Cecchini's Ardrossan - North Ayrshire

Alarm bells tend to ring in your head when you arrive at an all but empty restaurant. Maybe it was quiet because it was mid-Jan, maybe it was the sub-zero weather. After being looked at sideways by a couple of staff we were offered a table (obviously the professional welcome was being saved for weekend diners, kept back as it was a Thursday) Orders placed and food arrived. My wife chose the mushroom starter and I had the soup (lentil, wouldn’t really expect to be able to order minestrone, it’s only an Italian after all). Other couple had chicken tempura which they said was okay. Unfortunately, both our starters were cold/look warm at best. Returned both to the kitchen and eventually came back hot. By which time the others had finished their starters. The waitress kindly removed the cost from our bill. But sadly, that is not the point. Serving hot food in a restaurant is not difficult. Serving not hot food is unacceptable. Maybe I could now understand why the place was empty. Although the staff were ok (my wife was still eating her starter as they cleared the plates) the mains helped highlight why it was like the Marie Celeste. Lasagne: hole tube of tomato purée Macaroni: nice if you like the taste of flour Burger: appeared to be out a packet. Suffice to say we all dodged the coffee and suite. Won’t be back

You are missing a trick, cechinnis. I had planned visiting on Sun 31st July for breakfast. I checked your website, which states open 09.30 7 days a week. And your outside sign also states same opening time. But we tried to gain entry several time between 09.30 and 10 am, but you were closed, despite someone clearly visible in the building. Therefore, no breakfast for us, but no business for you. Surely, you have a great potential to capture ongoing ferry passengers thinking the same as me?

Was looking forward to a Christmas dinner with friends and hadn’t visited this place for a few years so was hoping it would be good. The place was very empty the Wednesday before Christmas which was a surprise. Service was great but food was very poor I had beef and my friend’s chicken and pizza. I would recommend sticking the pizza if you go there as there is less to go wrong.

I was totally disappointed and let down by the service on what was supposed to be a memorable occasion. My family had booked a meal for myself and my family and closest friends for my 60 th birthday. It began with an apology from the waitress that there were items not available on the menu as it had been busy the previous night and they had ran out. There were no steaks, no mashed potatoes, no prawns and only four available Christmas dinners from the festive menu. We were also informed that we couldn’t have childrens portions for the three children under 8 in the party. Knowing that there were many items unavailable from the menu I feel they should have contacted us prior to our booking. Having got off to a less than great start, service was appalling. The waitress missed taking some of the orders, the starters came at different times, some of which had to be chased down. This was after waiting nearly 40 mins for any of it to arrive. One of the children was upset and crying because she was so hungry. Some items of the main course also had to be chased down as were forgotten. No desert menu was offered and the only people who were served desert were the four who had ordered from the festive inclusive menu. One of the guests was told she was a fussy customer for asking for a specific drink. As we were the only customers in the building for most of the meal, there was absolutely no excuse for this level of poor service. The whole experience left a bad taste and ruined what was meant to be a lovely memorable night. We could easily have booked elsewhere but believe in supporting local business but if this is what’s on offer we will be looking elsewhere in future.

Takeaway food was revolting . A pizza that was solid and unsliced, could have been used as a frisbee and if misdirected would have took a window out . cold pasta and inedible haggis fritters !