I went to Viner's last night with my wife and brother in-law, and it was the first time any of us had been there in about a year. We were so excited as it has always been one of our favorite restaurants and we had been many times over the last 6 years for special occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries. My wife and I even had our wedding reception there, so it has always had a special place in our hearts. The food and the service had always been top notch and the experience was always worth money.Well, all I can say is that things have changed so much in just under a year. Last night we were shocked and extremely disappointed in the drop in quality and service since our last visit. Upon arriving, the first thing we instantly noticed was the drop in standards. Gone were the linen napkins which had been replaced with tacky paper napkins from the supermarket and the nice Viner's cutlery had been replace by a cheaper, lesser quality alternative. We noticed that there was also no butter on the table as there had always been in the past since you would receive a complimentary basket of bread. We were subsequently informed by our waitress that if we wanted bread it is now £3.00 as they had started charging for it. We also noticed that the prices of the starters and mains had gone up. We thought okay, no big deal. However, then we received our mains and noticed that they were significantly smaller portions than they used to be. They also did not come with any sides of mixed vegetables, potatoes, or anything else like they always did in the past. We were told these were now extra as well and were £3.50 each. So, sat before us were two tiny portions of lamb and one tiny steak, with absolutely nothing else on the plate except a little sauce and a small garnish. My wife even asked the waitress when ordering if her main came with veg and the waitress told her that it came with "seasonal vegetables". When it arrived with nothing, the waitress said that she never sad that and pointed out on the menu that it doesn't state that it comes with any veg, and was very rude about how she did it. A few more things worth mentioning about the staff: They acted inconvenienced when we asked them to take our coats and when we asked for a jug of water at the table. In the past these would have been done with a smile and without having to ask. The wait staff also dressed like they were working in a surf shop; the staff used to wear nice all black uniforms.The staff must have overheard us voicing our displeasure to one another, because we were given the cold shoulder and pretty much avoided the rest of the night. After voicing our concerns to the manager/owner about their drop in service, downsizing of portions, raising of prices, and charging for things that were previously complimentary, she stated "Yeah, well times are hard." We then stated that we would sadly never again be visiting their once fine establishment. She then stated, "We're not bothered." Well, I got news for you: times are hard for everybody, including your customers. People don't want to spend over £100 for dinner and be served by girls in UGG boots and mini-skirts, be treated rudely, and still be hungry when they leave. Times are only going to get harder for you when you treat customers the way you do now and let your standards drop so much from they used to be. Your food may still taste good, but your overall service and the quality of your restaurant has dropped significantly. People pay for the experience when they eat at an expensive restaurant; after this experience, I feel completely cheated and somewhat hurt. I only wish I could go back in time and hold my wedding dinner somewhere else and so we could take back all the money we have spent there over the years.
Claire
Great menu with the Chef offering a wide selection of choice of sauces and ways of cooking the fish of the day, would suit the most discerning diners. The presentation was excellent, the service friendly and well informed but not intrusive. Will definitely be returning soon to this establishment and will continue recommending it to all our friends
Peter
Viners has the touch and feel of 'Sunday Lunchtime' every day and at all times. You know the feeling - that slightly breathless enjoyment of drinks before the meal; the audible 'oohs' and aahs' on delivery of the plates; good gravy and English veg! And the setting - the luxury of being at someone else's Dad's successful country farm - and you have been asked as a guest! Bliss on a plate with very satisfied tastebuds!
Betty And Alan Dryden
A really nice Sunday lunch. As usual, staff cheerful and efficient - nothing too much trouble. Food delicious - plenty of it and served at exactly the right moment. Plus - just something to make this particular visit memorable, and a very kind and thoughtful touch - I had mentioned (briefly) that it was our anniversary when making the reservation - we were unexpectedly surprised when a lovely gooey dessert arrived complete with a candle and choccy greeting! A very special place for an exceptionally enjoyable dining experience - we are glad that we are so local! Excellent value for money - cannot fault this restaurant.
Anonymous
I was the competition winner a few months ago and I won a £50 voucher to spend at Viners. I just wanted to thanks the staff at Viners (and to Sugarvine people!) for providing this prize, the food was excellent. We took some friends for their wedding anniversary and although my boyfriend and I put substantially more to the final bill than just the £50, the food and service were excellent. Lovely for a special occasion! Thanks again.
carmen
the food was really good and tasty and the service was impeccable. everybody was very friendly and attentive and we will certainly be returning for good food and drink at a reasonable cost.
David
The food was very good, and the service superlative, with attentive and friendly staff making the evening one to remember. We will definitely be returning, and spreading the word to our friends!
jane
It was absolutely superb and the best meal that we have ever had in Cornwall and we live here and eat out a lot.
Jim
Very impressed with the service and then the excellent meal I had on the advice of a friend. Not from the area but will definitely be going back again if only for the experience of the ambiance from the helpful and entertaining staff.
eduardo fernandez
Went back for the first time in 6 months, everything was great, even though the menu hadn't changed much since last time, and I have to say that we really missed the French Couple which were running the restaurant last year and brought such a charming atmosphere to the place.