Red Lion, Chalton

Avoid this place. This pub is seriously over selling itself - on the food front. Fullers beer was OK but well, why on earth the restaurant (now most of the pub) was fully booked this Saturday evening I cannot tell. Such a shame, oh such a shame, that this delightfully pretty country pub is churning out "chain" pub meals - but badly. Such an ordinary menu at "average" prices (whatever that is for pub food these days) . Anyway certainly poor food.
Shared a reasonable plate of sticky ribs (working out at about �1 per rib), no bread, nothing to acompany it, no spoon to serve it with.. Wife had crafyish tail salad - which they did seem to be. But what it really amounted to was a big plate of "prawn" cocktail. No bread. I had home made "pork" cassoulet which beggared the question as to where the chef got his recipe and/or what the hell he understood a cassoulet to be. It bore about a 5% resemblance to a cassoulet. No chicken/duck, literally about a dozen beans (including some red kidney beans!!), some chorizo, some dry, overcooked fat free (!) pork meat, all washing around in some WATERY tomato flavored substance. Served with standard english veg! Oh for some simple chunks of bread. Disaster. Frankly disgusting and should be on the table of the local trades descriptions officer. Waitress said she told the chef of my comments but still managed to charge me full whack. Avoid this place.
This was a dreadful eating experience, give the place a wide berth.

15 May 2010 23:05