19/04/2008
Joan Sach

After this being one of our favourite restaurants in recent years, we have now crossed this off our list of restaurants to visit. We have tried it twice in the last year and found the menu boring, the food not specially good and the prices grossly inflated. 4 or 5 years ago it was superb. What happened?

08/03/2008
Ms Bright

Food, service and atmosphere were perfect, the best yet. Keep an eye out on the 12.5% service charge they automatically add on to the bill.

04/02/2008
Anne McCormack

Having first visited the C&W three years ago, our first visit being fantastic with lovely food albeit the prices very steep but as it was our anniversary we decided it was a one off treat. We went last year and found the service to have slipped somewhat, begrudingly being given a table tucked in the corner after being looked up and down with disdain (we were wearing jeans, sweaters and boots what with it being the seaside and somewhat breazy),the young waiting staff seemed more interested in standing in groups and gossiping than doing their jobs, the food was middle of the road and whenever we asked for anything it seemed that we were causing an inconvenience and the prices seemed to have increased somewhat and the final insult was the 12.5% service charge they automatically included. Needless to say we paid and left putting it down to the fact that we have gone on a bad day but did feel really let down as we had informed them that it was our Wedding Anniversary and somewhat a special day for us but may well have not bothered telling them anything. Then we get onto our latest visit today. I had called the C&W yesterday to check that it was open today as I know some of the places in Whitstable are shut on Mondays, and was assured that it was open, they didnt have many bookings and that it wouldn't be a problem getting a table and we wouldn't have to book for this reason. What I forgot to mention at the beginning of my review is that my husband and I live in London and drive down especially to go to this restaurant FOR an anniversary meal. We drove down from London and arrived at the restaurant at about 3.30pm hoping that this would be a better meal than our last visit BUT having agreed beforehand that if we encountered the same problems as last time, that we wouldn't be visiting again. Well what can I say !!!! We entered the restaurant which was EMPTY to be greeted by what in my opinion can only be classed as an obnoxious little man with a strong accent who put down the cutlery he was polishing and approached us. We asked for a table for two only to be yet again blatantly looked up and down like we were second class citizens before being told that no we couldn't and that the restaurant was closed. When I queried this, he made some feeble mutterings about the restaurant not being open until tonight and when I began to enquire about a table for then he abrubtly cut across me stating that they we fully booked. He then opened the door, pointing the way out for us but not content with that, he then escorted us DOWN THE STAIRS to the front door before opening said door and letting us out. This happened so quickly that my husband didnt even have time to get in the door but basically took one step in and then had to turn on his other foot and walk out. To say we are both disgusted by our treatment is an understatement. We were made to feel that we weren't the kind of people they wanted eating in their restaurants and quite frankly, they wont have to worry any further.......they couldn't pay me to eat there now but in case they do read this I would like to say from the bottom of both mine and my husbands hearts - Thank you so much for ruining our anniversary. We will be putting the word around NOT to visit your restaurant and after reading some of the other reviews I have read, cant see you lasting in the seafood business for much longer unless you have a complete overhaul of your restaurant maybe starting with a call to Gordon Ramsay. I am currently awaiting a call from the Proprietor after calling the restaurant tonight to complain and will put the result of that conversation if and when I get a call. Watch this space !!!!

04/02/2008
Colin Padley

I had lunch at this restaurant and the first thing you notice is the FOH management, it was hardly a warm welcome for a bored looking girl. Overall the whole thing was a disappointment, I felt it was very expensive and not very good value, and the portions were on the small side, accept for the Cod'n'chips which was a nice sized portion, I had a small crab starter (very small) for £11, followed by Cod at £16.50! with a very small portion of cremated chips, three courses for two people with one drink each came to £80, then they wallop another 12.5% service, total £90. This will be my last visit to this restaurant; I've had much better for much less, I guess the well-heeled commuters from London find the prices ok.

07/10/2007
Denise Leary

We have been to the Crab & Winkle restaurant twice now and contrary to previous reviews have found the food and service excellent. Last Saturday, we took our parents out for lunch for their 60th wedding anniversary booking the table in advance and asking for a window seat. We did get a window seat and were able to take our seats earlier than booked, it was a lovely surprise to also be offered a glass of champagne each before our meal. The food was superb, in fact, mother said it was one of the best meals she had ever had. It was a lovely occasion and very fitting for this special anniversary day. We will definitely go back and wish that Whitstable was nearer so we could go more often.

18/06/2007
Michelle

Very expensive and not good value for your money.

16/04/2007
Clare Lloyd

The food is fresh and it the Crab and Winkle is not short of customer because of tourists - hence customer service doesn't have to excel. We have been there numorous times and to sit on balcony with a plate of mussels and fresh bread with a bottle of Pinot is the best - just ignore the waitresses only to order your food and enjoy the views and company you are with. If enough people complained about the customer service it may hopefully improve. Hopefully this website will raise awareness as it is a great shame that waitors/waitresses can in a sense ruin your experience. Clare :)

08/08/2006
Ms Jutson

I ate at the restaurant last week for my birthday and had a truly memorable evening. What this place lacks in service skills it more than makes up for in cooking ability. Everything we ate had been well-sourced and cooked to perfection. We had kentish fare, kentish wine and a view to die for. Superb! I cannot understand the comments regarding the pricing when the ingredients are so well-sourced. Surely if you want a cheap meal that will fill your tum you go to a beefeater?

30/07/2006
Mr A Blinov

Visited C&W on Saturday night during oyster festival. Food was average, in fact worse than lunch in the pub and service was very poor (for which they charge 12.5% in the bill). To make it worse, we got charged £16 for food we didn't have– after lengthy discussion with manager still overcharged us £4 but I could not be bothered anymore. Avoid if you can, this place lives on tourists.

26/07/2006
Luke Hughes

My girlfriend and I travelled to Whitstable on Sunday 23 July for a day in the sun by the sea. We decided on The Crab and Winkle as it looked like a nice place to dine. After a pleasant day roaming around the lovely village we made our way for a special meal to cap off the day. It's hard to know where to start with this place, I was half expecting Basil Faulty to pop his head out of the kitchen at any time! Upon arrival, the reception area was unattended and after waiting for some minutes we managed to make eye contact with a waitress who begrudginly came and spoke to us. It was obviously "not her job". At this time a more senior looking member of staff approached. Seeing a way out the erstwhile junior staff member abruptly turned, mid-sentence and bolted. However, we were kindly allocated a table on the balcony which was appreciated as that is the reason we chose the restaurant. Happily we began reading the menus. Having a limited budget we decided on the set menu only to discover that the overwhelming majority of starters and mains had a "suplementry cost". Why advertise a set cost menu that is largely nonexistent? We ordered a bottle of wine with our meal and than began to wait. For brevity, I will list the ensuing comedy of errors in bullet form:- Entrees arrived before our drinks.- The request to have our wine to accompany the meal was met with indiffrerence as if it was all too much.- Wine arrives some five minutes later.- We had the lamb starter and it was quite frankly disgusting. It looked and tasted as I'd imagine cat food to.- We noted other diners being offerred bread so we asked if this was avilable to us given that we were ordering from the set menu. We were told it was and then offered some. Big mistake! The bread was stale and all but impossible to bite through.- As we were finishing our starter another waiter approached with a bottle of wine. When seeing that we already had a bottle he exasperatedly asked if we had ordered two bottles. We told him no and then he made out as if this was our fault and stormed off muttering under his breath.- The mains were ok but poor value for money. By this stage we'd had enough and got the bill as quickly as possible, paid and left feeling ripped off. It was explained to us that the restaurant was incredibly busy but myobservation was that the staff are incredibly lazy and uninterested. Not every table was full and groups of wait staff were regularly seen huddled together talking. We were served by no less than 5 people. If anything they are over-staffed, poorly managed and inadequately trained. I have done my best to inform readers of the how rubbish this place is but fear my words do not convey the black comedy that was our evening meal. In fact, if you have a bit of cash to throw down the toilet and a perverse sense of humour, The Crab and Winkle could well be an entertaining night out! To the management, please feel free to email me should you wish to discuss this further. I'm only letting you know what I and others think of your service. The Crab and Winkle would make excellent fodder for Gordon Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares.

25/07/2006
Mirela Fernandez

The food was great, amazing, fantastic--but if you order a lobster and risotto starter, you will get risotto with two bits of lobster. If you order a lobster for your meal, you will get half a lobster. A fish fillet, maybe you'll get a third... so don't believe the menu... The service was ok, not too quick but efficient. The prices were insane. The dessert, marvelous.

04/07/2006
Dave Taylor

I was so looking forward to the dining experience. What a disappointment! We arrived at 11.30am just as the restaurant was opening. After waiting at leasr 20 minutes, someone came along to take our order. My friend ordered from the set lunch menu. A kipper starter - a 2 inch by 1 inch flake of kipper on a small pile of leaves. Then for mains I had half a lobster with new potatoes. The lobster was slightly larger than a crayfish and yielded aboutfour morsels of meat. My friend had ginger crabcakes which he enjoyed. We both had icecream and coffees. Bill for two including two orange juices, two small beers and a small glass of wine - nearly £70! 12.5% service had already been added which otherwise I would not have paid. All in all, a rip off which I shall not repeat. Definitely NOT recommended.

11/04/2006
Paula Bell

We have been customers at the Crab & Winkle over the last five years, but due to a move have been unable to visit in at least a year, having read the previous review I was slightly nervous to be going back on Saturday the 8th April with my in laws, but decided to make up our own minds. I am pleased to say we had a very pleasant evening, the food was well cooked and the service was up to it's usual standard. My only gripes are that the once fantastic menu is so much smaller now and both specials had capers in (Ok if you like them). My advice to anyone would be to go there with out any pre conceived ideas and make up your own mind and you might just have a very nice meal.

05/03/2006
Ms Watson

We have visited the Crab&Winkle restaurant a number of times before our visit on 5/3/06. We last visited well over a year ago when this was the old C&W that deserved it's outstanding reputation. How very dissapointed we were to discover that the restaurant is under terrible new ownership. This used to be a delightful seafood restaurant serving good food at excellent prices with exceptional service. Today,the food was under and over cooked, the staff didn't have a clue (bad FOH management I would presume), and despite not being busy (they had more floor staff than customers!!), the service was disgusting. When I passed my comments on to the owner she wasn't interested in the slightest, therefore I feel that it is only fair to let any prospective visitors know not to waste their time or money here - they simply do not deserve the custom. I will never come back and we all know what they say about "word of mouth". I eagerly await the appearance of Gordon Ramsay to turn this place around!!!

21/10/2005
Josh Principal

Absoloutely superb food and professional service. I tried lobster lasagne and my wife had the wild rabbit. Thouroughly recommended.....

08/10/2005
William Morgan

Not the old Crab & Winkle. More like a 'Nouvelle cuisine' version. Very small portions, very large bill. Will not bother again

04/09/2005
Brian Corner

I attended 02/09/05 very poor service over priced and very over rated .

22/08/2005
Mr Garry Bull

This place is systematically designed to rip off tourists.The food is Standard English Seaside fare at three times the expected price. The service was shocking despite the fact they weren't busy. This is not the C+W of old - we have been there several times previously and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We will never be going back there as whilst its being run by its present owners.

17/08/2004
Mr Hemming

Really excellent meal here on a saturday night, really busy, fantastic "buzzy" atmosphere. Young attentive staff, and top quality fresh seafood, loved the scallops with carrot,corriander and coral puree, sublime. FOH management lacking i felt but would still recommend to all fish lovers!

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