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"We met up with friends for a pre Christmas lunch. Had a lovely meal and wine plus cocktails. Very good as usual and the waiter and Eaterie Manager were very attentive. Have been here for lunch earlier in the year and standards were very good. Can’t fault it. Will return."
Phone: +441284758380,+441284714000
Address: 3 Angel Hill, IP33 1LT, St Edmundsbury, United Kingdom
City: St Edmundsbury
Website: https://www.the-athenaeum.com/
Dishes: 51
Amenities: 25
Categories: 5
Reviews: 1539
Absolutely stunning interior, nice atmosphere, could be excellent, but... We waited in a bar to get seated at our table for ages, but that's all OK, as its very busy. After we got seated our orders were taken soon enough. We were really hungry so I have ordered some bread and nibbles to keep us going before the starter. It took over 30 minutes for the bread to arrive...this is not really acceptable, because the whole point of ordering bread and nibbles is that we get it quickly. Not a great start. The starters came about an hour after ordering food. The bread was lovely, my scallops for starter were good, but my husband's pork belly tough and dry. I have ordered monk fish for the main with potatoes, fish was overcooked and tough, and potatoes were undercooked. My husband's steak was nice enough. So in general, a dissapointed. Will not eat there again unfortunately, which is a shame, as it looks beautiful and has lovely atmosphere. We did eat there in winter and food was way better, went downhill from there unfortunately.
We came for our daughter’s birthday and stated this on booking form as it asks if celebrating any special occasions we were told by reception that there would be a plate of sweet treats for birthday guest. Everyone’s drinks were brought to table except mine i waited and in the end asked where it was then after the afternoon tea as we hadn’t seen the lady that served us for a while my husband asked another lady away from our table if the birthday plate could be brought out. she knew nothing about it and went off then came back and in front my daughter at the table said “all it is is a plate with a brownie on and happy birthday written, do you still want it?” I was so disappointed in what she said, how she said it and that it was infront of my daughter which ruined any gesture that would have been made so i said no and we left. Definitely not value for money or good service What was meant to be a special occasion disappointed. We have definitely had much better afternoon teas as well, not worth the money it cost.
Had a very pleasant , simple lunch here on Thursday. Parked the car and just walked in. Very good , in fact, excellent service ! We both had the Pickwick Pie with vegetables,a fair portion of meat, good pastry , hot with an extra little jug of gravy . My feeling was that it was what we wanted , slightly overpriced, but that was ok, because the atmosphere was good. My only niggle ..get rid of the 12% service charge..10%is always plenty and really we should only give what we want to give …not feel obliged to pay…….a lot extra !
The only place where I have had lumpy scrambled eggy and watery crème anglaise passed off (after complaining) as custard with a skin on it. Not charged for but the chef’s brass cheek left more of a bad taste than the food. FOH was polite and working hard to keep it going but shouldn’t take and pass on such silly excuses from the kitchen. PS did chef really intend to send it out with a skin on it?
We met up with friends for a pre Christmas lunch. Had a lovely meal and wine plus cocktails. Very good as usual and the waiter and Eaterie Manager were very attentive. Have been here for lunch earlier in the year and standards were very good. Can’t fault it. Will return.
