Rose and Crown review....

[lillygator]

this was our first night after arriving at the *world*....it was Sunday May 9th - monther's day and we had a PS for 7:30....


we checked in at about 7:10 and we were told to come back in about 15 minutes to check in. Fair enough....we came back and I also requested outside seating...preferably on the water as I had made the PS to coincide with the fireworks show. We were seated promptly.....right across from the kitchen....I was almost in tears. How crappy! I asked if we could wait for a table....or be moved and the answer was no. Now, the pub was closed for renovations but the restautrant was not full....once we were seated I walked the entire restaurant and counted the empty tables on the water/outside. I was pissed at this point. I mean this restaurant is not known for its food quality....I also checked after dinner and there were still empty tables. NOW, I know that there is no guarantee for seating preferance but come on....

anyway we sat and ordered....I was almost hit on the head several times from the kitchen staff.....
I had an English Rose (delicious) and DH had the Harp's Light....DD had milk....for dinner DH had the steak and prawns and I had the rib eye....as I already expected, the food was just so so. DH had the apple crumble for dessert and it was delicious!

At the end of our meal there was still about 15 minutes before the firework show. Since the pub was closed we had to walk across the street to use the restroom....then we were escorted to the *VIP* viewing area to watch the show.
NOW FOR THE KICKER.....

as we were standing there ~ a nice couple said to us...."oh they tried to give us the table you were sitting at and we refused, we almost came and told you that you didn't have to accept that table but didn't want to interfere".....the woman also stated that she had made a PS long ago and was very upset with the service. She also said she was writing a letter to complain.
Not that it made the night any better but at least we weren't the only ones.

Overall - we would never go back to eat here again. I would visit the pub. The food was average, the service was horrible.....

 

[twotoohappy]

I know how you feel, we ate there in Dec.. and the service was terrible. Definately wouldn't return!

 

[dbail2]

WOW....That is horrible..We ate there 2 years ago and service was good. I was thinking of doing it again this year for the show. Now I will not. Thanks for the warning..

 

[ReneeQ]

I'm SO sorry your experience at the Rose and Crown was so disappointing. It makes NO sense they wouldn't give you an outside table when there were some available.

We ate there on Sunday, May 2nd and had a totally different experience. I checked in early and got the "come back in a few minutes thing" too. We were a party of 7, 6 adults and a 2 year old. I requested an outdoor seat and got the usual "we can't guarantee it" thing.

It was about to pour rain and they closed the uncovered patio section of tables. Our reservation was at 8 and we weren't seated until about 8:20. I checked in at 7:50. We were escorted to a front row center table in the outdoor covered section. It then began POURING rain and they rolled down the clear side tarps.

It stopped raining right at 9 PM and they rolled up the tarps and we had a PERFECT view. Also, our service was quite good. Not great, but nothing really to complain about.

Again, sorry your experience wasn't pleasant, but wanted to let others know it is not always that way.

 

[Ron from Michigan]

Sorry to hear about your experience. We have eaten at Rose & Crown many times and always had great food & service. It's sad to get this kind of service when you expect so much better.

 

[tinkgrl]

Hi,

I'm sorry you had such a bad experience!! Mom & I have always loved it here.

Allison

 

[sugermouse]

I know how you feel. We ate there once but never again!

 

[TwingleMum]

Sorry you were disappointed. Thanks for the report.

 

[vicb]

We can sympathize with the OP but we had different circumstances.

We were there on a very chilly night in Feb. It was early (around 6:30) so we clearly were not trying for Illum. viewing. When we checked in we asked for a table indoors. We waited about 10 min. and were taken to a table on the covered patio right next to the swinging door the staff uses and directly under a heater. I politely but firmly refused the table and the host was clearly unhappy and refusing to seat us elsewhere. Just at that moment a waiter came zipping out the swinging door and banged it into my DS age 8! Before I could say a word we were moved indoors to a nice table! We had a lovely waitress and good food but I don't think we will return next trip, too many other places to try.

 

[Wilderness]

Sorry you had a bad time. Thank's for the review, and the head's up

 

[Micca]

Thanks for the post. We have had great success at R&C but I'm aware everyone's mileage varies.

 

[BCV23]

Sorry you had an experience that didn't meet your expectations.

We have been dining at R&C from the year that EPCOT opened and have always found the CMs there to be exceptional once you get past the front desk. In the past few years, it's been a bit touchier there but no wonder with the pushy and demanding folks we've seen. I think that people get so caught up with getting the Illuminations view that they forget it is a restaurant first and foremost.

I am not intimating that you were pushy at all lillygator. Just that the front desk folks at R&C seem to be fighting a losing battle these days.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

We were there this past Sunday and were seated outside but right behind the hostess desk right as you step onto the patio. It was busy (probably because this was the first EMH for Epcot in the evening).

I was shocked at the number of people who complained because they wanted outdoor seating and didn't get it. One lady(?) really ripped into the CM saying she was guaranteed a patio seat which we all know isn't true. One family got up and left after they were seated because they didn't like the table. If you listen to everyone that checks in at the podium EVERYONE asks for outdoor seating.

I've eaten there every trip because I love the Pie Sampler and the Beer Sampler (which they didn't have because of renovations) but I think too many guidebooks have made this suggestion and the CM's must listen to it every evening.

With about only 25-33% of all tables outside, I would never reccomend people go there to watch Illuminations, it would be doing them a disservice.

 

[Tina]

I'm sorry you had such a bad experience at R&C. We ate there with a 7:30 PS in late April. We were seated on the upper portion of the rear patio with a great view for Illuminations. Our server was fantastic and even stretched out the meal for us once he knew we wanted to stay for the show. Our food was great, but I ALWAYS get the fish & chips. I just love them. The couple at the table next to us had ordered steaks and they looked horrible. Very thin, very fatty. They were not happy with the meal. My DH ordered the chicken dinner, which he enjoyed.