Ben's on the Beach

Well..... Where do I begin!?
I made a reservation for Valentine's dinner 5 weeks before Valentine's day. The manager took my booking, and supposedly made the entry in the book. When I phoned them 4 hours before the due time of 19h00, nobody knew about my booking!!! They looked all around - no joy!! And.....it suddenly is a set menu - nobody told me. You would think the "manager" would know this is a special occasion and have informed me, or contacted me closer to the time for such. Also, a deposit had to be paid!!! Nobody told me this!!! I realise that service is spiralling downwards - but this is the poorest I have ever experienced!!! Why on earth do people think a booking is done 5 weeks in advance??? To avoid disappointment...... did I just get this!!

Ben's might not serve automatic bread starters with every table, but their starter, main and dessert based menu is worth every bite.

Whenever I'm in Somerset I make sure to visit them frequently. Their staff is friendly, and their managers work hard to keep their customers happy. I feel free to ask for individual preferences and I always leave satisfied.

Their food isn't overpowered, nor does it taste like something whipped up in collosal numbers. It's homey and fresh, with a dash of class.

I honestly fail to see how anyone would disapprove of them, and if they remain as they are today, they will surely see me many more times in the future. I've recommended them to friends and family, who has done the same.

My opinion is based on the following dishes that I will never grow tired of:

Their Bitterballen starter
Prawn cocktail starter
Beetroot and Goat's cheese salad
Grilled Hake
And absolute 5 star Greek Lamb of Athena.

I invited my sister from Belgium and my wife for lunch at Ben's.
No bread and butter, no wine-cooler and although longtime reserved in advance - a little table in the corner.
I was already at Ben's previously and advised most of my friends to go to Ben's for red meat.
I was totally shocked by their presentation:
in French we speak about a "gargotte" being one of the lowest graded popular "eateries"