Bents - The Fresh Approach Restaurant

Food : 5/5 | Service : 5/5 | Atmosphere : 5/5 More
Apr 17th, 2023

Good lunch on Valentines Day, but, the value was good but the price point was high. The beef was incredibly hard to cut, the potatoes were amazing, and the unknown purple vegetable had some weird taste (as well as the lettuce). Overall, I would come here again but not so often because the price point is incredibly high. Edit: *the lady at the checkout was looking at the credit card reader pin
Mar 28th, 2023

Service : 5/5 | Atmosphere : 5/5 More
Feb 19th, 2023

We have always wanted to experience sitting in The Fresh Approach Restaurant when visiting Bents, but never had until today because of the queues and prices. Today we decided to have a treat of a hot chocolate each; also maybe some soup for myself and a toasted sandwich or similar for my husband who hadn't had any lunch. Despite waiting until well after the lunchtime mass, it was still very crowded and noisy. Undeterred we carried on. I saw a simple carrot and coriander soup was over 8 which I thought ridiculous, and the rest of the prices were very much overpriced. Because of my need to eat 'little and often' and hubby having had nothing, we decided to share a children's Margaherita pizza. When we got to the till we were asked for the table number. There was no indication that we needed to do this. When we said we didn't have one, we were told (nicely) we would have to go over and find one and come back with the number. I got rather agitated as my blood sugar was going low and I said why is there no provisions for people with disabilities? I stated that to walk across and around trying to find a table for the number and back again would cause me additional pain to what I was already in. I got the impression the ladies really wanted to help but they were 'tied' to the position they were in behind the counters. We were on the verge of saying, 'Stuff it' which is most unlike us being in our 60s and 70s. In the end they did find us a table and number, and carried the drinks over (We would have much preffered the drinks with the pizza as by the time the pizza arrived, the already luke warm hot chocolates were nearly cold. We noticed that the drinks on the table next to us had been left by the occupants, so I think they may have had the same issue with the temperature. When the pizza arrived it was a big disappointment. As a pizza lover I do have the discernment as to what is good and not so good. The base was nondescript and tasteless; akin to one from an economy pack from Tesco. The tomato 'sauce' was actually tomato puree, definitely not a proper pizza sauce. The cheese topping was just that! Again a cheap cheese probably cheddar. It certainly wasn't mozzarella like a Margharita should have. There was no basil or sliced tomato on top, nor any herbs on (nor at the table to sprinkle on). Just because it was a children's pizza shouldn't mean you should economise on ingredients. To add to all this was the constant clanging and noise. I appreciate this can't always be avoided, but for the time of day it was excessive. On a positive note: The staff were very good and helpful; especially the 2 ladies who were cleaning the tables. Both noticed I was using a napkin for my slice of pizza and offered to bring over a side plate. Can't fault the staff. Would I return again? It would take some convincing as Bents are definitely not disabled or accessibility friendly. The fact the staff felt so reluctant to leave their posts to help, and there was no other staff to help said it all!
Apr 26th, 2023

Not good. Very slow, disorganised and haphazard way of serving food. Having been to Bents many times, and enjoyed the garden centre and Christmas decorations display, the experience of eating at The Fresh Approach today was appalling. When greeted at the entrance we were told we had to order soup from one counter, hot food from another counter and hot drinks then pay at another place. Completely haphazard and disorganised. I had to send elderly relatives around the counters, one got lost. A staff member rescued her and guided her back to our table. Obviously distressed she was upset. I stood in a sandwich queue for 25 mins and found that I could have ordered the soup, the drinks and paid all in one place! We all ate at different tines, our coffees were cold and the whoke experience was bad. Get some staff that know what they are doing. People around me were all saying the same as me. Very poor experience exacerbated by poor staff knowledge. Do better next time!
Dec 3rd, 2022