Basingstoke and Deane
The Star Inn

The Star Inn

Newbury Road, RG20 5TR, Basingstoke and Deane, United Kingdom

Pub • Steak • Vegan • British


"What a horrendous experience. I really don’t know where to start, we work hard all year and finished work on Friday 22nd so booked to go to the star on Saturday to start our family Christmas celebrations. Were had a dreadful year and were looking forward to a nice meal out. Firstly when we arrived the waitress came within minutes to take our order. I asked if we could order drinks and just give us a few minutes to look at the food menu. My son ordered a regular Coke, I ordered the Christmas cosmo cocktail and my husband the zero alcohol peroni. My god this was hard work , firstly I was told they might not be able to do the cocktail, my son was brought a pint of Coke and my husband a pint of peroni? He queried if it was correct as shed checked at least 3 times before what he wanted and was assured it was. However a few minutes later the waitress rushed over to advise it was in fact alcohol!! She then didn’t come back to take our food order for over 30 mins (I’d point out at this point the restaurant was more than half empty) When taking the food order we ordered the cheesy garlic bread , chorizo bites and olives to share as a starter. We were advised they didn’t have any cheese , so the bread would just be garlic bread. We agreed that would be fine. My husband ordered the duo of lamb, sorry no lamb was the response ! Eventually after another long wait our starters came out and omg ! The garlic bread was burnt to a crisp ! Black ! My husband took this back to the waitress and told her to take it back and take off our bill. How on earth any self respecting chef let that leave the kitchen , or a waitress bring that to a customer’s table is insulting. When the mains came we were at the point of giving up. Both my husbands main and my main were cold !! Stone cold. We decided to just eat what we could and get out of there. So we asked for the bill. We waited and waited and waited. All the time all three members of staff were huddled around the til. Obviously having an issue. But instead of coming over and apologising for the wait we were left sitting there. Eventually after calling IT they resolved the issue. On the way out my husband did express how bad the experience was. The manager offered to deduct something off the bill. But that would make no difference to our ruined lunch out. The food is below par, the prices were an absolute rip off!! Nearly £30 for a burger with a pig in blanket screwed to the top. I will not be returning here. It was a shame because 13 months ago we’d had a lovely meal , but this experience was horrendous. Never again"

The White Hart

The White Hart

The White Hart London Road Overton, Hampshire RG25 3NW, Basingstoke and Deane, United Kingdom

Fish • Hotels • Cheese • British


"I have to say this is the only time I have visited where I haven’t been satisfied It took ages for our order to be take for drinks when they eventually did take our drinks order we jumped at the chance and ordered our food. The starter arrived which was a sharing Camembert and we were not offered side plates which meant there was lots of cheese over the table after we had finished The food was ok I have no complaints there but after our plates were cleared for the main they did nor ask us to see the dessert menu or asked if we would like anything else. We waited and waited thinking that she would come back and we tried to get their attention without shouting by this time she had cleared the table next to us was being cleared and she immediately offered them the dessert menu. After half an hour of waiting to see the menu my fiancÃe had to walk up to the staff in the other room and ask for the bill because we weren’t going to be ordering desserts after having to wait. They were very apologetic but by this time it was too late. As myself and my partner don’t get to go on dates very often it ruined our one night out Service is everything in any establishment whether you’re eating pub grub or Michelin star food it’s not difficult to give great service and be attentive but when you clearly have wait staff who really clearly don’t want to be there it really shows I’m hoping this isn’t a regular occurrence but we won’t be going back for a little while."