New pub opening - Hungry Horse in Stafford

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
I just got another free voucher from their referral scheme, £5 off £15. Not been in for a bit though, want it to calm down a little.
 

gon2seed

(and me! - Ed)
Oops! first visit. 4 of us, my wife, myself, and two sons! The 18 year old ordered Vegetable Curry. When it arrived The Venerable Mrs Seed TVMS, thought it looked a bit suspicious. She sampled some, so did I. "Does that feel/taste to you like Quorn?" (even though there was not listed on the menu.) "No you can definitely feel the muscle sinews, and it tastes like chicken to me." TVMS raised it with a waitress. "Is this chicken or Quorn?". "I will just check with the Chef" and off she shot. She shuffled about a bit, and came back looking embarrassed and shifty. "Yes it is definitely Quorn", she said and shot off again. She was obviously expecting it to be eaten by my VEGAN son! He left it, and TVMS accosted another waitress. She explained the dilemma, how both of us were convinced it was chicken, and how we had been lied to! Without question the second waitress removed the curry, and brought back a Veggie one. My son was now satisfied, and we were all happy with our meals, though the Burritos, TVMS & I had, didn't come with anything, and were a bit overpriced at just shy of £6.

When it came to settle the manager didn't charge us for my sons meal, and gave us a couple of free puds! He also apologised profusely for the mistake.

NOT GOOD! & we will not be going for No' 3's sons 13th!
 

United57

Well-Known Forumite
Getting the wrong meal can lead not only to upset but in some cases dire consequences. To receive a meat meal instead of a vegetarian one shows there is a lack of awareness. Hopefully it was a one off and they have got a process to ensure that it does not happen again. I also hope they have a procesess to ensure their is no cross contamination with dishes, serving spoons and work services!

The labelling of allergens in food is to come in force this year. The dire consequences are as follows

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-caused-takeaway-meal-containing-peanuts.html
 

daz100

Well-Known Forumite
Went Thursday and was not impressed. Burrito overpriced, under sized. Burger seen better at McDonald's it looked like it was thrown together. Drinks arrived after the food and were the wrong size.
 

Tants

Well-Known Forumite
Been a few times now and always made to feel welcome and looked after. Ordered food from the menu a couple of times and had a carvery once. Eyes bigger than belly on the large carvery plate and it almost saw the end of me. Medium plate will be more than enough and although more expensive than Radford Bank it's still good value and tastes great.

Works great if you have kids and the cakes for dessert were pretty good too. Agree with above that Pastiche style places offer better food but likewise, not somewhere I'd take kids. HH ticks all the boxes for family meals with little 'uns.
 

Parksider

A few posts under my belt
Trying it out for the first time tomorrow night :) I've had good reports from people that have gone there.
 

peggy

Well-Known Forumite
First meal tonight. Arrived and told there would be a 20 minute wait. We were given a nifty little gadget that would vibrate when a table became available. No sooner had we ordered drinks my husband informed me his vibrater had gone off....we were given a table number but by the time we had made it across the pub our table had been occupied by another eager visitor, staff sorted the confusion quickly.
The little people were very content to play before ordering their meals. Pretty reasonable kids menu with the opportunity to choose a healthy option if they wanted to, they didn't of course! Food arrived swiftly and was hot and functional. Chicken skewers weren't that great, the texture was verging on unpleasant, husbands fish and chips went down very well. A sneaky peak at next doors food when it arrived showed a plentiful and attractive mixed grill which husband plans for his next visit. Carvery looked well.presented with a good choice. Cakes in the cooler were huge! Really huge, the children shared a mars chocolate cake which they struggled to finish. All in all a child friendly place to go for something to fill you up. Staff were friendly and efficient and everywhere, considering the volume of people, was reasonably clean and tidy.
 

Parksider

A few posts under my belt
Yes we went last night - really good meals. (Carvery was excellent)

We went early doors 6pm so got a table straight away - but we noticed by 6.30 people had to wait for tables.
 

peggy

Well-Known Forumite
Yes we went last night - really good meals. (Carvery was excellent)

We went early doors 6pm so got a table straight away - but we noticed by 6.30 people had to wait for tables.
we must have been in around the same time. My favourite part of the night was watching the young dad and his mate sat with their pints happily colouring in their children's activity sheets. The children had gone off to play. When they realised we were watching, they casually put down their crayons and took a swig of beer.
 

wmrcomputers

Stafford PC & laptop repair specialist
The children had gone off to play. When they realised we were watching, they casually put down their crayons and took a swig of beer.

Haha! The amount of times the kids have been at school for well over an hour and the wife and myself have suddenly realised we're still watching kids TV is unbelieveable!! :)
 

Toble

Well-Known Forumite
Why is it that every one I've spoken to in the place has been absolutely shitfaced, many before 8pm?
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Why is it that every one I've spoken to in the place has been absolutely shitfaced, many before 8pm?

They get so bored waiting for a table they drain the bar? Not noticed it myself, but I rarely talk to anyone other than the staff or the people I'm with.
 

Toble

Well-Known Forumite
Bit the bullet and went there tonight... Ok, so it isn't as bad as I expected.

The food is ok, but pricier than we thought it would be compared to competitors, and quite frankly, from what we had, not as nice.
She had the Chicken Tikka Masala, which tasted like chicken soup, and I had a Beef Madras, which had all the bite of a Home Pride beef stew. The naan bread are possibly the smallest known to man, and the mint yoghurt tasted more like vinegar.

The staff are really nice and friendly. Can't fault them on that, even if one of the barmen looks like Gaius Baltar in his shadiest phase.

The cider is expensive, but the bitter is cheaper than normal, so that balanced us out nicely.

For a while I thought that their music system was broken, until I realised that some idiot was listening to their iPhone without headphones. The staff didn't do anything about it.

The only drunken git I saw was one of the pramfaced Cannock Facelift types who frequent the beer garden that faces Newport Road. She was screaming down the phone about having to get her kid home, whilst said kid was bawling and running awok. I think I've been on the other end of that conversation.

The car park was remarkably git-free, considering. I only counted three hatchback-tossposts making arses of themselves.

So, all in all, we might try the place again in the future (as I really want to have a go at the 20oz steak), but I'm afraid we'll probably be going back to The Vine for our regular meal night.
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
I never eat a curry in a pub, because I like curry and pub curry is usually pretty rank. The chicken skewers also look crap for the money, most other things seem OK though.
 
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