Patrick’s Restaurant & Bar In Parkstone Review

I left it a little late this Sunday to try and find somewhere for my beloved Sunday roast dinner however Patrick’s in Parkstone saved the day with just 15 minutes before the kitchen closed I managed to grab one.

This used to be my local HSBC bank and whenever I come here and reminded of that cheeky Natwest advert that ran a few years ago – ” My local banks been turned into a trendy wine bar”. However because of this the building has some character, with high ceilings and original features in tact.

I was with my wife and daughter on this visit, my wife and I both had chicken roast dinners and my daughter had a good old jacket potato with cheese and beans.

As you can see from the photo, the food was well laid out, with three different kinds of vegetables and a Yorkshire pudding.

Everything was piping hot which is always good however I did feel that there wasn’t much flavour in the food which was a shame. I think it would have helped if the gravy was a little thicker and tastier too, although I understand that is a personal preference.

I also thought the portion size was a little small really for £9.95 in comparison to other roast dinners I have had.

On the plus side, the service was fine, the atmosphere relaxed and they did fit us in at the last minute which saved us from running around trying to find somewhere else.

My daughter also enjoyed her Jacket potato that came with a generous salad and coleslaw.

If you fancy a drink in Lower Parkstone they also have some nice lagers on draft and a relaxing bar area with sofas, papers and Plasma TVs with the latest news and sport.

To find out more about Patricks you can visit there Website at www.patricksrestaurants.co.uk and you eat there why not share your thoughts below.

The Holes Bay Top Table Pub Review

Oh dear, it’s a nightmare visit to The Holes Bay I’m afraid. I went there for a Sunday Roast but didn’t take one bite, why? Because my partner had some kind of beetle/cockroach sat sideways on top of her lettuce, our sons organic pasta with meatballs was like rubber, and my roast dinner looked dried up.

When we arrived we were upbeat, we had been here in the days of Brewers Fayre and although it wasn’t fantastic, it wasn’t bad for what it was.

We were asked for our drinks and food ordered fairly quickly and everything seemed promising. Unfortunately I ended up having to go and ask at the bar for my drinks as 15 minutes had gone by without a hint of our drinks arriving.

What’s worse is the place was not busy at all in fact for a Sunday I was surprised how quiet it was – now I know why!

When I finally got my drinks they were delivered by a different waitress who didn’t even know if we had placed our order or not! We explained we had already ordered and awaited our meals.

After they arrived it wasn’t long before my partner noticed the bug on the top of her salad – thank god  she didn’t eat anything. Our son though had began tucking in to his pasta and when we tried a meatball enough was enough.

Also my roast turkey was all curled up at the edges where it was dry and the roast potatoes were small and solid.

The manager was informed and he politely apologised, informed us that they do not have a pest problem and we promptly left after being thoroughly put off by the unexpected ‘I’m a celebrity get me out of here challenge’!

So for these reasons I can’t possibly recommend the place and in fact until they get a decent chef who cares about the quality of the food leaving the kitchen forget it.

If you have been there let us know how you found it below!

Bakers Arms Lytchett Minster Review

We went to the Bakers Arms in Lytchett Minster, Poole on Sunday for a spur of the moment roast dinner around 6pm. It’s quite a busy place on the weekends and the car park was more packed than normal but despite that we had no trouble finding a table for 5.

This is one of those pubs where you go up and order your food, give them your table number (written on a wooden spoon here!) and pay. You also get your drinks at the bar and there is a nice selection of wines and beers with the usual britvic bottle collection.

As it was a Sunday you could choose from Roast Beef or Chicken and I had the chicken. Food arrived within 20 minutes or so which was fine as it allowed our youngest the chance to have a run around in the fenced garden area out the back. There is no Children’s play equipment but they will enjoy running around anyway.

The roast came with a separate vegetable dish and sauces were offered by the waitress. The roast was pretty average but quite tasty all the same and the portion size was ok.

I like the menu here as it’s one of those menus that you struggle to pick a meal from as there is so many nice choices which is always nice if you regularly go to a place.

The Bakers Arms dates back as far as 1851 and is currently owned by a group called the Vintage Inns who own over 100 pubs throughout the country and I think it is fair to say they do try a little harder to please than some chains.

If you have visited the Bakers Arms in Lytchett Minster then why not share your thoughts below and if you want to see whats on their menu right now go to: http://www.vintageinn.co.uk/thebakersarmspoole/

Toby Carvery Fleetsbridge Poole Review

I have to admit we visit the Toby Carvery fairly often and generally it is fairly good. The Toby Carvery brand seems to have done quite well and over the last few years they have opened up more restaurants in the area.

The great British roast is very popular and sometimes we find ourselves unable to wait until Sunday so this is where the Toby chain steps in to provide a roast dinner 7 days a week! However, ironically the day I would highly recommend avoiding like the plague to go to one is a Sunday – it becomes so busy you’ll find yourself waiting around 30 minutes or more for a table if you go more or less any time.

Because of the sheer volume of people going though on a Sunday and they way everyone helps themselves to the food you often find vegetables etc. all over the floor when you collect your food and it has a bit of a school dinners feel about it!

As for the actual food I usually find them quite good. They always serve a nice variety of Vegetables (7 types) so there is sure to be something the kids will like. The roast potatoes are always done nicely and the Yorkshire Puddings are large – so large in fact that you will find yourself just filling them with vegetables in order to fit everything on your plate!

Actually what makes me laugh is the way people shamelessly pile their plates sky high to the point they can barely walk back to their table without spilling some of the food off the plate!

You can break all the traditions at the Toby Carvery’s too – and beleive me people do. Cranberry sauce with your beef, apple sauce with your turkey and yorkshire puddings with everything here! Actually most people go for more than one meat too and get to choose from pork, beef or good old turkey.

One of the other big attractions I think is the value for money at just £7 at the time of writing for an adult carvery Mon- Fri it’s not bad at all.

I am sure the Toby chain will continue to grow and the Fleetsbridge Toby Carvery will be around for a long time.

If you go to the Toby Carvery in Poole, let us know what you think below and for more information on the Toby Chain go to: http://www.toby-carvery.co.uk/

A Fantastic Roast Dinner At The Cow

As the Cow pub is only a mile or so away from my house and luckily they dish up one of the very best Sunday Roast dinners I’ve ever come across below £10. You’ll find the Cow welcoming and comfy with large sofas either side of the door and a nice open fire on in the winter months.

You can eat in the pub section as they have a few tables or alternatively sit in their bistro restaurant at the back. If you like Rugby and or fine Wines then this Pub is for you. The Cow was crowned National Freehouse & Pub of the Year 2007, polled from over 31,000 pubs nationally so that gives you an idea of how it is run by the manager Dave.

Back to the food though and that roast dinner. Usually there is 2 choices of meat available and that consists of Chicken, Pork or Beef depending on the day. I usually go for chicken but I’ve tried all three and their lovely. The beef tends to be a little undercooked for my personal liking but then I like it pretty well cooked.

On the one occasion I mentioned this to them they did take away my plate and bring me back a more well done selection of meat though with no fuss.

You can expect a decent helping of meat and a separate selection of vegetables delicately cooked to preserve the flavour nicely, often mange tout , cauliflower cheese & carrot; gorgeous! The roast potato’s are perfect along with one generous sized Yorkshire pudding. I’m not sure what they do to the gravy but it has a lovely flavour and complements the roast perfectly.

If you go to the Cow in Parkstone (right next to the railway station), Poole let me know by leaving a comment below it would be great to hear what you think. For more information about the cow, go to: www.thecowpub.co.uk