The Croft - Cotswold

If you're looking for a summary of Bourton-on-the-Water, this restaurant is it. It is overpriced with a hint of quality. The atmosphere resembles a factory canteen adorned with questionable 'antique' decorations. The space is crammed with tables, and the service is lackluster with disinterested student staff. The food ranged from mediocre to terrible, with one dish being served cold yet burnt. The heavy pint glass led to an unfortunate spill, and we were left to clean it up with paper towels. The restaurant is dog-friendly, which may not be to everyone's liking. Overall, we left feeling like we had been swindled.

We went to the restaurant for a light lunch and cake. The chips and nachos we ordered arrived quickly and were okay. However, we did not receive any cutlery or napkins, and our plates were not cleared after we finished eating. We tried to order 3 pieces of cake, but after waiting for 20 minutes and still not receiving it, we asked another waiter. Despite repeated requests, we did not receive the cake. Eventually, we decided to ask for the bill. The bill included the cake we never received, so we asked for it to be removed. There was no apology or acknowledgement of the mistake. Additionally, a 10% tip was automatically added to the prices on the menu, which we found sneaky. The service was not impressive, even though the restaurant was busy. It seems like they do not prioritize customer service based on other reviews.

It's fascinating to see the varying opinions in the reviews below, ranging from mostly satisfied to very disappointed. I'm curious about the reasons behind this discrepancy. In any case, I have dined at this restaurant multiple times and have always enjoyed it. The breakfasts are excellent, and my limited experience with lunch (poke bowls) has also been positive. However, like many other restaurants, they have started adding gratuity automatically to the bill, which can be uncomfortable if the service isn't up to par. This practice, borrowed from the US, is becoming increasingly common and detracts from the overall dining experience.

Lovely breakfast, but service was slow and food a bit pricey. Only one ladies toilet and one gents outside at the bottom of the garden and you'll have to wait in the cold outdoors if it's occupied! Watch out for the 10% service charge added to the bill (in tiny print at the bottom of the menu). You'll get a better deal at the Riverside Cafe nearby (closed on Wednesdays though).

Had 2 poke bowls that didn't come as stated on menu no avacado). Forgot bowl of chips and sneaky gits added 10% surcharge small print at bottom of menu) over priced for mediocre experience. Had two pints as well £55. Shan't bother again.