please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
It seems people have widely varying experiences at this place. Mrs P and I called in after a Sunday morning walk. We hadn't booked but grabbed the last table and were made very welcome despite the bar staff clearly being under pressure. The drinks were brought to the table -- nice pint of TEA. The food was very good albeit not outstanding but despite the somewhat (to my eye) pretentious decor this is after all a pub and not a swanky restaurant. I thought it was good value for money and I'll be going again, but during the week when it's quieter. By the way it's dog-friendly (good) and child-friendly (bah!).
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Don't bother, that's my advice. Our experience completely contradicts the good reviews you'll read. Went there Saturday early afternoon for lunch. We were optimistic as it wasn't too busy in the car park and there were plenty of tables free in the garden. It's one of those stupid places you have to take a table number to the bar to order food. Just as well we someone we could leave at the table. Ordered 5 baguettes, told the wait was an hour and a half! An hour and a half for baguettes? Oh, and of course there were no baguettes, just ciabatta. Ordered drinks and said we'd take the menus to the table to consider other options and asked to open tab. When we gave our table number, they said there wasn't a little gizmo to hold our credit card for that number so they gave us a different table number altogether! When I asked how that would work if someone else came in and said that was the table they were sat at, the server just gave us a blank look! While we were considering whether to order food, they brought out the meals for a group of four next to us. They had waited the hour and a half for their 4 ciabattas and chips. When their food came two of them got the wrong order and the other two were burnt. We left. I have since asked around and been told not to believe the good reviews, as allegedly, they write those themselves to counteract the bad ones real people post. You have been warned.
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Saw an advert. for this Pub in an oldish Camra magazing which said it was a 'traditional' pub. Quite nice though it was when I made a recent visit I would hardly call it a traditional pub, more like a mid range restaurant which sells beer. Food quite expensive. Wife and I, and the dog, were made welcome so our 40 miles journey was not entirely wasted.
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I'm suprised by the other reviews. I've been a few times - for a beer in filthy mountain biking gear (very welcoming), with a couple of mates for a beer in the evening (very welcoming), to eat with the family (very welcoming) and in a big group with adults and kids (very welcoming)! Beer - I think the TEA is very good indeed - very well kept. Food - in general the food was good too, if a little on the expensive side. A minor gripe would be that the Sunday roast beef was too well-done for my taste. Service - Considering the place was packed on a couple of occasions (a good sign, surely?), I thought the service was excellent.
All in all, I think a very good choice and I would have given a 9 if they had an open fire!
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Sampled this for the first time Saturday, mid afternoon.
Very quiet and had to wait 5 minutes to be served as the bar man was watching the world cup on Tv
FFF Moondance was still on along with London Pride and TEA. Mondance was good and didnt try the other two.
A really nice setting but not the most welcoming of hosts.
We looked at the menu but they were not prepared to serve until 6pm and it was only 5.30 when we finished so can't comment on the food quality. Prices were very high for a pub so I would have expected something good if we had eaten
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Previous poster must have caught them on a bad day.. Just come back from there. Lovely setting, good beer (Moondance anyway.. didn't try the TEA or Landlord), nice food (on the more expensive side, granted), lovely garden, helpful staff and really family friendly. Lovely afternoon, and would certainly go back..
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This pub had been recommended us ,but unfortunately it didn�t deliver. Firstly, I�d question its status as a pub:more a winebar/bistro without the charm. We were welcomed with all the effusive enthusiasm of the salesman eager to close that deal, and shown to our rickety, sticky table. Sevice was quick, but they were hardly busy for a Saturday night-a few other parties and a braying horde of Surrey�s finest who were waiting to dine hugger mugger on burgers in a dining area the opposite side of the pub.
The food was not marvellous-gastro prices and gastro portions, but not fine dining quality. My pie was the safest and best option, the fish �n� chips were OK, but the burgers were over priced and unfinished by our teenagers, which says a lot. As soon as we had finished the previously welcoming staff gave us the evil eye, presumably to clear our table for the braying crowd. Naturally we sat and chatted to our friends as we had all travelled a fair distance that evening. Not a �good night� as we left.
On the other hand, the beer was good and well kept;Triple fff�s Moondance and Hogs Back TEA. I didn�t try the Timothy Taylor�s Landlord.Of course the beer should have been good as it calls itself a pub! Plenty of fizz for those of that persuasion. As it was dark and a foul night I can�t comment on the much vaunted gardens. We won�t be back. A grudging 5/10
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If you are a vegetarian stay away from this place you are not welcome. Booked a table for six. Stated that there were three vegetarians (booked 5 days ahead). Turned up on night to find only one serve of veg lasagne, and 1 serve of bean pie, thats it! Here is a booking stating three vegetearians and only two serves available!! Got the usual "we are happy to cook something you suggest" I say, the chef should suggest!! Ordinary food and way overpriced. Pity, it's such a nice location. But this is a restaurant selling beer and wine. It is not a pub selling food.
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Went here for a meal with the family and first impressions were very good, lovely location, great garden and decor and friendly service. Unfortunately they were let down badly with the food which was distinctly average or even below average at above average prices. Maybe a bad day but wasn't really dealt with by management either.
I know it's a beer website and not food but if you advertise yourself as a foodie pub expect to be judged by it.
If you live close by worth a look to see if just a bad day, if you don't, like me, then I'd look elsewhere.
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Used the "Eat Out at a Gastro Pub" voucher to get 2for1 on a main meal here.
Nice atmosphere and decoy etc plus i lived in South Farnham grwoing up so we used to come here all the time way back then so i have some good memories here.
Unfortunately though the food wasn't up to much. The scallops were undercooked (almost translucent) and came with very small salad with some bacon bits slopped on top. My veggies were just barely cooked -and i do like cruchy veg but not almost raw.And the bread and butter pud was way too sweet with -in my honest opinion- tinned custard. Nice memories though as when i was a kid custard always had a skin on it and so did this one!
Shame as i would have liked it to be top dog.
PS i heard they had a new chef but a)was it his/her day off? b) are they still looking for a replacement or are they happy with this one ?
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What a fab place to eat. We couldn't find fault with the service, the food was absolutely delicious, and the prices were very reasonable. This pub is set in beautiful surroundings, and is very family orientated.
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Nice pub outside of town. Newly renovated interior is nicely laid out and very smart, no spit and sawdust here! Beer and wine well kept and not unreasonably epensive. Food can be a bit hit and miss though. First couple of meals (lunchtime/early evening snacks) were well presented and very tasty. Last time was a little dissapointing with limp salad and burnt food. Maybe this was the time of the chef leaving. Will certainly go back but will probably be wary of the food until proved wrong.
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Went for dinner at The Spotted Cow on Thursday evening had an excellent meal with my family, the food was really well prepared and full of flavours. I had a Belly of Pork which was accompanied by mash with apple gravy. The belly was beautifully cooked and well presented. I had a Sticky toffee pudding which was delicious.
The atmosphere was relaxed and friendly, with polite and efficient staff. As said below the prices were acceptable for the dishes we received, the beers on offer was interesting with a Moondance from FFF which is based in Alton according to the bar staff.
I would recommend this pub to anyone who enjoys well prepared food, at good prices and friendly staff.
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Monday lunchtime. Relaxed, but kind and efficient service. Three excellent meals. Really good quantities of food, too. Happy to pay �15 for a main course: simply cooked fish dishes with well chosen and prepared vegetables. A tasty beer before, and a good bottle of something Chilean during, all went down well. Desserts were warm and satisfying: spotted dick at the Spotted Cow! Inspired.
Would recommend it to anyone who likes good food well prepared, and whose life revolves around more than the shape of his Yorkshire puddings!
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Just got back from Sunday Lunch at The Spotted Cow and won't be going there again.
Had a pitiful roast beef with "yorkshire pudding". It arrived with a very burnt pancake like crust on my plate. There were a few of us having a roast and everyone had this strange object on their plates.
We went to see the manager, who duly got the chef and then told him not to speak as he wanted to show him how he dealt with complaints. He said it was the last batch of yorkshires and that's the way it was. After saying we probably wouldn't be coming here again he stated "OK, then there is no point in talking to you anymore". No apology, no sorry would you like something else, nothing.
Well we WON'T be going again thanks.
When we were leaving there was a very large table of people next to us who had booked, but amazingly nearly all the options had run out - GREAT, how can that happen when they know people are coming. It wasn't even that busy either.
The waitress on leaving explained that the head chef had left a couple of weeks prior, the waitresses complain about the look of the food going out but are told to "shut up".
What a great management team. Well done!!!!!
DON'T GO THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Had a decent meal and enjoyed ourselves on a Sunday afternoon. Staff were accomodating and wanting to provide a decent service. Will be back again next summer.
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Went there the other night to find it closed for a "makeover". I had heard that it had changed hands, so it may open again soon.
anonymous - 29 Jun 2007 09:45 |
Lovely food, not sure how you would know its there unless you were told about it as its easy to drive past the sign.
Food was good and nice homely atmosphere.
Jo984 - 28 Sep 2006 15:25 |
Stumbled across by chance, hidden away loaction which adds to its charm
Nice place, not quite the gastro pub it makes out to be - food ok but could be much more.
Very quiet on the Sat night we visited, lacking in ambience and feels a bit amateurish - like someones plaything they've got a little bored with.
A new injection of energy / re-launch could do it a power of good ...
We'll be back put not quite on the 'regular list'
bunge - 17 Sep 2006 16:44 |
Went to their allday Jazz Festival yesterday.
Good entertainment, if a bit on the pricy side!
The best band, (Colin Kingwell's Jazz Bandits)played to an ever decreasing number of people towards the end! Experience counts, Colin has been leadind a jazz band for around 50 years, and it shows.
anonymous - 17 Jul 2006 15:06 |
Good food, Beer, and Jazz.
Jim - 26 Apr 2006 11:53 |
