Master builder, Bucklers Hard, update

[Laundryman]

There have been many comments regarding the above so I thought I would post an update. Just back from 2 days in the Beaulieu River. Beautiful! Lunchtime drink at the Master Builder, very busy. Booked table for two in Restaurant for the evening. I'd give it 7/10. Service and food very good. Lost one point for the bottle of Muscadet at £25, too expensive and one point for the portion sizes, too small. Nothing gets 10/10. Bill for two came to £100. There you go. I figured it wouldn't be long before someone posted, 'what's the Master Builder like these days'. Thanks. Alan

 

[Talulah]

I've never been in the Restaurant. Good to hear it's 7/10.
I've only experienced the pub food. Never again. When I walk past I do look at what's being dished up and I've not seen any improvement.
Last time was about one month ago.

 

[PhillM]

Go to RSYC Gins instead. Visitors welcome. Superb food and friendly welcome.

 

[rotrax]

+1!

 

[laika]

Is it just me or is a ton for two a little steep for somewhere out in the boonies, blighted by mosquitoes, which isn't run by a TV chef with novelty glasses? Assuming the muscadet wasn't on top of a couple of martinis to start and a half bottle of sauternes to finish (which changes the situation completely and offsets the mosquitoes somewhat)

 

[horatio_nelson]

They wanted £3.50 for 8 chips last year

 

[strudders]

Had several very bad experiences there. Will never go again. Service has always been the issue. This is the pub side not the hotel. Plus one for Gins.

 

[Laundryman]

Is it just me or is a ton for two a little steep for somewhere out in the boonies, blighted by mosquitoes, which isn't run by a TV chef with novelty glasses? Assuming the muscadet wasn't on top of a couple of martinis to start and a half bottle of sauternes to finish (which changes the situation completely and offsets the mosquitoes somewhat)

I'm not a wine expert but the Muscadet could easily have been similar to an inexpensive supermarket type bottle at say £8.
The mark up at £25 was cheeky. The food itself was well presented, well cooked and of good quality. The portion size however was definately lacking. Yes, we also thought that £100 ( £92 plus service charge added 10%) was steeper than we would normally pay. But we sailors are used to paying too much, aren't we!

 

[Seajet]

As others have said, it's the ' pay up or p$ss off - if we can be bothered to serve you at all ' service which got me; and £100 for two is outrageous at that place; is the shop still a badly stocked rip-off too ?

 

[lustyd]

I was there last weekend and had one of the platters from the pub menu. The food was excellent, but as said too expensive. The platter was for sharing but I had it alone and nearly finished the plate.
On the bright side though, it's not Cowes, it's considerably better than I've had from The Anchor or The Folly for the last couple of years, and there is no trouble finding somewhere to park either the boat or the Dinghy. Considering I paid half what I would in Cowes for mooring up, the overall cost including meal was probably lower so I was still happy.

I'm hoping to try Bembridge this weekend for the first time in my new "anywhere but Cowes" sailing strategy that has come from almost always going to Cowes for no reason other than knowing it well.

 

[dom]

...and £100 for two is outrageous at that place...

I had dinner in the restaurant section some months back - me, my dad, my son. First impression was a pleasant if somewhat run-down 1980s restaurant; a sort of up-market Fawlty Towers if you know what I mean.

I ordered fillet steak which was served without the sauce. So i asked the waiter who haughtily replied, "Ahh you mean the jus sir!" ...i think that was his way of saying f-off. The fillet steak was tiny and tasted of rotten liver ...and I don't mean a well-hung taste, more a bottom of the fridge for 28 days taste.

Can't remember the wine, but do recall it came to £36. My son found the same wine in waitrose for £7 using some app that recognises bar codes.

Bill came to £145 plus a mandatory 10% service charge, which brought it up to £160. (no starters, three mains, one dessert, one bottle of water). The nasty aftertaste of being ripped is my most lasting memory of this place.

 

[l'escargot]

As others have said, it's the ' pay up or p$ss off - if we can be bothered to serve you at all ' service which got me; and £100 for two is outrageous at that place; is the shop still a badly stocked rip-off too ?

The shop closed down 5 or more years ago...

 

[lustyd]

I had dinner in the restaurant section some months back - me, my dad, my son. First impression was a pleasant if somewhat run-down 1980s restaurant; a sort of up-market Fawlty Towers if you know what I mean.

I ordered fillet steak which was served without the sauce. So i asked the waiter who haughtily replied, "Ahh you mean the jus sir!" ...i think that was his way of saying f-off. The fillet steak was tiny and tasted of rotten liver ...and I don't mean a well-hung taste, more a bottom of the fridge for 28 days taste.

Can't remember the wine, but do recall it came to £36. My son found the same wine in waitrose for £7 using some app that recognises bar codes.

Bill came to £145 plus a mandatory 10% service charge, which brought it up to £160. (no starters, three mains, one dessert, one bottle of water). The nasty aftertaste of being ripped is my most lasting memory of this place.

No such thing as a mandatory service charge in the UK, cross it off if you do t want to pay it.

 

[l'escargot]

I was there last weekend and had one of the platters from the pub menu. The food was excellent, but as said too expensive. The platter was for sharing but I had it alone and nearly finished the plate.
On the bright side though, it's not Cowes, it's considerably better than I've had from The Anchor or The Folly for the last couple of years, and there is no trouble finding somewhere to park either the boat or the Dinghy. Considering I paid half what I would in Cowes for mooring up, the overall cost including meal was probably lower so I was still happy...

My experience has been similar. The marina is certainly not the dearest in the Solent, I have had a couple of meals in the pub which have been better than several other places I could mention and even the BBQ option from the garden was perfectly acceptable.

 

[dom]

No such thing as a mandatory service charge in the UK, cross it off if you do t want to pay it.

Yes, so I understand ...and you're right ...one shouldn't get bounced into paying just because the restaurant adds service to the bill and punches it into their card payment device.

 

[Mark-1]

My experience has been similar. The marina is certainly not the dearest in the Solent, I have had a couple of meals in the pub which have been better than several other places I could mention and even the BBQ option from the garden was perfectly acceptable.

Only been there in winter recently but the bar food, beer and service has been fine.

I get the feeling they can't cope with the rush on a busy summer day which might partially explain their poor reputation.

 

[Sandgrounder]

I have never been to The MasterBuilder so cannot comment on the specifics but I think some of the more general comments about cost are a little unrealistic.
As you can see from my profile I live in what a previous poster so nicely called "the boonies" or at least a cultural desert if most of the comments about Merseyside are to be believed. However I would be very surprised to pay less than £50/head for dinner in anything approaching a decent restaurant; if the food is good it is most probably worth it. As an example my better half and I went to a local restaurant a few days ago with a another couple: - we were there from 8.00 until 11:15 so no real chance of a service before we arrived or after; 4 starters, 4 mains and 4 deserts, 2 coffees, 2 bottles of sancerre and 1 bottle of sparkling water - £238.00 The restaurant has places for 44 diners and a staff complement that evening of 5 in the kitchen and 3 front of house. I don't think they're getting rich at that rate. Maybe someone better informed such as Cheery could help us out.

 

[Lakesailor]

Sounds like people don't like it. Is it possible to make an overlay for the pub sign saying "Master Bater"?

 

[l'escargot]

...I would be very surprised to pay less than £50/head for dinner in anything approaching a decent restaurant;...

I'm with you on that one. In fact not just restaurants. I've eaten in decent pubs in select locations where, with wine, the bill has come to more than £50 per head.

 

[Petertheking1982]

This was on one of my places to go this summer, but reading the reviews on trip adviser and here i might give it a miss! Doesn't sound terrible, but for the prices on there menus not somewhere i would like to just 'give it a go' with out good reviews. For those prices i woudl expect 2 AA rosettes, there not even far off the prices for the Michelin starred restaurant in Emsworth which is very good (if you dont mind paying for fancy food).