The Swan West Malling - Maidstone

Very pleasant ambiance in a tastefully modernised older building. Excellent cuisine from an interesting menu the set menu in particular was well designed and good value. Service was prompt and attentive but discreet. Very limited parking in the immediate vicinity, but worth the effort!

We booked lunch on line fo4 1145 as we were going to the cinem afterwards. Upon arriving at the robust restaurant we were sat down and handed a brunch menu, apparently they don’t serve lunch until 1230 despite the on line booking Staff were appologetic and for some reason moved us to another table. We were given an amuse bouche to fill in time....sadly that was the highlight. Menu was ok. Ordered the seafood raviolo as a starter with seafood bisque. The pasta was soft on the top but far too hard on its rim. Interesting challenge was eating a bisque with a knife and fork! I had to ask for a spoon. Main was roast partridge in a far too salty sauce, the texture was fascinating as it was supplemented with feathers! My friend had short rib that was also too salty too. My dessert was a lovely creme brûlée, but to add a whisky soaked prune base is bizarre in the extreme. Creme brûlée is a very subtle flavour the compote was far too strong! It was a detour for lunch, was it worth it.....categorically NOT!! Toilets were clean but freezing cold. Not a great experience the prices were high the food wasn’t worth the cost. £85 for two is expensive for what we had.

It used to be that going to the Swan for brunch was a special treat which we looked forward to. To be honest, that special edge has gone. The staff were indifferent and a touch inconvenienced and the food was standard. My friend is a Vegetarian and ordered the avocado on toast, asking that her poached eggs were runny and requesting an extra piece of toast both being ignored so that she had overcooked eggs and the extra toast had to be requested again when her food arrived. When she told the waiter about the overcooked eggs he joked that he would go and shout at the chef. Two of us had the full English with rubbery tough toast. We left discussing what options were available for somewhere different for our next catch up.

Service was terrible Had to ask for drinks No sauces asked more than once

Shame .... what was one of my favourites seems to have a taken a dive recently. Mainly in the kitchen it appears. Sending food back to a kitchen is never pleasant as was in this case. Food just not up to standard now, and now really feels just a commercial operation : if vegetables cost so much or a sauce does then just add something to the price overall and I would be more happy advertising a price for everything is bad imo, and comparing how others charge from Michelin starred downward seems very much out of kilter.