lease. What it needs there is someone like Andy who runs the Folly, who will always manage to squeeze you in somewhere and never turn anyone away especially that the business is so seasonal. I dont think anyone wants to take it on as winter time the place is almost deserted. It is only recently that they have managed to get the planning restriction lifted to allow people from outside the marina in as at one time it was for marina "residents only". In fact I have been there a few times when the sum of all the customers was myself ! Also lots of boaties still dont realise this place is there and a lot of boaties don't like going through the lock.

They have tried to push it up market so much that they have lost touch with most of the people that want to use the place. When you do book the food is now very good but unfortunately you cant just turn up and get some grub which is a real shame as we have a house there and have had to go to the Folly or the Lifeboat after being turned away there
 
Re: Island Harbour - \"The Bistro\"

I did, together with GC1, stick it out, and eventually got some fish and chips. Have to say probably the best F & C I had. So their food is really good, just absolute rubbish service.

When we continued to express displeasure, another of the customers started to have a go at us!!!
 
Re: Island Harbour - \"The Bistro\"

I am a new user to this forum & have infact joined to reply to this post specifically. My friend who is a regular member brought this to my attention because I was a dinner guest in The Bistro the evening that you've written about.

I found you and your party to be quite abnoxious & thought that the way in which you spoke to the staff was simply disgusting. There is a big difference between Complaining & plain arrogance but clearly it is one that you & your friends don't understand. My family had gone out for a pleasant meal together which was almost ruined by your behaviour.

I understand that the bistro has had it's ups & downs, good points & bad points like any restaurant does. The food in my personal opinion has improved tenfold over the summer. My husband & I have been frequent visitors over the summer & have always found the girls a pleasure. They are extremely helpful and friendly when we've spoken to them & we've always left feeling that we've had an enjoyable experience.

I hope that the people reading this particular thread will understand that because one party of individuals has had a seemingly bad experience it does not mean that a Restaurant should be condemned.

Catherine Perkins.
 
Re: Island Harbour - \"The Bistro\"

Hi Catherine, thanks for posting! This is more than one party here by the way. We were not in a party.

Just to make it clear. The food is great! I've eaten there once with success! But I've also personally witnessed shocking customer service and basic chaos when things get busy...just saying it as I saw.

Not sure which big party you are coming for here. When was this?

Regards,
T
 
Re: Island Harbour - \"The Bistro\"

If you want to see it at it's "Fawlty Towers" style best, go in there during the Isle of Wight festival. For the first few years, they were pretty much sold out of everything on the first day! Once we ordered some food on bill "99" and it came out of the kitchen as "66" - when I tried to explain it was ours they wouldn't have it and took it away again.
I also saw them throw out 15 or so people because one of the parties, a female, was wearing a bikini top - bearing in mind this was a hot June during the festival!

At least these were, at least I thought, funny incidents. Sounds like yours was plain miserable.

Cheers,
Paul
 
Re: Island Harbour - \"The Bistro\"

Dear Catherine,

Welcome to the forum, I am shocked at the tone of your post, I am not sure how you converse with people out there in the real world but you will find this forum is made up in the main of decent honest people.

Eddie is personally known to me, I consider Eddie a good friend who is always helpful and polite.
Perhaps you thought you witnessed Eddie acting out of order but I very much doubt it, by the sounds of it there could have been a restaurant full of people complaining !
Eddie frequently reads the forum and seldom posts, for Eddie to start a new thread he must have felt really annoyed and perhaps ripped off.

I was not at the Bistro that night but I have herd similar accounts of how disappointing it is now.

I know at least two other dinners that were there that night who I also consider to be good friends and are also well balanced.

I have the benefit of knowing at least three dinners that night and I have spoken to two of them regarding the evening, I don't believe you and I have met but from the tone of your post I assume we would not get on very well , I do not regard your post to bear a realistic view of the Bistro and I will not be making any reservations while the current tenants are there, I have young children that I would not want to suffer food poisoning.

sincerely

Pete
 
Re: Island Harbour - \"The Bistro\"

Catherine, you see the problem with posting like this as a first post is that you've made everyone wary a little bit. Are you the manageress in disguise? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Tell us more about you and your boat, maybe I can recall you there?

Regards,
T
 
Re: Island Harbour - \"The Bistro\"

/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

I hope I have not stuck my neck out with out good cause /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

option 1

Some gentlemen got turned over by a tart in a French maids outfit with an attitude /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

option 2

Some gentlemen were waiting so long to be served they had a few beers and didn't notice the presence of lovely Catherine.......all male party would have without doubt noticed all the talent (unless they were sailors) /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

option 3

I don't even want to go there , you got me again......... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
Re: Island Harbour - \"The Bistro\"

I'm more concerned that Catherine can identify 'Eddie' from the forum. Was he wearing and 'EddieA' badge on his lapel? Is there the remotest possibility that there was more than one unhappy table there that night? From what I read, it is a possibility...
 
Re: Island Harbour - \"The Bistro\"

No, Pete I don't think you've stuck your neck out without good cause.

I was at The Bistro on the evening in question, with Eddie and others from Southsea, including children, who were desperate for a bite to eat.

Eddie's post is no exaggeration, I'm not usually one to make a fuss, but was astounded by the attitude of the manageress. As I said in an earlier post on this thread, another , lady, customer did direct a vociferous outburst at us, I can only assume this was Cathp.

Dragoon's comparison with Fawltey Towers is quite apt, although I feel a 100% improvement might be apparent if Sybil and Basil took over.

I would echo Eddie's recommendation not to go there. Which is a shame, as Island Harbour Marina is a super place, totally different to my experiences a few years back.
 
Re: Island Harbour - \"The Bistro\"

That's why this is so tragic. Bernard and the guys on the lock are the best there is! Piss poor attitude from the Bistro that's all. I've heard many negatives and one positive so far...says it all.

T
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top