John Marwood
I ♥ cryptic crosswords
Queuing is for others
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New pub opening - Hungry Horse in Stafford
- Thread starter darts22
- Start date
wmrcomputers
Stafford PC & laptop repair specialist
Just got back from there.
A little dissapointed as we had accepted the 40 min (approx) wait for a table, but weren't informed that ordering from the menu would then give an additional 1 hour 20 minutes wait. Had we been informed that on arrival we'd have not waited the first 40 minutes and just gone elsewhere to eat. However, I suppose we have to have a little patience while the initial craze dies down.
Having just waited 40 minutes for a table, we were told that it would take in excess of an hour for the main menu meals unless we had a carvery in which case we could be sitting to eat straight away. Opting for the carvery we then realised that the "small" at £4.39 was a plate literally the size of a sandwich plate at home. The "Classic" regular sized plate was about £6.99 and a supersized one at £9.99. Whilst the food was EXTREMELY ENJOYABLE I can't help but think that (carvery-wise) the Radford Bank Inn is much better value.
Before setting off we were rather looking forward to a mixed grill, but around 2 hours was far to long for my stomach to bear waiting to be fed. The other meals floating around the place looked fab, but for me I'll wait a while till the rush has died down a bit before going next time.
If Hungry Horse read this...
NEGATIVES - Carvery plate sizes not very fair for the price being charged compared to the competition. Would be better if pre-warned of menu waiting times as well as table waiting times.
POSITIVES - Lovely carvery food. Plenty for the kids to do.
A little dissapointed as we had accepted the 40 min (approx) wait for a table, but weren't informed that ordering from the menu would then give an additional 1 hour 20 minutes wait. Had we been informed that on arrival we'd have not waited the first 40 minutes and just gone elsewhere to eat. However, I suppose we have to have a little patience while the initial craze dies down.
Having just waited 40 minutes for a table, we were told that it would take in excess of an hour for the main menu meals unless we had a carvery in which case we could be sitting to eat straight away. Opting for the carvery we then realised that the "small" at £4.39 was a plate literally the size of a sandwich plate at home. The "Classic" regular sized plate was about £6.99 and a supersized one at £9.99. Whilst the food was EXTREMELY ENJOYABLE I can't help but think that (carvery-wise) the Radford Bank Inn is much better value.
Before setting off we were rather looking forward to a mixed grill, but around 2 hours was far to long for my stomach to bear waiting to be fed. The other meals floating around the place looked fab, but for me I'll wait a while till the rush has died down a bit before going next time.
If Hungry Horse read this...
NEGATIVES - Carvery plate sizes not very fair for the price being charged compared to the competition. Would be better if pre-warned of menu waiting times as well as table waiting times.
POSITIVES - Lovely carvery food. Plenty for the kids to do.
John Marwood
I ♥ cryptic crosswords
Had they not flushed mid poo? Hope you didn't wallop em too hard
db
#chaplife
just to add an alternative opinion to this..
some friends of ours have been to the hungry hungry hippo about 6 times since it opened - they can't get enough of the place - and went for a carvery the other week.. they were really chuffed with what they got, and couldn't believe the portion size.. one of them went for the large plate, and couldn't finish what he had - and this is a chap who is over 6' 6" and just ran the london marathon, so he's got a fair old appetite!
i've yet to try the carvery, and hearing such conflicting opinions my interest is piqued even more now.. i'll have to remember to bring one of these:
My Name is URL
Well-Known Forumite
We went to the Hungry Horse on Saturday night, 6 adults, 2 kiddiwinks - seated as soon as we arrived and looked like a fair few tables available too, we purposefully headed over about 6pm to get in before the rush and it seemed to work.
We got a table with the little TV so the kids could watch CBBC or whatever but a little pointless without any sound whatsoever I thought.
The menu is huge so that is a plus point for the place although there didn't appear to be too much vegetarian stuff on there which was a shame for 'er indoors. I personally don't think this place is as good as the Fayre and Square pubs which are a favourite of mine. My issue is that the offers section is a bit..... not confusing..... maybe complex is the word... some nights you get a free drink, some nights you get a free dessert, some nights you get 2 for £8, some nights desserts are 2 for £6..... what I like about Fayre and Square is its either "2 meals for £x" or "buy this with another meal for £x" nice and simple and very good value... anyway....
The food that came wasn't amazing but then wasn't terrible, it was just standard, reasonable quality fodder. I had the mini mixed grill which was good value at £6.50 ish, others had fish and chips, chicken sizzler skewers, 1/2 chicken and rib, a curry and a carvery... we all then had desserts, the toffee apple waffle for me was ok although they forgot the ice cream, the chocolate sponge / brownie went down well and was sickly (as expected).
The young staff there were all friendly and helpful despite being very busy at times so no complaints on that front. As someone mentioned earlier they have really done well trying to entertain kids although the play grounds could be bigger, but the indoor bit with playstations and x-box and other bits was popular.
Overall I definitely think i'll be back, especially in the week when the better offers are on - still want to try a "(wo)man versus burrito" and the 2 for £8 is good value too when its on.
We got a table with the little TV so the kids could watch CBBC or whatever but a little pointless without any sound whatsoever I thought.
The menu is huge so that is a plus point for the place although there didn't appear to be too much vegetarian stuff on there which was a shame for 'er indoors. I personally don't think this place is as good as the Fayre and Square pubs which are a favourite of mine. My issue is that the offers section is a bit..... not confusing..... maybe complex is the word... some nights you get a free drink, some nights you get a free dessert, some nights you get 2 for £8, some nights desserts are 2 for £6..... what I like about Fayre and Square is its either "2 meals for £x" or "buy this with another meal for £x" nice and simple and very good value... anyway....
The food that came wasn't amazing but then wasn't terrible, it was just standard, reasonable quality fodder. I had the mini mixed grill which was good value at £6.50 ish, others had fish and chips, chicken sizzler skewers, 1/2 chicken and rib, a curry and a carvery... we all then had desserts, the toffee apple waffle for me was ok although they forgot the ice cream, the chocolate sponge / brownie went down well and was sickly (as expected).
The young staff there were all friendly and helpful despite being very busy at times so no complaints on that front. As someone mentioned earlier they have really done well trying to entertain kids although the play grounds could be bigger, but the indoor bit with playstations and x-box and other bits was popular.
Overall I definitely think i'll be back, especially in the week when the better offers are on - still want to try a "(wo)man versus burrito" and the 2 for £8 is good value too when its on.
db
#chaplife
your point being?
no-one has passed comment on where the food is from or how it is cooked.. all i know is that i have been a few times now, had a variety of food (burrito, curry, burger) and have friends who have tried even more, and so far not a single complaint! a good friend of mine had steak in there not too long ago, and he said it was the best steak he's had outside of a proper restaurant..
i don't care if it's made from human flesh and done in a microwave - it tastes great, is excellent value, and served in a nice environment.. more power to 'em!
tek-monkey
wanna see my snake?
Carole
Well-Known Forumite
your point being?
no-one has passed comment on where the food is from or how it is cooked..
i don't care if it's made from human flesh and done in a microwave - it tastes great, is excellent value, and served in a nice environment.. more power to 'em!
The thing is though that I can see Uniteds point.
Everyone likes different things when eating out so as this is a discussion forum (isn't it?) then it's worth looking at it from other peoples point of view .
Up to now I have been watching this thread with interest but I felt that until I tried it I couldn't comment.
But even though everyone has mainly commented positively, there has been nothing that has made me want to go.....from the pictures of the meals, to the queues etc, from the televisions ....
So if the majority love it, but some people prefer a smaller venue with food not mass produced ......well they should be allowed their opinion.
Vive la difference and all that.
I shall still go though to see for myself.
proactive
Enjoying a drop of red.
That may or may not be so. However, the food I ate did not taste like the usual pop it in the microwave shite.
That's not to say it's cordon bleu by any stretch of the imagination but it is reasonably priced, tasty food a notch higher than the usual Wacky Warehouse type offerings.
As a venue where you can go with adults and have the kids entertained as well I can't think of anywhere in Stafford at the moment that can beat it. However, if you know of a place then please do tell
My Name is URL
Well-Known Forumite
Ok, i'll bite.... (pun intended)...... so my mini mixed grill - "Pork chop, lamb chop, pork sausage and tender lamb’s liver. Served with chips, peas, grilled tomato and a free-range fried egg" which part of that meal are you saying is prepared offsite?
tek-monkey
wanna see my snake?
Don't get me wrong, I am sure a lot of things like curries, sauces and burrito fillings are prepared offsite as it is the only way to keep consistency between establishments (which they will want). Just think of it like spoons with a play area, or the red hill with edible food.
If you want cooked from scratch I wouldn't go near a chain pub!
If you want cooked from scratch I wouldn't go near a chain pub!
tek-monkey
wanna see my snake?
It isn't particularly low compared to other place like them - mass market chain pubs. To me there are 3 main types of food outlet:
1) Fast food outlets
2) Chain outlets
3) Restaurants
The HH falls firmly into category 2, and is comparable to most others around in all aspects. I can easily make the food they sell at less than 50% of what they sell it at and I'm sure they can buy in much cheaper than I can. Of course the chicken will be battery stuff and the beef wont be steak but you aren't paying for it. For food I'd rather pay a few quid more and go to Pastiche (like I did on Tuesday) but when out with the kids somewhere like this is fine. A play area, a drink and some cheap grub when they get hungry.
1) Fast food outlets
2) Chain outlets
3) Restaurants
The HH falls firmly into category 2, and is comparable to most others around in all aspects. I can easily make the food they sell at less than 50% of what they sell it at and I'm sure they can buy in much cheaper than I can. Of course the chicken will be battery stuff and the beef wont be steak but you aren't paying for it. For food I'd rather pay a few quid more and go to Pastiche (like I did on Tuesday) but when out with the kids somewhere like this is fine. A play area, a drink and some cheap grub when they get hungry.
My Name is URL
Well-Known Forumite
Must admit I thought that about the burger pictured on the previous page, it looked tasty but not particularly well presented.
wildwood
Well-Known Forumite
Hope this isn't a growing trend... saw an Ambulance attend there today - blue lights, approx 2.30.
Maybe I'll give it a few more weeks
tek-monkey
wanna see my snake?
That'll be someone losing the man vs burrito then.