Twelve Restaurant

Restaurant - English in Thornton-Cleveleys

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Unit 12 Marsh Mill Village
Fleetwood Road North
Thornton Cleveleys
Lancashire
FY5 4JZ

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Fine dining at it's worst

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Quality

Value

A little late for me to be adding this review, but my main wish is for others not to be fooled, like we were. Before we booked for a family birthday, everyone locally we spoke to raved about Twelve. Personally, I love dining out and sampling the best food the North has to offer and feel that British adaptation of worldwide cuisine is a culinary delight. I would also like to add, that I have personally worked as a server and chef in the food industry in the past, from the plainest of places to silver service, therefore have a working knowledge of restaurants and standards that should be adhered to. However I am always polite and try not to make a fuss, as I understand the demands of the industry. On to the night out! We looked at the prices beforehand, yet were comfortable with paying over £80 per person for three courses and wine, as we thought we were going to be tantalised beyond belief. Upon entering, the staff member was charming and welcoming taking our coats and hanging them up with respect. We enjoyed our pre-dinner drinks and adored the canapés on comfortable sofas in a relaxing lounge area. The waiting time for the table was perfect, not too long to agitate us, but not too rushed either. At this point, we felt the place more than lived up to the hype. However, the moment the hostess came to guide us through to the restaurant, to our table; this is where it all fell apart. From then on, every experience traumatised me more than trying to enjoy fine dining at a fast food joint. The dining area was very crowded, with the restaurateur's focus being of ramming as many tables into as little space as possible. Why bother having separate tables, if one is so close to the neighbouring table, that we may as well be sharing an Irish Hooley night? (On a side note, I would recommend a Hooley night, if you are ever in Dublin; you must visit Johnnie Fox's. Better food than Twelve's fine dining, without the pretence and a night you will never forget.) The quality of the furniture disappointed us as well. Being presented with plastic chairs and table; is rather reminiscent of school days long gone. Very uncomfortable indeed! When the starters arrived, two of us were pleased with our scallops; however we have had them cooked better elsewhere. One starter however was very disappointing for one family member due to the overcooked duck egg. The menu promised lightly poached, however they may as well, have hard boiled it, as the yolk was hard and the egg cold. We did state that the egg may have been overcooked, however no apology or amendment was ever made. The décor as others stated, did resemble a bus station perhaps, but I enjoyed the fact that a restaurant was nestled within an old mill, very charming. What wasn't charming was the slideshow display which dominates one wall and perhaps the restaurant itself. The issue we had was the lack of screening in the images of patrons, by the establishment. I for one didn't appreciate seeing pictures of soldiers/mercenaries/killing-for-oil images being displayed while I was eating. We all found other pictures, including some ladies without modesty, baring too much flesh/privates, which have a way of literally popping out on such a large display, quite distasteful. If we wanted to see such photos, we would trawl any local bar or Facebook. The main course offered some redemption. Do not expect massive servings, but what you are served, will be lovely. We had pan fried duck, pork belly and steak. The one course we were all happy with. However through the night, the service did become an issue. While we were asked if everything was OK and whenever we were served, we were treated politely, the servers congregated in one corner for most of the evening, treating the workplace like a social venue. Instead, servers during free time, should circulate around the restaurant and stand "at ease", being ready to attend to any diner's whim. It is never appropriate in such a venue, for patrons to be forced to get up and approach the hoard of servers to ask for a drink for example, because the servers are too busy talking, to notice a patron looking for a server to assist them. On to dessert, you will be hungry, even if you're slim/have a small or medium appetite, like me. At this point, we put the lacklustre starter down to an odd blip after the satisfying, although "EU" (small serving, even for a la carte) main course. Since I was with ladies, the obvious choice for them was chocolate and plenty of it! I wish I had chosen a piece of chocolate cake, but instead, I chose the strawberry shortcake crumble pudding. This dessert was inedible and without any exaggeration, the "biscuit" was akin to a hobnob, left to harden for weeks on end. I tried to break the "biscuit" apart with a spoon and couldn't. Another family member couldn't even put a dent in it for me, despite being strong enough to break apart concrete when DIY'ing. I apologised to the waitress for troubling her, wishing to get a satisfactory resolution but asked if she could inform the chef that the crumble was inedible and in essence, a large portion of the dessert. She came back and informed me "the chef said it's supposed to be like that, a ‘biscuit' topping", even though the menu promised a crumble. At that point I stated I couldn't break it apart; neither could any of my fellow stronger diners. No apology was made or alteration on the bill, so I was left with a meagre amount of crushed strawberries. So much for the customer being right, instead the scorned and highly undeserved arrogance of this establishment and its staff is a slap in the face of every patron. If I were not in such reserved/unassuming company at the time or not celebrating an occasion I didn't wish to dampen, I would have personally taken my issue up with the chef and refused to pay the full bill. Instead with a stiff British upper lip, I thanked them (for their terrible service) and paid the FULL bill (which I shouldn't have had to pay) and politely wished them well and goodnight. I doubt that even if I had complained fully, their arrogance probably would acknowledge such a complaint. Instead, this is a lovely venue, spoilt by inept staff, who feel they are serving in a pub restaurant rather than Twelve and chef's that fail to deliver consistency, which at this level of dining is a must. The biggest surprise of all, is how this establishment has a Michelin star?

Will H - 29/12/2011 | report this review

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Products and Services

We offer these services

  • Urban
  • Licensed
  • Outdoor Seating
  • High Chairs
  • Baby Changing facilities
  • Free Parking

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