Fox & Hounds Lower Harleston — Restaurant in England

Disappointing, over priced for what is on offer and the quality isn't that good either. We ordered the calamari, it was overcooked and rubbery, the "dipping sauce" that came with it hadn't been prepared properly as the bottom of the pot just had a layer of mayo. Ominous and sadly turned out to be a signpost of what to expect. I ordered the burger and my partner had the steak sandwich which was classed as mediocre at best. My burger was very much in the same category. The lettuce and tomato were drowned in the cheese sauce (more on this sauce later!) and we're soggy and wilted, the tomato was the heel of the tomato and about a quarter of the size of the burger. That aside, if you're going to make a burger with a cheese sauce, instead of a cheese slice then it isn't going to support the inclusion of soft veg, it needs punchier robust ingredients like onion and pickles. To be fair the onions were put on the side though why they weren't included with the burger from the start, I don't know. The "pickles" were cornichon, not the same as a proper dill pickle that can stand up to the strong encompassing cheese sauce. The cheese sauce... Too much of it. Not a great flavour to it and it's sole role seemed to be masking the texture of the burger itself which was dry and a bit crumbly. The fries were good, the beef dripping sauce was good, if they were offered as a side on their own if I went again, I'd happily order that. It's a nice space and they've put a lot of effort in with the decor and the furniture, but the service was slow, I had to get up and go and find someone to get the bill and considering it was a very quiet lunch service that is inexcusable. Small things like asking for salt and pepper that never arrive, slow and cold service and overpriced food are individually almost excusable but together they really pack a punch and I will be avoiding the Fox and Hounds...

I chose this venue as it had good reviews for its Sunday lunches, the pictures looked good, the menu sounded appealing which is what I wanted for my birthday lunch and my guests and it was halfway between us all. Upon arrival you’re met by this very impressive exterior. The interior is cosy, and screams up market chic. You have to see it to understand, but have never known a pub to have this look and feel before. The staff were super chilled and friendly and the manager was very helpful when making a particular request. They also promptly and without a fuss, corrected a mistake with our order too. Sadly, the food was a bit of an anticlimax. I ordered 2 specials (starter and main) which weren’t very special at all. The starter was very basic and didn’t meet the flavours expressed on the menu. In fact, it didn’t really taste much like those ingredients at all. The Yorkshire was dry, the onions tasted burnt, the veggies were charred, the gravy didn’t taste at all meaty and the greens weren’t soft or flavourful at all, so those got wasted. My friend had the pie and it was sad to see her push it around the plate and remark on how disappointing the pastry and filling was. It was small in size and lacking in flavour and filling. My brother had the pate which was delicious but again, the main was an anticlimax with the roast falling short of what we’d hoped for by experiencing the same as me with the dry Yorkshire, charred veggies and greens that weren’t nice. The desserts were good and the staff very kindly wrote happy birthday on my plate in coulis. This was a very awkward scenario and it ended up being nothing to write home or rave about after initially feeling excited. I can thoroughly recommend the venue and the vibe but not the Sunday roasts...

First visit and my goodness what a beautiful experience!

Booked in for the mother's day set menu - I noted on my reservation that my mum has limited mobility.

We were 5 minutes early and it was extremely busy at 6pm - my mum was immediately offered a seat which was greatly appreciated. We were then approached by a guy from behind the bar to take a drink order while we waited, again greatly appreciated. A little wait while being passed by lots of smiling, happy staff and good smelling food. We were then told a table was available in the back corner, but given the choice to have something closer to the door with a short wait which we opted for. My mum felt incredibly cared for as many other restaurants would have just stuck her in the first available space, but your staff really considered her comfort.

There were waits between having orders taken and things arriving etc but we completely understood because it was so busy and it didn't feel unreasonable. I even had an issue with my scallops not being seared nicely and it was replaced immediately with a perfect plate.

The food was absolutely gorgeous, perfectly portioned, and the cocktails were absolutely to die for (thank you Sam for those!)

We were even approached at the end of the night while we waited for our ride to ask if we'd had a nice night and to wish my mum a happy mother's day. Beautiful touch, and an absolutely perfect experience.

The decor is stunning and cozy, food amazing, but what made us so impressed was how lovely and genuinely thoughtful all of your staff were - you should be incredibly proud.

Thank you for an amazing night! I'll certainly be recommending...