Dobbies Garden Centre - Suffolk Coastal

Great little place, lots of lovely gift items especially from local business you wouldn’t normally find elsewhere.food is ok service not great, slow and not the happiest of people.

The queue in the restaurant was long and moved very slowly. I only wanted to book a slot for the soft play area for my family. Maybe the girls on the main tills could do this as they were not busy. Anyway got settled in the play area and went to order drinks. Again the Q was long and slow. The latte was nice and the pot of tea made more than 1 cuppa. The cheese scone was fresh but not very cheesy. Went back again for a portion of chips have to say they were yummy. What I do vehmently disagree with is dogs in restaurants. I saw one dog sniffing the condiments in the wooden box made me feel sick. Saying that the play area is great value and the kids loved it.

On the 15th of May I ordered food and paid for two soups and two fish and chips I was informed and made sure this this soup would come a starter first I waited for 45 minutes nothing happened then I saw the waiters bringing first the soup and then the fish and chips all at same time I was listening please. The soup had been whacked in a microwave and he consisted of speaking as a professional chef chopped tomatoes which means blissed in a blender with handful a basil dried the croutons hadn't been cooked there were large lumps of bread that insult injury the bread which came with the soup with gluten-free I said I didn't order this oh yes you did no I didn't I was appointed out the fact that if I had why is there long gluten-free bread in the soup and it handy mean cooked, The fish and chips for stone cold, I tried to find somebody to make a complaint but they're all far too busy serving a large party a cream tea brain mind this was at one o'clock in the afternoon. What is the main store and try to find a manager I couldn't find one was told if I waited at one come to me they didn't after 40 minutes I left I'm writing this toward other people not order food there it is disgusting and you do not have anywhere getting a refund as it's never a manager. I've been in a catering trade for 20 years and held every post from kitchen porter to head chef and I can say in that time I've never had a more disgusting vile meal and in treated with such total and utter contempt.

Visited Dobbies and was once again very disappointed with the restaurant, we have been dog owners in the past and have nothing against dogs but we do have a problem with dogs in the restaurant. There are areas in restaurants where dogs should not be, for example at the tills where there is food. There is a clear notice to say no dogs in that area, we saw someone go to the tills with their dog no members of staff advised the owner that the dog should not be in that area. Why have restrictions if they are not adhered to. Dogs sitting on owners knees at tables, and being fed titbits, we have witnessed this and noticed that tables are not always being cleaned between uses and another person going to use that table, this is really not acceptable. This is not the dog’s fault but the lack of consideration by the owner. We have visited other garden centres and noticed that they have specific areas in the restaurant for visitors with dogs. This area is monitored and tables cleaned between visitors surely this is a much better option, not everyone is a dog lover and this is a clear and separate place for visitors to sit and enjoy their meals.

Below average husband had full breakfast and I had bacon roll Toast on plate with the breakfast was wet (surely you should bring that on a side plate) Sausages and bacon were not the best quality The bacon in my roll still had the white fat on it because it had not been cooked long enough The staff were excellent though and very polite Sorry we Won’t be back !!