"Went today for Sunday lunch with friends (party of having made the booking last time we were there a few weeks ago (when the service was mediocre but not too bad). It was a booking and whilst there were some tables were occupied...already it was far from busy. Initially, drinks arrived quickly and order taken promptly. Even the starters arrived quickly and were excellent. And then things god worse. All of our party ordered the Sunday roast easy peasy for any eatery but after an hour and a quarter I had to enquire where the main course was. It arrived about minutes later and apart from the fact that pork had been applied VERY sparingly to one plate (two small slices concealed under a Yorkshire Pudding), which was quickly addressed, all was good. Everything well cooked and really tasty. Then it got worse again. The plates were eventually cleared and a dessert menu procured. And we waited, and waited, and waited. To be fair, everyone else was waiting as well and the place had got quite busy. But we waited, and waited some more, and then, after two hours and forty five minutes, we got bored with waiting and asked for the bill, stressing that we would have ordered desserts but it was too late by this time. I went to pay the bill and asked to speak to the Manager. It transpired that the young lad who had been serving was (allegedly) in charge, although I do find it hard to believe that someone we thought was a weekend waiter' would be the most senior on the premises. He trotted out that well used phrase sorry, short staffed' which I am afraid doesn't really wash. Clearly, they have been delighted to secure lots of nice profitable bookings whilst not securing the staff to service them. To be fair, the waiting staff were coping quite well but if the restaurant doesn't have the staff to service the customers, don't take as many bookings. Simple. Anyway, that was all he said, no other excuse or appeasement so, I am afraid that whilst what we had was good, and was great value, we will not be darkening the doors of the Brownlow in future. There are plenty of other places equally good who don't keep me waiting until tea time for lunch"
