The best restaurants serving British food in South West

An unbelievably poor chain of actions on the part of staff at this café, led me to write this review. I ordered chips from an unsmiling older lady, and was told to wait outside for my order to be called. After about five minutes I went back in to enquire from a young woman how long I my order might take. She told me she didn’t know and turned away from me. I went outside to wait some more. I returned to the same young woman to enquire again. This time, when she said she didn’t know, I asked her to check with someone. As a collective the staff concluded my order might be at a second window that nobody had previously mentioned. That’s where I found my food, left unattended. As I went to take it, there was another staff member complaining someone else had not picked up an order. I said that could be because customers weren’t being told where to collect from. The older lady became affronted and claimed she always told customers to collect from the second window. When I said she hadn’t told me, she contradicted me. So I took my food and left them to it. It would have stayed like that too, but that wasn’t the end. Halfway down my bag of chips I came upon an earwig-like insect. Either someone having a joke, or it crawled in while my food was left unattended at the window. I took the remains back to the café to show them, but didn’t wait for a reply, as didn’t expect anything polite or useful from them. And that is why I’m posting this tale here. Sorry no photo, I was too angry to remember to take one.

Had a great experience today visiting Dobbies Shepton Mallet. We were helped by great members of staff and had a great lunch in the restaurant.

I ordered gammon steak with chunky chips, pineapple, egg and peas, my partner ordered burger and chunky chips. Chips were not chunky and were over cooked and greasy, gammon was tough and greasy, no peas and burger was greasy. We both felt nauseous all evening! Would definitely not eat there again or recommend !!

Having visited Ben's shop a few weeks ago, I went again with my son; this time in the hope of having lunch there. We went to the café at around 12:30 and I asked if I could have a vegetarian pasty and that we would like to eat in. I was told by the lady behind the counter that this wasn't possible because the chef wasn't due to arrive for about 20 minutes. Bearing in mind that the pasties were cooked and there was a small glass oven in sight, I was somewhat confused as to why the pasty couldn't be heated up. More so, as it was lunch time, why there wasn't a chef available. Decided not to have coffee and left. Fou d a lovely café in a village a few miles away in Newton Ferrers. Won't be attempting to have lunch at Ben's Farm Shop again. Very disappointed....

Very disappointed with the soup of the day and the flat white coffee wasn't much more than coloured watered down milk, cold, thin and tasteless. I try not to give poor reviews but this was the worst lunch experience I can recall.

Wanted some quick eats for lunch, so sat in the rear garden. I had green lentil soup and a cheese scone which was delicious, and my partner had jacket potato with egg mayo and beans which was good.

Absolutely disgusting food not even edible chips are vile not even chips tbh then rang up the takeaway said will give u fresh chips I said no point as rest of food will be cold by the time the chips turn up I asked for refund they said no

Sólo apareció de camino a Gales. Pobre chica estaba sola sirviendo el desayuno se puso de pie, la comida estaba bien no tan caliente pero no tostadas! ¿Por qué anunciarlo si no haces nada? El té y el café no era bueno o incluso caliente. Hice compras entonces cuando volví y probé el té de nuevo solo para tener que usar vasos de papel lo que ha salido mal aquí. No creas que volveré a aparecer si voy por ahí

Please, do not confuse The Shambles of Dartmouth is a bar but it’s No.1 on Higher street (in the corner T junction with Smith Street) yes, small place, music and good company See you there xx

It was good, but I’ve had better! The chips were just a little bit soggy, but the cod did taste good. I still recommend Cousin Jacks

Flaky cod and crispy batter. Enjoyed by river with bottle of wine from next door - best summer day every year for 20 years!

Disgusting service from an elderly lady in here. My daughter was rudely approached by the old hag, and told not to eat her sausage roll in the restaurant as she isn’t a customer. I explained that I was going to be eating and buying drinks. We didn’t even have the time to find a seat, as my daughter was collared by her half way in. Now I totally respect that places don’t want you eating food from other eateries. But her manner and approach was completely aggressive, and to approach an 11 year child. I explained that if there is an issue to then speak with me, the parent. Totally rude and ill mannered, and the rest of the staff had an awful attitude. I’ve eaten here before and food has always been mediocre. Just cheap and cheerful. The service is just appalling. AVOID

Always atrocious - given up now. Terrible service (eg my husband waiting five minutes for a bottle of beer to be opened while staff stood around chatting). Kitchen closes without warning and whole cafe does the same. Surly staff. Poor food choices. I’ve never known it any other way and have now promised myself never to return.

Booked table . Restaurant empty, no one else in the dining room. Had to ask where we put our coats. Service extremely slow , ordered pre-lunch drinks at bar as no one attended to us, and had to ask for menu as no-one came to take our order. Long, long wait for main course and inbetween courses. Main courses very tasty but whole meal served already on plates not in serving dishes. Puddings very disappointing, profiteroles stodgy , heavy , no cream or sauce with these or the chocolate tart, very basic . Had to go to bar to request coffees. We were very neglected , staff were more interested in putting Christmas decorations up and putting fake flower arrangements around. It took three hours for five persons to be served lunch and it felt as if we were unimportant. Very disappointed , lots of staff but no attention to dining guests.

We visited again the following week. This time we had fish and chips. The service was friendly and helpful. The food arrived hot, plentiful and delicious. Thank you for your good service.