Hatties - Leeds

This used to be a regular family treat and trip out a look around the garden centre, buy too many plants and other gifts and nice enough lunch at Hattie’s. We h... read more This used to be a regular family treat and trip out a look around the garden centre, buy too many plants and other gifts and nice enough lunch at Hattie’s. We have been to the new restaurant (now Tong garden centre) several times and it is uninspiring and way too expensive. Pushed the boat out last week and had the carvery (way over priced at £14.95). What a disappointment. Poor roasties and watery gravy and everything tasted totally bland. Felt totally ripped off. The tables are slow to be cleared and they forget to clean the sills next to the window so it’s not even inviting. We will pop into Otley next time or sadly just stop coming here. The plants are also over priced and the toilets smelly. The checkouts were dead. They really need to turn this place around and quickly. It could be fantastic people love a great garden centre. Alas, it will have lost a lot of customers already.

I really can’t understand how this can actually be run as a business. The hot food laid out like an old motorway service station, under lights and looks like it... read more I really can’t understand how this can actually be run as a business. The hot food laid out like an old motorway service station, under lights and looks like it’s been there ages. Sandwiches bland and boring fillings in bland and boring bread. Sometimes you can get a jacket spud, sometimes you can’t. Earlier in the week I had a ‘salad nicoise’. It was tinned tuna, hard boiled egg, a few bits of tomato and cucumber, couple of bits of boiled potato, all piled on a bed of out of the bag leaves. No dressing available. Since when is that a salad nicoise? I thought the rest of it was hiding underneath, it wasn’t … plus it was over £9! Only vaguely healthy and edible option available. I don’t begrudge paying £9 or more for a decent salad! Friend picked up a lemon meringue pie, but after having a look, put it back as it was dry round the edges. She had scone which was ‘ok’. Drinks fine. Staff are usually young and not over interested in the food or the customers. A kind of ‘computer says no’ attitude. No slur on young workers at all, just an observation in this case. It is clean though, I’ll give them that. Unlike the revolting toilets, but they’re in the garden centre itself. This place could be a goldmine. It’s owned by the Tongue Garden Centre group now. The cafés in their other branches are excellent, but for some reason they’ve overlooked Otley. Great shame. After your shopping, go in to Otley and support all the lovely independent cafés. See you there!

The scone was wrapped in plastic and obviously not home made or fresh. Latte and hot chocolate were fine from a machine. We got there about 3.30pm. Service was... read more The scone was wrapped in plastic and obviously not home made or fresh. Latte and hot chocolate were fine from a machine. We got there about 3.30pm. Service was poor and staff seemed to be more interested in looking at their watches for home time rather than greeting customers. Moping around your chairs and vicinity whilst drinking coffee not conductive to a nice experience. Was hardly cheap costing over £12 for 2 ropey fruit scones a small latte and a hot chocolate. Not great and won't be back

Visited Otley and decided to go for a quick snack, we chose Hattys as we have been before when it was Stephen H Smiths. We decided to have a sandwich, but when... read more Visited Otley and decided to go for a quick snack, we chose Hattys as we have been before when it was Stephen H Smiths. We decided to have a sandwich, but when we saw the price, £5.45 for a ham sandwich, we decided to share one. The ham was miniscule, not even covering the bread, cut thin and looked very unappetising. It was served with a very small garnish of salad. Certainly not value for money and won't be returning. The garden centre itself was also uninspiring, much better when it was Stephen H Smiths.

A rude and disrespectful man, who appeared to be in a position of authority at the restaurant, pushed past me and my 98-year-old grandmother. He was red-faced,... read more A rude and disrespectful man, who appeared to be in a position of authority at the restaurant, pushed past me and my 98-year-old grandmother. He was red-faced, with sweat patches and was using a napkin to wipe his perspiration. When I attempted to voice my complaint, I was shocked to learn that he was actually the restaurant manager. They directed me to speak with the garden center manager, who was sitting on the floor with a visible exposed lower back while talking on the phone. The whole scene resembled a children's nursery area. Needless to say, I will not be returning to this establishment.