The Woodman — Restaurant in Great Britain

Amended review Unsatisfactory now. Warm welcome, excellent food on a busy Sunday lunchtime. Quality ingredients, home cooked and generous portions. Will return soon

Did return a few weeks later & I've had to amend my five star review to a two star one. Very disappointing. Firstly we were rushed, the ordering process felt a bit pressured. My starter plate was taken away & the mains immediately arrived, no time at all in between courses allowed. Then the food, I'll only comment on mine as I could go on and on, but it was totally unsatisfactory and overpriced. I had corned beef hash with poached egg for a starter at £5.95. The hash bit, and it was a bit, small portion was very very salty and mushy. The egg rubbery and overcooked. For main I had Tandoori Chicken Coconut curry with chilli rice, corriander & cumin relish, or so it says on the menu. I have to say that what I was presented with was an absolute disaster on a plate, bizarre. On the plate was a chicken breast that had been coloured with turmeric powder and garnished with fresh chilli sitting on a river of soy sauce accompanied by a soggy mush of rice mixed with dessicated coconut, or paste, not sure about that. Also on the plate was a poppadum, with about a teaspoon of grease in its folds, two mini onion bhajis, two mini naan breads & little pots of raitha and mango chutney. This delightful combination was £13.95. I'm not sure how this could be described as a curry, a curry it certainly was not. There was no sauce, which should be made clear on the menu, it wasn't even an anglicised tandoori dish as the slab of chicken breast hadn't been marinaded in any way - and to serve it on soy sauce? Speechless! This is my third time eating here recently, the first experience was just ok, rushed though, the second very good, but this time it was an eat it and beat it affair and the food was awful. The third time will be the last. I would without a shadow of a doubt have complained & walked out had it not been Mothers Day and the fact that my mother...

12/9/25. 2nd visit in as many days. Returned for Fish Friday. Table booked in advance as recommended by the land lady during our 1st visit.

On arrival, very, very busy. Carpark was full, always a good sign. On entering, shown to our table by a young waiter who was very polite and courteous. After a short while our drinks and food order was taken.

No point going on Fish Friday if your not going to have it.

Our drinks and food arrived timely. Food was piping hot, all freshly cooked. Being from over the border, I'm not a lover of mushy peas so opted for garden instead. We also cheekily had a pot of curry sauce to share.

Lovely food, great service, very reasonable price.

Definitely returning. Maybe our next visit will be for a Sunday lunch.

Thanks to all at The Woodman. Whatever you're doing, you're doing it right. 5 stars once sgain.

1st visit to The Woodman after reading York Press article.

Popped in for a spot of lunch. Lovely village, lovely setting, proper Yorkshire welcome.

Lots of tables to choose from on arriving but it soon filled up with customers.

Nice warm welcome, good choice of beers on offer and wines a plenty.

Decided on Prawn Marie rose sandwich, a fish goujon butty with a portion of chips to share.

The food arrived in due course. As the table mats state, " we don't do fast food, we only do good food, as fast as we can".

Nicely presented sandwiches along with a bowl of golden crispy chips.

We both cleared out plates. Very nice indeed.

Can't fault anything , as we both had a lovely time.

So good, we've booked for Fish Friday.

Highly recommend, just book it if in the area. You won't be disappointed.

Thanks to all the team at "The Woodman". See...

I never post negative reviews as find not all good experiences are reviewed, but bad ones can be sometimes damaging to business. (Not my intentions). We didn't experience a very warm welcoming, if anything was abrupt. We found the woman who greeted us very condescending, to the extent of it leaving us feel uncomfortable, it put our mood off entirely so we left (Party of 6 adults). We arrived an hour before our reservation time as wanted to settle with a few drinks, wasn't allowed to order nibbles as was told "bigger orders will take priority in the kitchen and only serving the Sunday menu". I understand you may have been busy at the time, but all could have been communicated in a much nicer way & tone - we would have been happy to stay to enjoy our drinks in the beer garden. Such a shame as we had guests with us from London and their food came highly recommended from friends in the area.

EDIT: Sadly, the response from the 'owner' says it all, defensive and full of negative attitude. What happened to constructive feedback being valued?

There is no need to post lies in response to a genuine review.

As paying customers we can take as long as we need to review the menu and order food, I wasn't aware you had us on a time limit. You also did not agree to make the batter without beer (for someone who is completely tee total and will not tolerate alcohol in food) You said the kitchen couldn't do anything as was already mixed. Clearly you don't accommodate certain dietary restrictions. Simply speaking nicely to people goes a long way these days. Completely disappointing and unsettling. Customer service is literally...