The Malt Shovel — Restaurant in Lichfield

25 minutes to order a first drink, 50 minutes to order food. Had to ask for the table to be cleaned as we were sticking to it. Mushroom soup was so peppery, it was inedible. The halloumi fries were burnt and greasy.

Then came the mains – My burger was burnt, but the fries were under cooked. The risotto was hard and the sauce was like it was out of a packet. The prawn linguine had prawns which had not been cleaned and still had their digestive tract. The gammon was so salty, and was also undercooked.

The manager was crying because she had had a busy day and was pregnant. We were told that her mother had left before Christmas and she was finding it too much now she was in charge. We had been before when her mother was the manager and it was excellent, but no more. She admitted that the food was awful as they were a chef down and her partner had stepped in to cook – so why did she allow it to leave the kitchen? She said that there would be no charge for the food.

When it comes down to it, we go to a restaurant to have a wonderful meal and experience. We could have been telephoned to advise that the chef had not turned up. This would have been better than having to go through an awful evening. It was like a scene out of a drama, with crying, smashing of glasses, horrible food – just a nightmare of an evening and terribly managed.

We will not be returning, even with the 20% discount offered. It was probably the worst meal I have ever had. Such a shame for a pub which was...

An unforgettable experience.

We went to The Malt Shovel last night for a meal and, honestly, it was absolutely unbelievable. The service was fantastic – friendly, attentive, and welcoming – and the food was nothing short of spectacular. Every dish tasted incredible, was beautifully presented, and was amazing value for money.

What really blew me away was the personal touch. I asked if they could make garlic mushrooms, which wasn’t on the menu. Instead of just saying no, they spoke to the chef, who created a wild mushroom, cream-based dish that wouldn’t have been out of place in a high-end restaurant. It left me completely speechless – and trust me, I don’t say that lightly.

This is, without a doubt, one of the nicest places I’ve eaten in a long time. If you want home-cooked food taken to the next level, a great atmosphere, and amazing staff, then look no further. Take my word for it – you will not be...

Have eaten here on multiple occasions, most recently with friends that were visiting from London and they do not disappoint. Friends had steaks; ribeye and a fillet (recommended by one of the staff members), I had the fish and chips. Portion sizes were great (definitely didn’t leave hungry) my friends said the steaks were cooked to perfection and my fish was fantastic. They were happy to substitute some of the sides for other options on the menu and the waiting staff were really friendly. Pub was warm and cosy with a really nice chilled atmosphere for a Saturday afternoon. Will definitely be visiting again. Really hard to find pubs like this that offer great food, drinks, decor and staff. Also noticed some children friendly events they are advertising for half term week. Would highly recommend this place. There really aren’t many...