Duke on the Green

First impressions not great, went to the bar and ordered 2 pints of beer, a glass of white wine, and a gin and tonic, this came to 19, yes NINETEEN pounds, for four drinks, no cocktails in there either (gin and tonic is not a cocktail).

We then sat down to eat, had look at the menu, nothing in the main courses for less than £11.45. Yes that includes a burger. I don't care where you are, £11.45 for a burger is very steep. I plumped for the chicken breast on a bed of wild mushroom risotto for £13.95. It came and the rice was undercooked, i.e. crunchy and tepid at best. I informed the waiter of this who asked me if i would like it taken back and duly accepted. 20 minutes later my plate reappeared but sadly there was no change. Still tepid and undercooked rice (crunchy). I informed the waiter of this who offered to take it back again and duly accepted again. 15 minutes passed and my meal appeared again, this time by the manager (i presume) yet little had change, the rice was still undercooked and crunchy but at least this time it was hot. She offered to take the cost off the bill. Because of this I decided to eat it instead of sending it back yet again. Rice still undercooked, not tasting of much, zero parmesan taste to it (which for just shy of 14 pounds, I would expect plenty of) or mushroom taste, and the chicken had a bitter taste to it, i.e. burnt. I have had plenty of beers at this pub in the past, but this was the last straw. Utterly overpriced and hugely disappointed.

On a plus the bar staff and waiters were perfectly polite and the place is not far from the White Horse and Aragon House once you get annoyed with getting coppers in change from a tenner for 2 drinks. In all, unless you're felling very flush and want an expensive drink and a bad meal, DO NOT COME HERE.
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Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Went there on a Wednesday night and the restaurant was dead - never a good sign and that should have been a warning! The good things - the service was very attentive although it felt like they were on commisson to offer us olives and bread as got asked three times - eventually we said yes and was surprised to be charged for the bread -- obviously not for the olives but at £3.00 for the tiniest pot! We all had burgers which were fine - chips were good and we shared one pudding between 3 of us. This place is expensive - a burger, a third of a pudding and a few glasses of wine was over £30 per head!! The food needs to be better to charge prices like this and also ditch the bread charge it is just insulting!
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Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 1
Friday, February 08, 2008

This pub looks lovely but the food is absolutely dire and has got worse in the past year now that it has secured it's clientele. Sunday roast I ate there a couple of months ago consisted of fatty meat, rock hard potatoes. I ate there last night and had a steak and chips. The steaks were of an excellent quality when they first opened but now was stringy, fatty, cheap and covered in some kind of uncle ben's packet sauce. Including service charge this came to £19.00 so shame on them. The burgers used to be excellent, veal meat and foie gras, but they've decided to save money by using fatty, ordinary beef and crap mozzarella. Grrrr. This place makes me angry. Good service though.
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sammi
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 1
Wednesday, December 27, 2006

This used to be a fairly grotty pub, but they've done really well with the refurb and it now comes close to rivaling the white horse across the green...Had a really good sunday roast, service was fine, as was the atmosphere. Not the cheapest though.
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Alex - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Thursday, February 16, 2006

I arrived at the newly refurbished Duke on the Green to an atmospheric jazz band playing to a nicely crowded bar and restaurant. Although we hadn't booked, we were readily accomodated to a much-coveted booth table. The food was great (I recommend the fish pie) and the Sunday lunch 2 course deal was great value. No complaints...
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Fiona
Monday, November 14, 2005

This pub/restaurant recently re-nourished; had much potential with much thought out redecoration, adding touches of the elegant & new, but highlighting the trimmings of what was once a local 'boozer'. Having spent a few trips to the establishment it's mood definitely varies

I went in on a recent bright Sunday morning for Breakfast to be told that I could only sit inside if I left within a set time. Not so warm welcome. We were served by 3 different incompetent staff; the food took 40 mins to arrive; they missed an order for one of our party. Then proceeded to hound us to leave the table.

In summary, if this pub stayed true to the intent it's demeanor is projecting, it could be fantastic. Let down by the staff hustle and trying to negotiate around the endless bugaboo's, leads to a sense of cattle treatment. Your 12.5% gratuity has automatically been added to your bill, now leave. I think I will.
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Thursday, October 20, 2005