The Round Oak Stonehouse — Restaurant in Dudley

It was a friends birthday and he suggested we try here for lunch.

We arrived at just after midday on a Monday, and as expected it wasn't busy.

The first thing I noticed was we were expected to scan a QR code to order and presumably pay for food and drinks using a phone from our table. My friend doesn't have a mobile and I will not pay for anything via a phone for security reasons.

We ordered drinks at the bar and found a table. We decided what we would like to eat and I went to the bar to order and pay if that was an option. Luckily they will take orders this way, otherwise we would have left.

We both had a mushroom starter, I had gammon, egg and chips and my friend wanted bangers and mash. After paying, a scrap of paper was handed to me that simply said "sausages". For some reason didn't question it and no explanation for it was offered and the staff member vanished before I could have asked anyway. I assumed it was some form of receipt, but I didn't know.

The starters arrived quickly and they were nice but nothing special.

I was halfway through my starter when my main meal was delivered to the table. Cutlery and condiments were already on the table but there wasn't any vinegar for the chips anywhere.

My food was served on top of a square of paper which was on the plate. The gammon wasn't what I expected, it was more like a couple of slices of boiled ham. The paper started to tear as I cut my food with a knife and before long the moisture in the food caused the paper to fall apart. I spent most of the time picking bits of paper out of the food before I could eat it!

There was no sign of my friends main course. Eventually I managed to get the attention of a waitress and asked about his food. She asked what he had ordered and only then were we told that he had to take the scrap of paper with sausages written on it to the carvery area to collect the food himself. I wasn't told this at the bar when I ordered.

The quality of the food was average for this type of establishment.

There was "background" music playing throughout our time there which was so loud we couldn't hold a conversation. We eventually gave up trying as we were having to talk loudly and couldn't really hear what we were saying to each other.

So based on the whole experience, we won't be going back.

Just an update to this review.

Someone at the round oak replied to my feedback.

Apparently the gammon is hand carved from a joint. This doesn't alter the fact that it was spit thin and there wasn't much of it.

They said vinegar is not put on the tables because they are mainly a carvery, but it is available at some type of "station" somewhere within the pub. We were not aware of this "station" or where it may be located or what we might be looking for. As we are only talking about a small bottle presumably, wouldn't it be a good idea to put it out on the tables rather than expecting us to go on walkabout on the hunt for something we are not even sure they have?

They claim not to sell bangers and mash. Well somehow my friend who I was dining with managed to have this on his plate, eventually. I don't recall him leaving the premises to collect it from another establishment or bringing it with him from home, so I think it's a fair bet he did get it from here.

I made a comment about the "background music" being so loud that we gave up trying to have a conversation. They said if we had asked, we would have been guided to a less noisy area. As the staff were as abundant as the crew of the Mary Celeste this...

Very busy place. So if you're going as a family or as a couple. Phone and book first, or phone before you go so you know the situation before you get there. But I think this depends on the time of the day, me and my friend approach the establishment at about four o'clock or five in the evening, it might be better in the afternoon or after six o'clock pm. There's Ample parking and good access for a wheelchair and good access for wheelchair users to get to a table. First it's a traditional looking pub mock Tudor exterior with the traditional style pub decor, heavy wood . With a bar as you come through the main entrance. If you have come for a meal you have to wait at the entrance at the attendees point and then tell Her/Him if you have booked, she/he will then look at the booking list and if you're on the list she/he will show you too your table if not booked then you have to wait until a table is free. The atmosphere was a family friendly oriented place with people chatting and children being brought in by their parents and playing. The food was good " I had a large " my friend said I should have had extra large. Anyway got to the restaurant section got inline "didn't have to wait too long " got to the chef who was serving he asked me "what do you want " in reply I said "load it up ", I had everything but the mashed potatoes due to me having roasted instead "that's a conflict point for me " . Put on my gravy too finish. Returned to my table and promptly eat my meal lovely. Meat was succulent, vegetables cooked but still with bight, roasted potatoes nice and crispy outside but nice and fluffy inside with Yorkshire pudding and cauliflower cheese . All in half an hour "hungry did save myself for the meal" appreciated it a lot. My verdict very nice place to go for a meal, just make sure what the situation is first before...

Never had an issue before always a pleasant atmosphere, pleasant staff and good food. The carvey only had two selections of veg, green been and carrots which was disappointing! I was waiting my turn and the chefs cutting the meat was more interested in cutting up their own meat before serving me with a que waiting. I wasn't impressed when I saw the girl cutting the beef, there was blood and fat splattering everywhere and it nearly landed on my top! The beef was so undercooked it was unreal. I said to my partner don't have the beef it's far too undercooked! You don't want blood running on your plate with a carvery! The gravy was very watery. The stuffing was undercooked was very sloppy. The lady that served me at the bar was banging the till screen like she really didn't want to be there and was aggressively throwing the ice into the glasses. Just was so off putting and rude to be honest. I ordered a pudding and waited a good 20 minutes for it. I took one bite and it was stone cold. I sent it back and waited another 15 minutes and I just gave up in the end. I was refunded with no questions asked. The waitress with the blonde hair she is so hard working she was rushed off her feet. She is polite and pleasant and deserves a medal for what she doe's. She is a true asset to this place. The other waitress you hardly seen her. She was stood around talking when I was waiting for my pudding to come back. (Served me at the bar) I know Saturday's can be busy but you need more staff on so they won't feel overwhelmed...