Bow Bells - Ards

The lunch we got was fairly disappointing. Chose the mince pie, which came with roast potatoes and mash and some carrot parsip mash. I am certain that the entire meal was microwaved, as the pastry on the pie was wet and soggy. The roast potatoes appeared to be of the frozen variety and were tough and tasteless. I didn't eat them. The mash in the centre of the plate was lukewarm, again suggesting the likelihood of a microwave reheat. This lunch was mediocre and below average. It also represented poor value for money. All in all, this was a poor experience and certainly not of the standard that this restaurant used to have a few years back. Such a pity.

Upstairs area roomy but on the cool side. We both ordered the chicken and ham pie. The food was not hot and you had to search for the chicken and ham.

We’ve now given up on Bow Bells. It’s a pity as we’ve tried to support local businesses regularly over recent years and have enjoyed the food here, but even that is no longer reliable. Today’s mini fry was very tasty but came without the black pudding ordered at the same time. Disappointing but not a serious complaint. The cheese toastie however, was declared “inedible” and despite combined best efforts, neither of us could cut through the dried brown pan loaf crust. To be honest, it felt like a leftover sandwich put under the toaster. While most of the staff are pleasant and do their job well, it’s not across the board and on several occasions we’ve clearly been an inconvenience rather than a customer probably not the owner’s intention. The policy of allowing dogs is fine nice touch to leave a water dish for them but please, maybe would be nice to have a wee note to owners asking them not to let their furry friends climb on the furniture and cushions as today’s two did?

This restaurant has deteriorated since it was taken over. Too many dirty tables. Dirty floor. Inexperienced staff. Was offered a table upstairs (where dogs are allowed) but with mobility problems and poor eyesight this was not an option. If I hadn't already paid for my food when ordering I would have gone elsewhere.

£6.40 for a coffee and a scone, except the scone turned out to be a dried up iced cinnamon whirl served with butter for some inexplicable reason. My stay was accompanied by the noise of the floor being vacuumed as I munched my was through my scone . Did I feel welcome? No. Would I return? Definitely not.