Old House At Home — Restaurant in Birmingham

THREE STRIKES ....YOURE OUT!!!!!!!!!!!

Bear in mind i have already posted bad reviews on here about this place TWICE!!!!

UPDATE 29/06/25 SWERVE!!! SWERVE!!! SWERVE!!! My friend from out of town wanted a carvery meal. At around 2.15pm For expediencies sake we went to this establishment as it was the most local and I know the food is OK. When i was at the counter the black guy with spectacles barked at me because I accidentally used the wrong tongs when picking up food. (Just for the record I'm a black guy too, so race isn't a motivator here!) So I addressed this. He was told to adjust his tone and manner and to speak to me respectfully as I would him. What's worse he looked at me bewildered as if i was speaking Japanese. His colleague piped up trying to defend his behavior which really wasn't necessary and a flaring of tempers ensued. Now this is where it gets interesting. Enter Donna who is supposed to pass as the "branch manager". Asking what the issue was, upon my explanation she was hostile and combative exacerbating the matter, I was TOLD to pipe down and just to continue with getting my meal. Which i thought was rude, patronizing and condescending. She also said that I had complained twice before (which i will refer to later,) and that I was previously banned which is a total and patent lie. That has NEVER HAPPENED so I'm still at a loss as to where she got THAT from. Behavior not befitting of anyone in management at all. Evidently the fish rots from the head down at The Old House At Home and believe me, its stinks to high heaven. After all this I asked to get a refund as I had no interest in staying in a Greene King pub with little regard for customer respect and satisfaction. The sad thing is, I have had issues with this Pub and its rude staff twice previously so it would seem now that three times is the curse and not the charm.

In total contrast the day was saved by a visit to the Holly Bush Toby Carvery in Quinton where the service was warm, friendly and professional. The difference in atmosphere could be felt as soon as we walked in. If you're going to have a carvery experience in the Quinton/Harborne area you'd do well to swerve the rudeness and abuse in abundant production at the Old House At Home and find your way to the Holly Bush in Quinton instead, as their carvery is fresher, more satisfying and generally a cleaner eating experience. Staff are friendly and helpful leaving you with a desire to return unlike the lamentable rancid aftertaste at The Greene King pub above. The Old House At Home AVOID,...

(Fyi I have emailed a number of times and recieved no response to date, not surprised given the brilliant customer service recieved already)

Unhygienic standards as confirmed by management. Reported to Environmental Health!

I have visited this place so many times over the last 20 years however after yesterday I will never return.

I am disgusted to say the least at manager Jamie's attitude and the restaurants hygiene policies.

Three of our meals ordered contained salad, specifically lettuce. One was a halloumi salad and two burgers. We noticed the lettuce in the salad was full of soil so we returned it. We understand this happens and assumed it was a one off. The salad returned with the same everything and the same lettuce washed. Which was a bit disgusting as the rest of the stuff was previously placed on the dirty lettuce....

We went to put extra sauce on the burgers and noticed the lettuce in the burgers were also full of soil. So we told the waiter we would like new burgers. Jamie the manager returned asked "what's is your problem" we explained, he told us they can't just hand out free meals as it's taking up their stock and inventory as though we were there for free food, we'd spent over £150 already (rude right? gets worse).

When I asked if he would eat the lettuce and we showed him the soil on it he said "well personally I don't eat lettuce so I wouldn't eat it anyway" how patronising and arrogant, unsure how he is a manager with those dense skills.

He advised he'd checked the kitchen and nothing was wrong and that the issue was a lettuce issue so a product issue and not the restaurant's food issue (so now apparently lettuce, a natural product, grown in soil is at fault for having soil on its leaves...how dare the lettuce not clean itself!!) Anyway, I said no, you do know lettuce needs to be washed and the epic response I got was:

" actually commercially we are not required to wash salad"

Oh wow. I was speechless. Accepted defeat, got a refund and left, after all you can never win an argument with a stupid person...

Nonethless I have reported this to environmental health, as an individual whose family owns commercial restaurants I know that is inherently incorrect. I was baffled and very concerned as to their hygiene policies.

Very disappointed as I loved coming here but with the rudeness experienced and those hygiene standards, over a sad piece of lettuce, no thanks.

Unsure how else they are cutting corners, are we even...

I have not been to the Old House at Home before, but my visit this afternoon around 2pm was perfect in every way.

The lady who served me at the bar was very welcoming, genuinely friendly and quick to get through everyone waiting to be served. No complaints at all - top service!

Outside, there is lots of seating, with some under cover areas too. I notice a decent selection of condiments inside to allow to go and eat and drink outside.

I really do rate highly the dog water and snacks point out the front, it makes the difference between somewhere that just tolerates dogs and those who love the furry friends to come along!

Inside, the tables are all clean and cleared quickly. I then sat in the bar area, which because of the time of the day is quite quiet and peaceful. Perfect for catching up with some work!

Notable point, is the WiFi. It is very good! Quick check on Speedtest show 50.3Mbps download / 79.5 Mbps upload. Amazing when consider other pubs slow speeds. Makes for using laptop a breeze! Plug sockets dotted around the place too.

Visited the toilets during my visit, the gents were a little tricky to find - possibly a sign on the wall to point to them by the bar could be useful. They were clean, fresh and everything expect to be.

I didn't eat here during my visit, just drinks - but the food looked good. It's quite a chilled place - and found it to not be like a zoo crossed with the wild west that some family friendly places are.

Conclusion: I will certainly return, and will try the food for myself on an evening. Thank you for the perfect visit - keep it up :)

Update.... since the review.... I did stay and eat. The carvery and service was fantastic.... really is highly...