Grand View Tea Gardens - Isle of Wight

I went to the restaurant today for a cream tea. The drinks were served in dirty mugs and the scones were on polystyrene plates with only one pot of jam and cream to share. The scone was tough and rubbery. We were very disappointed and left after only taking one bite. This experience was unacceptable!

Not clean and bread was VERY stale. Expensive too. I returned most of the sandwich. See main review of hotel.

While on holiday nearby, we decided to try this restaurant for some ice cream. We attempted to visit the previous day, but their opening hours appeared to be inconsistent, so I would recommend checking if they are open before making a special trip. The ice cream itself was great, with a wide variety of flavors and generous servings. However, the service was quite slow. When we arrived, the lady behind the counter was busy making a sandwich order, causing a delay in serving us. It took about 15 minutes to receive our order (just 4 ice creams and a coffee), during which time the queue grew longer. The ice cream scoops were hard to get out due to the freezer being set too high, and there was a significant amount of ice build-up in the freezer. While it may not have been entirely the lady's fault, there was another employee who could have assisted with serving customers instead of just restocking the drinks fridge.

Yes the name says it all, a Garden, all alfresco seating, with a terrific view over the English Channel, were you can enjoy liquid refreshment and light comestibles. The small wooden shed at which you order your fare offers a variety of Teas and Coffees, Sandwiches including Toasties, Cake and Scones with Jam and Cream This is a very pleasant spot to enjoy a brew and snack, weather permitting. It is a few minutes stroll uphill from the top entrance of the famous Shanklin Chine and worth the small diversion to find. Major Credit Cards are accepted, but Cash preferred.

I was extremely surprised by the condition of this restaurant. Everything appeared to be very dirty and unkempt, with broken furniture and ripped cushions scattered around. There was even a filthy baby Walker/eating chair next to a dirty condiment table. I was shocked to find out that they had run out of hand sanitizer that morning. On the positive side, the lone staff member was a friendly and polite young lady, though it was clear she was struggling to manage on her own. The homemade cakes and scones were fresh and delicious, but it was a shame that the overall cleanliness and maintenance of the place were lacking. Despite the wonderful location, the owner needs to make some major changes soon in order for me to consider returning.