Megan's by the Castle - Guildford

We visited this place for the first time on Saturday following the Google reviews. The place itself is clean and well-decorated. We were expecting to spend some nice time there. Little did we realise that it was one of the overpriced and over-hyped places. The food itself is so basic and you can definitely find it cheaper elsewhere. The service is where we got stunned. The staff members kept petting a customer's dog (who did not seem to appreciate that), did not wash their hands after touching the dog and kept on serving customers. This should not happen as per food and hygiene guidance. Finally, my husband after paying tried to share that with the staff members and they at first ignored him. After the third attempt, the lady that billed him admitted not having washed her hands and explained the service had not started. But we had been served. We left and the lady and her colleague laughed upon our exit. We were not planning to visit this place again but we would also not recommend it to any other new customers.

I came here with my girlfriend and the experience was brilliant. The atmosphere was perfect for a date night and the decor of the restaurant was amazing. Both the host and our waitress, Julia, gave brilliant service to us and everyone else dining. Attentive, engaging, fun and truly above what you would expect at any restaurant. Julia gave genuinely the best service I have ever experienced in a restaurant, it made the meal, evening and date even better. We tried the frozen cocktails and they were brilliant, I also had the calamari, chilli chicken shakshuka and Za'atar potatoes. Julia, our waitress, noticed we were on a celebratory date and offered for us to share a cookie dough on the house. All the food tasted incredible, portions were good sizes and the time between courses was perfect. The chilli chicken shakshuka was especially delicious, very well cooked and deep with flavour as well as having incredibly tender meat. The flatbread was soft, warm and tasty. Overall, the atmosphere was brilliant, service incredible and the food was well worth the price as it was incredibly delicious. 10/10 experience and especially perfect for a romantic meal! Again, one last mention of Julia as I left the restaurant genuinely shocked by how good she was. Unforgettable service without a doubt.

When I waked into Megan's by the Castle in Guildford yesterday, I was immediately struck by the vibrant atmosphere that beautifully blends Middle Eastern and Turkish influences. The decor was inviting, creating a warm and lively setting that promised a delightful dining experience. However, what followed was a bit of an identity glitch for this restaurant, as the food didn’t quite match the ambiance. Unfortunately, the dishes I tried fell flat. The flavours were underwhelming, the bread looked very dry, and the avocado on my plate was black—definitely not what you want to see! To make matters worse, the portion sizes were shockingly small, resembling more of a child’s meal than a satisfying adult brunch. For the prices charged, I expected much more. Just when I thought my experience was a total letdown, as I was walking towards the door, and was about to leave, the bartender surprised me with a piece of cake 🍰, completely unaware of my earlier disappointment. When I shared my thoughts about the meal, he genuinely apologized and explained that the small portions were standard. His kindness turned my frown upside down and added a sweet ending to my visit. So, yes, the atmosphere and some of the staff were lovely, however the food didn’t live up to the expectations set by the restaurant's charming identity. I wish I could recommend Megan's by the Castle wholeheartedly, but the culinary experience left much to be desired.