We recently booked the White Horse for my wife's birthday and were deeply disappointed with the experience - particularly the food. This is our second visit and the quality of the food has gone 'down-hill' since our first visit 6 months ago. The staff were very attentive although when we complained that we didn't expect prawns in a fish pie which could have resulted in an anaphylactic shock if I rather than my wife had chosen this dish nothing was done about it and no apology or explanation was forthcoming - it all seemed just a front.

The appetisers were OK although the portions were very meagre for the price. However the main courses were a bit of a joke. The fish pie as I mentioned earlier had prawns in it which it didn't mention on the menu and there was very little actually fish in the pie as it was mostly potato. The dish was advertised with a spinach and something puree which turned out to be a small spoonful of something green and congealed on the plate in a swirl - more for decoration than eating.

I had the rump steak, ordered medium, what I got was a thin piece of steak (around 5mm thick) very well done, accompanied with some soggy chips - I could have got better at the local pub. I finished with a Creme Brulee which was a dish of custard with some sugar on the top - the Brulee was not set at all and tasted if it was Birds Tinned Custard!

So we filled in the comment card and we will see if we get contacted - or more than likely the card went straight in the bin.

A very disappointing experience and at £80 not a cheap meal for two.

Hi

I would like to share with you my experience when myself and a friend dined at the White Hart recently.
We were warmly welcomed and found the atmosphere to be very pleasant and helpful.

I ordered the coq au vin. The chicken was excellent and perfectly cooked together with the onions etc. However I found that the sauce was too salty. It overwhelmed what was a very nice sauce.

My companion ordered the Rib of beef. It was gristly and a little tough. Quite a few of the chips were burnt. Fortunately she likes chips overdone. I pointed out politely to the waiter that it should not have left the kitchen with clearly overcooked food. He did not apologise but said I will tell the kitchen about it..

We both then had the honeycomb parfait which was excellent. Although the chocolate madelaines were a bit of a non-entity and in our opinion did not add anything to the dish.

Finally we went in to the bar to have our coffee which was very nice. We sat in the window seat to catch the beautiful sun. Then we had a problem with the table. Every time you put your arm on the table it rocked slopping the drinks. When the bar steward or waiter came over to enquire if everything was OK I mentioned again very politely the problem with the table his comment was oh and he went off. If this had happened in other places they would have said either I am sorry but it is being looked at or I will get something to put under the table to stabilise it.

Our conversation on the drive home was that on balance we would not visit them again but go to our usual restaurants (Redcoats in Hitchin and the Paris House in Woburn)

Having read your review of Novelli's I had to write and tell you of our experience.

We booked a table for 9 persons and all agreed the food was good, our waitors and waitresses were very polite and helpful, however. The flaw to Novelli's came in the form of Mr Frederic Sol the manager. We all retired to the lounge area downstairs to await our substantial bill and to have a last drink. The table was messy and wet from peoples glasses and I politely, very politely ask Mr Sol if the table could be wiped down, he exploded at me that he was I quote" fed up of people telling him what to do", as you can imagine we were somewhat gob smacked. I replied " I guess that is what customers are here for" and he whisked his cloth and himself away.

I did send a letter of complaint but the response was one of we have enough bookings for average food from wealthy local people who like to be seen at Mr Novelli's restaurant to care about your comments.

We did go back to try again but had a very mediocre meal. We do go for a drink there in the summer and we sit outside because it is convenient, but there are far better restaurants in Harpenden and the surrounding are for us to rush back to ' A Touch of Novelli's'.

I think Mr Sol should prefix his name with the initials Ar, much more appropriate. SD