RE: The 66 - new restaurant in Sandgate
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Been through Sandgate today and I see there's a new restaurant opening up The 66 Steakhouse, where Escondido originally was (and what was La Bougie before that). No idea what it will be like, except I guess it sounds meaty. Don't think it is open yet.
2012 :: Comment / reply
I read some of these reviews yesterday and was slightly worried as my partner had booked a table for us last night.
I needn't of worried - it was FAB!
Most businesses have teething problems and this place has only been open a couple of months. I understand it is expensive and in an ideal world it would be perfect from the start however, is that very realistic? Maybe it is because I run my own business and so I am more tolerant to how things can go wrong in the beginning.
The young lady serving us was polite,friendly and more than efficient.
I had the scallop starter and they were cooked to perfection. They literally melted in my mouth - divine!
My partner and I both had the fillet steak (medium) and it was cooked to perfection. I often despair at how frequently I have been served over-cooked steak (in other places) but last night's lump of cow was PERFECT!
I had the sweet potato wedges and my partner had the thrice cooked chips.
We have been to Heston's restaurant in London and my other half preferred the chips at The Sixty Six! Not at ALL soggy, very nice indeed! If I had to nit-pick I would say that the sweet potatoes didn't need salt but then that is because I like the sweetness of them as they come - this is just my own personal taste!
We shared a chocolate/ginger pudding with custard and OMG it was HEAVENLY!! The balance of ginger was perfect (I was worried it might be overwhelming) and I ate it until I felt stuffed.
Was it cheap? No, it wasn't BUT I am a firm believer in you get what you pay for and we were delighted.
We will be back!
Karen from Sandgate :: 14 Sep :: 2012 :: Comment / reply
I took a party of six to the newly opened 66 recently on Sandgate high Street and we all enjoyed ourselves hugely. Parking was no problem as there is a Shepway park within easy walking distance.The premises has been completely refurbished from top to bottom and it shows.I was surprised by the inventiveness of the menu.and the effort that must have gone in to it. The steak had been imported from Argentina and was the best that I had ever tasted. The wine list was choice. There is a new brick,wood fired pizza oven which will be nice on cold winter days. I understand that Jo, the proprietor attended a catering college at Canterbury on leaving school and has worked in several top eateries in the UK and abroad, including the Cafe Royal in London and locally the Five B ells in Brabourne, a noted eating house on the Pilgrims Way.If there were any teething troubles on opening they appeared to have been sorted as I found the staff to be helpful and polite.Shepway council staff made a 2 hour inspection recently and awarded 5 stars which is top rating.Good luck to Jo. Why not try it for yourselves
William Hillis :: 12 Sep :: 2012 :: Comment / reply
I took a party of six to the newly opened 66 recently on Sandgate high Street and we all enjoyed ourselves hugely. Parking was no problem as there is a Shepway park within easy walking distance.The premises has been completely refurbished from top to bottom and it shows.I was surprised by the inventiveness of the menu.and the effort that must have gone in to it. The steak had been imported from Argentina and was the best that I had ever tasted. The wine list was choice. There is a new brick,wood fired pizza oven which will be nice on cold winter days. I understand that Jo, the proprietor attended a catering college at Canterbury on leaving school and has worked in several top eateries in the UK and abroad, including the Cafe Royal in London and locally the Five B ells in Brabourne, a noted eating house on the Pilgrims Way.If there were any teething troubles on opening they appeared to have been sorted as I found the staff to be helpful and polite.Shepway council staff made a 2 hour inspection recently and awarded 5 stars which is top rating.Good luck to Jo. Why not try it for yourselves
William Hillis :: 12 Sep :: 2012 :: Comment / reply
They've all been a bit negative so far, sounds like the site has a vendetta against it but these are all independent reviews, not an editorial policy! I've not even been there.
26 Aug :: 2012 :: Comment / reply
5 of us when to The new 66 Steakhouse on Saturday 18th, firstly we were a little late, but we were put on a semi circle that is only comfortable for 4 people, so we had to get a chair on the end,The light above us was very hot and was on very bright we asked to turn it down after a fair amount of fuss the light was turned down, we ordered drinks that took an age to come,the young girl who served us was not very confident and was a bit clumsy she said Shit when she nearly spilt my drink, the staff were not as friendly as we would hope,
The 5 steaks we ordered (simple order in a steakhouse you would think) took an hour and a half???? The side salad was very plain and the chips cooked 3 times? disappointing, could be lovely as location is.
Donna :: 24 Aug :: 2012 :: Comment / reply
yes the new sixty six steak house grand opening on the 24th July 2012. looks like it will be a great success! ive seen it, if anyone is interested the number is 01303 488867
Molly1666 :: 21 Jul :: 2012 :: Comment / reply
My wife took me out for a quiet birthday celebration at the newly opened Sixty Six last night; sadly the experience was deeply disappointing.
The menu offers fairly straight forward, hearty cuisine. Scallops and Black Pudding, Chorizo Sausage with Rustic Mash, and Devilled Kidneys are three of the five starters (I can't remember the rest). The main feature of the menu (along with Burgers, Ribs and Pizza) is of course the steaks; Ribeye, Sirloin, Rump and Fillet available in weights from 8oz to 24oz depending on cut.
This is where the problems start. A product needs to offer good value if it is going to appeal to customers including food. By this I don't mean that it has to be cheap, but if you are going to attach a high price tag to something then the quality had better be fantastic.
The pricing of the menu at the Sixty Six puts it on a par with the Rocksalt Restaurant in Folkestone, the Marquis at Alkham and the Michael Caines fine dining restaurant at the Abode Hotel in Canterbury.
After a good deal of faffing with our drinks order (the waitress didn't know what beer they had, or which wines were available by the glass)
We ordered:
Starter
Scallops and Black Pudding £9-10
Chorizo Sausage with Rustic Mash £6-7
Main
Burger £12
"Thrice cooked" Chips £3.20
8oz Fillet Steak £18-19
"Thrice cooked" Chips £3.20
Sauce £2
Cheap this place isn't!
Ok so lets get down to it. The Chorizo and "Rustic Mash" was well prepared and tasty. The sausage was lightly charred with a rich spicy flavour and the mash was smooth, light and buttery (although I fail to see what was "rustic" about it), very pleased. My wife however, was not so fortunate. The scallops had been destroyed and were so rubbery and chewy that she actually left half of them uneaten.
I must come clean and say that as soon as I picked up the menu my hopes weren't high. Why? Spelling mistakes! If you're advertising "Argentina Beef" as opposed to "Argentinian Beef" and "Sprial" cut rather than "Spiral" cut then something's wrong. You obviously don't have an eye for detail and if you can't check your menu before you send it to the printers then how can I trust you to check that my food is cooked properly.
Anyway, I digress. The burger was very good (although for £12 it should be) and cooked as requested, medium rare. The steak was cooked rare as asked and was fine, not great, but satisfactory. The supposedly "thrice cooked" chips were awful, truly the worst I have ever had. A greasy, glistening pile of flaccid, barely cooked potato. These were certainly not the "thrice cooked" fluffy, crunchy, golden chips of dreams. I complained, they were replaced; the replacements were only a fraction less awful.
We declined dessert and ordered coffee. Behind us a couple was complaining that they were still waiting for their drinks.
Service is not quick here and our two-course meal was spread over 2 ½ hours.
After asking for the bill three times it eventually arrived and I was pleased to see that the chips and a round of drinks had been knocked off the bill reducing the total to £59, a fairer price but still too high for the quality of food and the slow, disorganised service (forgot to mention – no steak knife, the waitress didn't clear the starter plates away before arriving with the main and a nearby couple had no cutlery to eat their dessert with).
As we were leaving the party of four next to us were just about to pay their bill and were complaining to the waitress about the quality of the food / price. "£24 for a steak and most of it's fat" were the last words I overheard as I left the restaurant.
Bottom line. Fix the chips, organise the front of house staff properly and reduce the prices by 15-20%.
Kerby :: 2 Aug :: 2012 :: Comment / reply
Hello There,
I am the general manager of the Sixty Six , My name is Charlotte.
I was very disappointed to see this review of The Sixty Six.
As most people are aware, the restaurant is fairly new, I would like to point out that the majority of new restaurants will have a few hiccups within the first couple of weeks of service. I personally believe all these are learning curves and the whole of our team of staff take every positive and negative comment on board. We greatly appreciate any constructive criticism from customers who have had a meal in the restaurant and strive to relinquish any issue that is brought to us.
We now have new methods of cooking our thrice cooked chips which has hopefully solved the complaints towards this particular part of the menu.
I would like to recommend that people reading this review experience The Sixty Six SteaK House themselves and in turn cast their own opinions.
We are a great restaurant with a lot of atmosphere and a lot to give. A family run business and always aiming to provide a homely and inviting reception.
So far, the majority of the feedback has been incredible and really pleasing to hear. If I am honest, Yes there have been negative comments towards certain aspects of the restaurant, however as soon as we have received these comments we are quick on our heels to overcome them.
Again I do apologise for your recent experience and appreciate you giving us a second chance to change your mind!
Thank you
Cdunroe :: 5 Aug :: 2012 :: Comment / reply
I was there last weekend and had the burger while my friend had the sirloin steak. The chips are still soggy I'm afraid. The burger was not bad enough to send back, but certainly not good enough to go back for. Questionable meat, cold bun, otherwise good.
The place is right next to Sandgate road, which is quite busy. As the front door is wide open, the atmosphere is a bit like eating outside, next to a motorway rest stop.
Downstairs is not really fit for purpose as a dining area of a place with such a high ambitions.
Service was excellent though. Just close the door and sort out the chips and I'll give you another chance. Can't recommend as is though.
Sami S :: 15 Aug :: 2012 :: Comment / reply
Myself and my partner ate at the sixty six a couple of weeks ago, and really enjoyed it! I had a roast dinner, and found the beef tender and lovely and pink, the service, as is the norm with new restaurants, could do with some polishing, but it was really tasting and good value for nice cuts of meat (and scrummy gravy!) It's a shane they don't appear to have flyered the area, as this would probably bring in more custom, but I noticed some poor reviews, which frankly I find rather unfair on such a new restaurant. Give it time and I'm sure service etc will improve greatly!
fayeb :: 2 Sep :: 2012 :: Comment / reply
Myself and my partner ate at the sixty six a couple of weeks ago, and really enjoyed it! I had a roast dinner, and found the beef tender and lovely and pink, the service, as is the norm with new restaurants, could do with some polishing, but it was really tasting and good value for nice cuts of meat (and scrummy gravy!) It's a shane they don't appear to have flyered the area, as this would probably bring in more custom, but I noticed some poor reviews, which frankly I find rather unfair on such a new restaurant. Give it time and I'm sure service etc will improve greatly!
fayeb :: 2 Sep :: 2012 :: Comment / reply
I would just like to say that I have just eaten @ 66 and found the food good, as I'm in the catering trade myself I find I am very picky where I eat.The food was cooked well and atmosphere was nice.Ive known Jo for years and have to say I take my hat off to you, and I'm sure your restaurant will get better and better as the months past by.
Regards Mark.
Mark :: 16 Sep :: 2012 :: Comment / reply
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