ZAAHRUSHIH'AHMUZUYUURAKUCYOU

We were regulars at this location back when it was the "Rose & Crown," so we were eager to try its rebirth as a more focused British restaurant. The new concept shows tremendous promise, but the overall experience was significantly hampered by service issues and a difficult self-ordering system. Th...e menu choices are superb, and everything we ordered was perfectly executed. The Shepherd's Pie was traditional and delicious – cooked exactly as it should be. The mussels and clams steamed in Ale were equally spot-on. The spring chicken with truffle-flavoured mushroom sauce was a surprising and successful addition. While the truffle flavour wasn't noticeable, the sauce itself complemented the chicken and the mashed potatoes beautifully. The sautéed spinach was fresh, perfectly seasoned, and a wonderful side. For dessert, we couldn't resist the Lemon Drizzle Cake on the menu, and certainly didn't regret our choice! An espresso would have complemented it perfectly, but unfortunately was not available. But the kitchen staff definitely deserves full marks. Unfortunately, other aspects of the experience left us feeling disappointed and undervalued. Poor Seating: Despite booking two weeks in advance, we were placed at an undesirable table right next to the entrance. Oddly, the restaurant was only half-full on a Saturday night, and a large, central communal table remained empty for our entire visit, suggesting better two- and four-person seating could be made available. Frustrating Self-Ordering: The smartphone-based ordering process was cumbersome. I couldn't place an order on my iPhone (the necessary buttons didn't appear), perhaps due to the Line App integration which I don't have. It only worked on my wife's Android phone, but even then, there seemed to be no option to review the order before submission. Furthermore, the multilingual feature was incomplete, with some menu items (like "Recommendations") displayed only in Japanese. Inattentive Staff: The most puzzling issue was the service given the reliance on self-ordering. We observed two staff members spending a large amount of time chatting near our table. Their time would have been far better spent managing the floor, perhaps taking orders directly to alleviate the frustrating app experience. This lack of attention peaked at the end: after the bill was delivered, no one returned to collect our payment. We actually had to interrupt their conversation to ask how and where we were supposed to pay. Conclusion While the food deserves five stars and the staff were very friendly, we were disappointed by the focus of convenience over comfort. This venue has real potential, as the quality of the kitchen is outstanding. Especially in a neighbourhood with little competition for this type of food. However, the current management appears to prioritise its own operational convenience over making the customer feel comfortable and valued. We would certainly wish for a change in their focus, in order to make it a more pleasant experience for their customers.

Visited October 2025