The Dining Room at The Goring

Avoid the female manager at all costs. She might ruin your entire night. Ask for the male manager if anything feels off — he’s the only one who listened. They do get friendlier — once you complain and take the bill down. I visited The Goring on 27/03/2025 at 19:00. Although I had been here years ago and remembered the food and service fondly, this visit was truly disappointing — and frankly, unacceptable. The female manager showed unprofessional behaviour with noticeably rude facial expressions and tone throughout our visit. What was even more concerning was that she misinformed us about the restaurant’s policy — seemingly to avoid a minor request that would have taken little effort. This was clearly not in line with what one expects from a 5-star establishment. After escalating the issue, the male manager stepped in and was apologetic. He removed the charge for water and two glasses of wine from our bill, and at that point, the female manager’s attitude suddenly shifted — which only reinforced the feeling that this was not a one-time mistake, but a pattern of behaviour. I paid the service charge solely out of respect for the male manager's professionalism. Otherwise, I would not have. To this day, I have not received the follow-up email that was promised. For a restaurant of this calibre, such poor service should not be tolerated. I was deeply embarrassed in front of my friend, especially as I had recommended The Goring myself. The food is lovely. But unfortunately, service — especially from the female manager — was far below expectations. I hope this feedback is taken seriously. A place of this standard should be consistent in both cuisine and hospitality.