Toby Carvery Exeter — Restaurant in Exeter

We were staying locally and the restaurant was one of the suggested local restaurants at the hotel We booked via the website approximately 1 hr before our dining time On arrival we waited at the entrance for a few minutes but there was no apparent greeter so went to the bar and asked the bar staff The person had poor customer service skills he simple pointed back in the direction of the door that we had come from. We then asked a female server who told us only her manager could seat us so we presumed she was going to tell them. Another person appeared who was very apologetic especially when we told her about the bar servers poor customer service skills showed us to a table and asked if we would like to order a drink. We told her we’d like a few minutes to look at the menu and she disappeared Some 15 minutes later no return of the person who seated us and other servers in the vicinity not looking like they were going to serve us so I went over to a server who was cleaning tables and asked how we go about ordering. She said she would come over but then another 5 mins past and still no sign of her or anyone else! I then went to the bar and spoke to the same bar server who gave previous poor service and asked to speak to a manager. One wasn’t available ( on the phone) so the bar server asked where I was sitting and they would tell them I didn’t know my table number so the bar server followed me to our table to find out the number ( good customer service ) on route we passed the other servers I had spoken with and I commented that we were still waiting for a drink some 20minutes since we had arrived. When the manager arrived and I relayed our experience thus far she was very apologetic, explained how things work at Toby Carvery and offered us complimentary drinks and said she would speak to the staff. We then went to the carvery which had a good selection of meats and vegetables We did have a check back by a staff member and followed our carvery with a dessert. The meal was ok and reasonably priced. For the level of customers to the staff on duty if the staff had sufficient training and zones none of our issues should have occurred in my opinion. But the issues all started from a lack of a host at the entrance who seats, takes drinks orders and explains the process. Without that key role the whole process broke down, so l can’t really blame the staff of their poor customer service skills as it is not their job to...

Before I start: The service, the waitresses the chef on pass cutting the meat. They was all great you can’t fault them. I had a new waitress it was her first couple days. We had asked to split the bill. Did it perfectly some confusion but that was on my half which she handled greatly and professionally. The host today greeted us as we walked in. Showed us our table. Table was clean all set up nicely. We had been asked about drinks. A second waitress double checked which was lovely to see showing care for costumers from staff. They was all smiling when chatting with Esch other which is brillant. Brings the atmosphere to a great level happy staff. Additonally some kids spilt some macaroni cheese on the heated pass. Which was cleaned up quickly. Great attention to detail of cleanliness Digby Toby carvery has great atmosphere and staff you can’t say anything bad at them.

There’s one main issue. It’s the food quality. The meat is perfect cooked lovely turkey is tender which a lot of carvery’s struggle with. I had beef, turkey and gammon all cooked perfectly.

The sides and options. If you have a king size you get chipolatas. These were over cooked to the point where the inside you couldn’t tell if it was a sausage or play dough. It was tough and the outside was burnt. And the knife and forks your provided with was a struggle to get through them.

Potatoes had the same issue. They was over cooked and burnt ruining the flavour of the rest of the meal. Which only was avoided with the unlimited refills. The carrots over cooked not a lot of flavour and flimsy.

The stuffing which was like play dough which felt like you was watching a dog attack a chew toy between each bite

The macaroni cheese some of it was dry pasta and some of it was cooked. Having to spit some of the uncooked pasta into a napkin.

The Yorkshire pudding. It may have been just a bad day for prep. However the Yorkshires were crispy but very dense like they was very chewy and in gravy they were made more chewy. They were a very bad texture. Toby carvery’s are known for their great Yorkshire puddings. But these were a challenge to eat. Which me and my table had agreed on. It felt like biting into plastic texture.

These were the things that had given the food a 3 star. And the overall rating a 3. But the staff were lovely and did an amazing job. It’s not their fault it’s just the quality of food that ruined the final result of the...

My visit started off well — I’d made a reservation and was seated promptly in the restaurant. All good so far. Then things took a bit of an odd turn.

After initially declining a drink from the host (a woman wearing what can only be described as a futuristic set of personal fans around her neck — think portable wind turbines), I went up to the bar to pay for my carvery in advance. I also asked for a glass of tap water while I was there, thinking I was just being efficient and saving time at the end of the meal.

On my way back to my table, I was called — rather formally — by my surname (again, slightly felt like I was being summoned to the headteacher’s office). The fan-sporting host informed me I’d need to sit in the bar area instead, as the restaurant is for table service only. I said I didn’t really see what difference it made, given I’d already been seated with a reservation, and had simply paid and grabbed some water. But she insisted, firmly, that “the restaurant is table service only.” So I found a table in the bar area that she told me I was allowed to sit in — feeling slightly like I was being punished for being too organised.

Then, just a few minutes later, as I returned with my carvery plate in hand, I was called again — once more by surname — and informed that I had now been moved yet again, this time to a new table right in the centre of the restaurant. Still no explanation. I half-expected a spotlight to shine down and applause to start. It was confusing, unnecessary, and honestly a bit comical.

I understand that policies are in place, but the whole interaction felt overly rigid and oddly intense for a carvery. A quiet word and a bit of flexibility would’ve solved everything. The host could’ve simply explained things more gently — or even just let me return to my original table, which would’ve caused a lot less fuss and friction.

I didn’t realise visiting Toby Carvery required such strict protocol — next time I’ll bring a flowchart… and maybe a neck...