The Bird in Hand — Restaurant in England

Sad to give a bad review during these times but today’s experience led to to this. My husband called bird in the hand last night to book a table for lunch. The girl he spoke to checked and confirmed that they were serving food today. We both saved our appetites and drove half an hour from ours to visit this pub especially. Today was a rather special occasion and we were really looking forward to it. We walked into an almost completely empty pub to be told by the man behind the bar to sit anywhere. We said we’d booked a table and he said that the chef wasn’t in today and wouldn’t be til Friday. There was a bit of a pause where we asked why we’d been told that there would be food today and he said he had been surprised when he saw the booking. At this point we asked why he hadn’t called us when he saw the booking to let us know as we had left our number. Like I said the pub was extremely quiet, he was just standing around when we walked in so it would have taken little effort. We were offered a very half hearted apology. It just felt like we didn’t matter at all and were inconveniencing him with all this talk. An hour later we finally were seated in the Clifton sausage which I can’t recommend enough. They truly save the day and the food...

In brief: Good, pleasant staff. Good gin selection. Typical, slightly old pub furnishings and decor. Good sounding food ruined by over-use of deep fat fryer.

Disappointing. Was really looking forward to trying this pub with a 'good food' reputation on many sites but it was the food that let the visit down.

In depth: The premises are fairly standard with a long bar and a mix of seating areas including one outside. No car park though but, space permitting, on street parking available.

Greeted by very pleasant, helpful member of staff. Choice of set or à la carte menu at lunch time. Both menus sounded very promising. Sadly, nearly all the starters and mains chosen by four of us had an element from the deep fat fryer or frying pan. For instance, lamb (a normally fatty meat) was covered in breadcrumbs and deep fried! Portion size was good. Presentation of food was an attempt to make poor food look better than it tasted.

It was summer and the flies were about as well and, whilst we were in start of a more rural area, I cannot understand why the issue is not addressed.

So, sadly, despite good reviews on other sites we will not be making any repeat visits. I said at the beginning,...

Another meal at this South African-themed pub and a fantastic experience. The Bobotie Croquettes starter were delicious, and the bunny chow main course was bursting with flavor. The tender meat and aromatic spices in the bunny chow were perfectly balanced, and the bread bowl was soft and fluffy. The sides of chakalaka and sambals added even more depth of flavor. The service was exceptional, with a knowledgeable and friendly server making excellent recommendations. The warm and inviting atmosphere was perfect for a casual dinner with friends and family. Overall, I highly recommend this pub for a top-notch South African-inspired...