The Southfields — Restaurant in Bolton

So I went here today first of all I ordered a peroni which is on draft to say we have none others were a little shocked too then when we ordered our food for outside we was told we can't eat outside which is fine other places do have them rules but it's a big nice pub and outdoor space so would of been nice eating outdoors in the sun sp for our mains 2 woman ordered the fish and chips smaller platter and tbh they was fine with it and looked a good deal for the price I ordered the pepperoni pizza which was just shy of 9 pound anyway when it came out I realised it was the Chicago town frozen takeaway pizzas priced around 2.50 3 pound which I wasn't to happy with I've never ordered a pizza which I order regular and it be a frozen pizza even weatherspoons 2 week ago there pizza was home made I think and bang on and for a tenner I got a drink with that the pizzas are OK if your at home and ypu want stick a pizza in oven but nit when your out when the pizza came it wasn't cut so I asked for a pizza cutter which the waiter smiled to say we don't have one she didn't smile in a funny way and tbh I thought thw staff qas n8ce i thougnt the chef was a bit grumpy with 2 young lads about 14 they asked for the chalk fir the pool table to the waiter which he replied you have be 18 never known that for a pool table maybe I have my wired crossed there I'm not sure but I spoke to him later about desert and he seemed a nice enough fella we asked for banoffe cheesecake which we was told we have none so went for the apple crumble which tbh was probably the best apple crumble I've ever had it did take a good half hour come out like overall my first experience wasn't great it was a nice friendly pub which seemed to be badly managed maybe it was a 1 off day but for my experience it wasn't great I would go again to check if it was a bad experience but if it was the same as today I...

The bartender was very sweet, and the building is truly beautiful. Nice outdoor patio if it’s not raining, and the beer was cold which is great.

However, The fried chicken in the sandwich I ate was obviously frozen, mass-produced, and had that “fast food” kind of taste, where the breading is just on the chicken already and sitting in the freezer in plastic before going into the fryer. Proper fried chicken is marinated in buttermilk for 4 hours, then drip dried and rolled in flour with a tablespoon of marinade mixed in, and seasoned with garlic powder, salt, paprika and cayenne. Then throw it in the fryer and salt it when it comes out.

If I can do it a chef should be able to do it- chicken and buttermilk and flour are cheap as hell, and it’s not hard to roll some marinated chicken in flour before throwing it in the fryer, it might take an extra 15 seconds or so. It’s a shame because why would I spend 7 or 8 pounds for a frozen pre-made piece of chicken that costs 25 pence a pop? I could just go to Tesco express and get a frozen sandwich or pizza out of the freezer and eat at home over the sink like the animal I am.

Why have I spent so long writing this review about chicken? Well because proper southern-fried chicken is amazing and it’s so easy to make so just freaking do it.

The lettuce was fresh, however, and the tomatoes were freshly sliced, so that’s alright. And the buns...

Called in for a pint as it was a nice day sat outside after a drink my wife asked if I fancied something to eat, looked at menu, being honest it was all convenience food.. ie fried or microwaved.. but ok hey. Ordered cheesy garlic bread to share as starter,wife ordered 14oz gammon me, a burger. 25 minutes after ordering no starter... went in to ask what the delay was to be told oh, sorry it was put through as a side sat down within 2 minutes out comes the garlic bread... what a total joke... 3 small slices off a baguette with a dollop of cheese for £2.75!@! Seriously?? And it was nearly cold it wasn't even a child's portion as for mains, waited a further 15 minutes you could tell they had been stood chips on both meals just warm, fatty bacon on the burger and a little ramekin of sauce no salad garnish at all for over a tenner.... wifes gammon ok but overall poor service for meals the garlic bread a disgrace I know the hospitality trade has been hit hard in recent times but this was a poor show if that was the standard of a burger and chips I'm glad I didnt spend the best part of 20 quid on a steak and extras, waiting too long at the bar tables not cleared buck your ideas up...