Setting: Waterfront Inn, Shanklin Esplanade
Occasion: Hunger/desperation
Diners: Adel (refused to cook); ‘im indoors (refused to washup); son (good excuse to drive car and scare parents witless).
Meal wanted: Reasonable pub grub NOW!
Meal got: Cook-it-yerself, “taste the experience” Black Rock Grill
Menu: See photo!
Quality: Depends on cooking skills
Service: Variable. Ordering at the bar was a feat of elbow shoving and grovelling. This was the THIRD pub/restaurant/eatery we’d approached (the others being closed, on the verge of closing, out of food) and I was tempted to say “A crocodile sandwich, and make it snappy!”
Potential customers watched with bug-eyed astonishment, as the lady taking food orders tried and failed to cope with the new-fangled, easy-to-use, high-tech, idiot-proof till with pictures, words and prices clearly displayed on touch-pad keys.
Black rock grill seemed most likely to be served asap, so that’s what we had. Once ordered, service was swift.
Wine List: Didn’t bother to ask. The first glass of wine went down so fast it didn’t touch the sides!
Posh Nosh? Trendy rather than posh
Presentation: Raw
Ambience: Not bad (apart from the Elvis lookalikes!)
Other: Surprised the Waterfront Inn was relatively unoccupied compared to the packed Steamer Inn next door where a 30 minute delay awaited diners.
Price: £53.35 – inc two courses and drinks.
Nickables: Menu – see photo
Recommendations: Location could be improved if Steamer Inn relocated.
Adel Jinnos
