Brilliant
Just discovered the Crab at Chieveley and wonder why we hadn't heard of it before. It is amazing. We went early one evening and the food, service and ambiance were amazing. I had the lobster/prawn maple salad and it was to die for. Son and hubby had fish and chips and they are still raving about it. We will be back and will certainly recommend to others too. The chef should be proud.    [07 Jan 2005 19:30:08]

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Recommended Dishes: fish and chips, lobster prawn maple salad

     ­Anonymous   

The food is always brilliant. We've eaten there 8 or 9 times and never a dud.    [20 Feb 2005 10:11:43]

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Recommended Dishes: lobster

     ­A Jones   anhj2000 at ukonline dot co dot uk

Never Disappointed
As others have said, expect the best when you go to the Crab. It is the ultimate treat for any seafood lover.

From the homemade tapenade at the begining, through the perfectly cooked seafood, to the deserts and handmade chocolates with coffee, you really can't beat it.

It's no exaggeration for me to say that had I not been lucky enough to live in the Newbury area, I would seriously consider relocating!

The only thing that worries me about writing this review, is that it might add to how difficult it is to get a table at short notice.    [25 Apr 2005 06:37:11]

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Recommended Dishes: lobster, scallops and king prawns grilled with garlic butter

     ­Jeremy   

Most Amazing Restaurant in the South
We regularly travel from the North of England just to experience something superb and entirely different from anywhere else in the country.    [10 May 2005 09:56:34]

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     ­sue   

Still Crap at the Crab
How can the present owners be allowed to get away with such terrible things? This lovely coaching inn has been turned into a ghastly restaurant. This was always a local place to go.

How West Berks Council have let the current owners get away with it - they should be ashamed.    [23 Jun 2005 09:24:24]

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     ­Anonymous   

Appalling Service
I am not usually one to take the time and trouble to voice my views, but feel compelled to about the Crab at Chieveley. Today, I visited this restaurant for the second time and will not be returning there again.

On our initial visit four of us enjoyed good value for money set menu options and very good service. However, on checking the bill afterwards I realized that I had been charged for five meals for four of us. I telephoned the restaurant and after speaking to John, agreed that the amount I overpaid would be deducted on our next visit. This is where the problem begins.

On returning to the restaurant I was told that John (or Andrew my other contact reference) no longer worked at The Crab. However, someone would be with us to discuss the matter. After waiting for some 35 minutes I was forced to call someone over, as we had just been left in the waiting area with two menus. We spoke to the "General Manager" who said he would "sort the problem out" and escorted us to our table. I was somewhat confused as to what the problem was - quite simply I was overcharged for one 3 course set meal last time and merely wanted this amount crediting back to me. We placed our order and a member of staff had to come back to confirm my choice of starter. I then had ask for the wine list. Bread was not forthcoming until I had nearly finished my starter. Towards the end of the meal a waiter tried to pour wine into our glasses from an empty bottle.


As regard to the food, I was impressed with the quality of the oysters I had for a starter. The main course "special" sea bream and crab was good, but was slightly undercooked and the coriander infusion just didn't work. The dish was not worth £29. Also, the Sancerre lacked the usual gooseberry palate and was less than ordinary for £25.

I received the bill at the end of the meal, and guess what...no deduction made for the previous overcharge!
After 10 minutes further negotiation the amount was deducted, but the experience was totally ruined by now.
I cannot recall the last time I have experienced such bungling ineptitude from mananagenent.

It is a shame that I cannot return to a restaurant so local to me again.    [03 Jul 2005 13:13:44]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: oysters

     ­Mark   markbiddle5 at aol dot com

Best Experience with David Bastard
The food is excellent, but the kichen workers were so loud and rude that me and my children overheard from the restaurant. If you have ever experienced an arrogant, bumptious fellow manager with an Irish accent you can find him at the crab. The service was ok but I felt that they were more like olimpicons who tried to break the track records of the hundred meter's.    [18 Aug 2005 18:38:13]

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Recommended Dishes: Thai lobster, scallops

     ­Esther   

Great Food
The food as ever was excellent, scallops cooked to perfection, lobster to die for. It was just a shame that the service shown to my wife and I was detached and confused, and the French gentleman in charge (I think) did not aid matters by his manner. We will definately give the crab another go just for the food. I just miss the way we were made to feel so special on our previous two visits last year - excellent meal but could try harder!    [22 Aug 2005 18:46:02]

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Recommended Dishes: baked scallops

     ­MR J BENNETT   

Not Crap but Not Brilliant Either
I have eaten at the Crab on three different occasions. The biggest problem is inconsistency and patchy service. Some dishes are superbly well judged combinations of flavours and presentation - others rather underwhelming. Service is again very hit and miss - but in my experience more often a miss. One lunchtime we were kept waiting 45mins for our main course - without any explanation forthcoming.

If you follow another reviewers advice and relocate on the strength of this restaurant - you may be justifiably upset, but there are a few other good restaurants in the area to spread the load.    [06 Oct 2005 06:54:27]

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     ­Peter Richardson   

Poor Service Mars Good Food
Unfortunately the evening was spoiled by a series of events prior to us receiving our food, about which we had no complaint (other than a total shortage of the eponymous ‘Crab’!).

Having arrived on time and announced ourselves at reception, it immediately became clear that the restaurant was very busy. The bar area was full with people waiting to be seated with nowhere for us to sit or stand.

Initially there seemed to be a problem establishing whether we had a reservation, although it was clearly on the list and highlighted in green. At no stage were we offered a drink in the lounge, nor were our coats taken from us or menus brought for our perusal. There was no explanation as to why we were being neglected.

After waiting for about a further thirty minutes, still with no offer of a drink or acknowledgement of our presence, I suggested that we might at least be shown to our table where we might get a little service. After another ten minutes we were shown into the Fish Bar but the table for the six of us was woefully inadequate (it was in fact a table meant for four). Luckily a couple were just leaving so were able to enlarge our table to accommodate six.

Even once we were seated, our coats were not taken and still no drinks or a wine list offered to us. Eventually we managed to catch the eye of one of several waiters and ask for menus and drinks. I would say that conservatively this whole process must have taken at least an hour since our arrival. We then began to receive several apologies from the Head Waiter/Sommelier but it made no difference to the standard or speed of service. We were told that the kitchen was under a lot of pressure, one of the chefs had hurt himself, everyone had arrived at the same time etc. etc. etc.

It never became clear to us who was meant to be serving our table because we had to grab whoever happened to be passing. In my observation, the waiters were guilty of not scanning what was going on around them, they avoided eye contact with the customers and had I not believed otherwise, I would say we were being deliberately ignored until things had time to quieten down. We had to ask for everything. Things did begin to improve after 10.30 and we were eventually able to leave leave just before midnight!    [16 Jan 2006 06:53:17]

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Recommended Dishes: poached oysters, squid, dessert plate

     ­Ledgard