please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Having 'tested' the vegetarian option for Christmas 2014 at the Wooden Spoon in Downton, I would recommend it to all vegetarians as being a very special festive meal - leeks, Stilton and chestnuts wrapped in crispy pastry and served with a creamy sauce. Some pubs just have nut roast for vegetarians and we don't get a choice but this pub really caters for us, always having at least six options at any day in the year - not something I've seen anywhere else but then, the huge menu for non vegetarians too just shows the pub's commitment to choice, quality and value for money. Always friendly and lots of lovely food!
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Called in for a drink and meal one Friday evening while staying in town on holiday and found it to be first rate - a friendly welcome, with good service and food. Excellent!
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carlos23, another one off reviewer, I wonder which pub he owns that is not as good or as friendly as this one?
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I can only assume that the reviewer before me caught the Spoon on an off day, or possibly had exceptional expectations. I live up the road and have been popping in at every opportunity since the current family took over over a decade ago. It is probably the friendliest pub in a village with a lot of friendly pubs, and the food is rated highly by most people who eat there, including me - home-cooked food of the kind one would cook for oneself if one had more time, and inventive with it. I notice that all the other reviews are universally positive, and with good reason.
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Very disappointing. We picked this pub for a meal out in Downton based on other reviews here and I can only presume it has changed hands since these were written.
Service was virtually non-existant, waitress was silent/sullen and the gentleman who we presumed to be the manager not much more welcoming/friendly. The pub did not seem excessively busy so this did not explain the lack of service.
Portions were quite small and the sunday roast was meagre in its portions, probably the smallest roast dinner I have paid for. The lamb tangine was a more reasonable sized portion. Avoid the chocolate brownie surprise as the only surprise is that you're paying close on �5 for a small bowl of chocolate sponge with ice cream on top. Apple pie and custard was badly microwaved! (How can you get that wrong?)
Rather strangely there is no menu - the only menus are on two blackboards meaning that depending on where you are sat you have to leave your table to loiter around deciding what to have. The range of dishes it must be said seemed good in its variety.
Overall impression was that they weren't that interested in our custom - shame, as the pub itself is pleasant in its decor and we were lead to expect better. We won't be going back.
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A lovely family run pub serving honest homemade food. On the sunday we went in there was a choice of 3 roasts as well as the normal menu boards. Having been in there for a drink one sunday we knew it was popular so booking a table is a must.
They have a sign saying we do not serve fast food we serve good food.
Unfortunately many people want their food at their table within 10 minutes and hate waiting, what has happened to going out for a nice relaxed meal these days!
It was so good we are going again today for lunch!! My Mum has just moved to Downton and this is her nearest pub and we will be visiting regularly as a familly!!
Keep up the good work.
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We travel regularly from Salisbury (a city with over 60 pubs) to enjoy the delights of the Wooden Spoon. The greeting is always friendly, even at busy times, and the food is exceptional. The menu is vast with separate boards for various specialities as well as the normal pub fare. Jugged hare has been seen to sit comfortably alongside ham egg and chips!
An idea is to book at weekends as it can become very busy, but I must say we have never been disappointed and have managed to find a table with no problem. Highly recommended.
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Just moved to the area and was looking for a decent pub. Excellent food, good beer and a general all-round friendly atmosphere. Landlady and staff were chatty and welcoming... definitely what a pub should be. I know a few places that could send their staff here for some lessons!
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Called in for lunch yesterday and recommend others do this as this is a pub worth supporting. Excellent haddock and chips (freshly fried with home cut chips) and the fish pie and lamb tagine was also greatly enjoyed. Good traditional surroundings and friendly landlady but, more importantly, a top drawer pint of GBF from the Hopback brewery round the corner. We then walked it off with a stroll around the Moot just across the road. What a pub should be.
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Visited this pub recently.Very friendly Liverpudlian managers,and other staff just as friendly.Locals were alright too,had a good chat with a couple of them.Food good and no complaints about the beer.
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One can only assume that Anonymous back in Aug. 2003 was trying to keep something to him/herself. I live a couple of hundred yds up the road from the Spoon and can confirm that food most certainly is served at lunch-time. The beer, importance undeniable, is top rate at the moment (includes Old Hooky and Butcombe Gold) and comes at such a special price at the minute that I'm reluctant to tell anyone about it. I suggest you find out for youself!
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An excellent villiage pub offering excellent hearty meals well cooked - you definately wont be going home hungry! Very warm welcome from Do and Milo, our scouse hosts who look after the beer and the customers very well. Usually have Ringwood and London Pride, but there is also a guest beer on most times. Book ahead for meals on Fridays and Weekends
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extremely nice. great food and beer as well as the locals. only opens in late afternoon and if you're not going to the bar with the 28 days later prop, i advise you phone ahead for a table reservation. great fun!
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Yep! its only serves grub in the evenings! Don`t get me wrong beer is....... well......important!
anonymous - 5 Aug 2003 12:36 |
