Took mum for Mothers day special lunch on Sunday. No-one to greet us in the bar when we arrived. The Barman was missing. When he did come through to our side of the bar we requested soft drinks for the ladies which were poured into huge, ugly "near pint" glasses ( not nice and not necessary for middle aged ladies!) also we were going to request no ice in the soft drinks but were not given the option as the ice was put into the drinks without asking us!. Quite trivial I know but very annoying when dining at an establishment for the first time. We decided to say nothing.
Starter - We chose the "Classic Prawn Cocktail".
Generous with the prawns, stingy with the lettuce and the sauce was very very bland. One was eating but not enjoying as it was so boring. May I respectfully request that the chef finds another recipe for the cocktail sauce as the one served does not work! Ask anyone from the seventies what a "Classic Prawn Cocktail" should taste like. I'm afraid what we were served was a glass of prawns with 4 shards of lettuce, covered with mayonnaise that had just enough red put into it as to make it dark mayonnaise instead of the punchy, zingy, tangy marie rose sauce that makes a classic Prawn Cocktail. That is what we were all looking forward to and sorry but did not get. Very disappointed with the starter.
Main Course - All chose the Shropshire Beef with Yorkshire Pudding.
Could not fault the well presented, scrumptious, beautifully tender, melt-in-the mouth Shropshire Beef with the most perfect yorkshire pudding. Yummee! but what on earth happened to the vegetables? After fetching the Roast Beef, Yorkshire pud, Roast potatoes and gravy already plated, we made room on the table for the much anticipated dishes of fresh vegetables which would accompany this gorgeous meal. We were each guessing what fresh vegetables would it be, Cauliflower? Broccolli? Spring Greens? and of course there would be carrot batons or maybe mixed carrots and baby peas? OH DEAR! what came to the table was one small insignificant flat dish with some concoction that once upon a time resembled carrots and swede but this terrible twosome had been so overcooked and mixed together, it was laughable except we were too stunned to laugh! to make matters worse this dish looked as though it had been put into some oven and reheated. YUK. Where were the locally grown green vegetables? where were any vegetables? what was served up to accompany what was otherwise a great main course was an incredibly bad excuse for vegetables that even the most novice public house eaterie would never dream of serving to its customers. Very disappointing.
Dessert - Chose the Lime Cheesecake with Raspberry Coolee.
Yummee! Beautifully presented, delicious. No complaints at all.
Staff - Polite, attentive but not intrusive, Mine Host charming.
Atmosphere - Lovely, warm, cosy, inviting,.
Overall apart from Starter and vegetables, the group was pleased with lunch at the Navigation. I do hope the managment are not too offended by our comments but are taking notice of them. We eat out several times a month so feel justified in being unqualified food critics. If management take notice then five people will tell another fifty people just how great the food is at the Navigation. Criticism though can put off hundreds of others.
You will be pleased to know though that we all agreed that we would visit the Navigation again for a meal and would recommend to friends.