The Oak Inn, Lyndhurst — Restaurant in New Forest

I recently had the displeasure of experiencing what can only be described as the most shocking roast dinner of my life. Despite assurances that this place was known for its decent roast, my taste buds were left in a state of utter dismay.

Let's start with the potatoes – bland, lifeless, and utterly tasteless. It's as if they were boiled in water devoid of any seasoning or salt. A roast dinner's success often hinges on the quality of its potatoes, and this one, unfortunately, failed miserably in that department.

Now, let's talk about the beef. Oh, the horror! The supposedly succulent centrepiece of the meal turned out to be a disappointing display of excess fat. It was as if I had ordered a plate of fat with a side of beef rather than the other way around. The chef's apparent disregard for trimming the excess fat resulted in a chewy and unappetising ordeal that left me questioning the integrity of their kitchen.

The accompanying vegetables did little to salvage the situation. Overcooked and lacking any semblance of freshness, they seemed to have been prepared long before they graced my plate. The once vibrant colours had faded, leaving behind a sad medley of vegetables that failed to contribute any redeeming qualities to the overall dining experience.

To add insult to injury, the gravy, a potential saviour, was nothing short of a salty, thickened mess. It clung desperately to the lifeless components of the dish, attempting to salvage something salvageable, but alas, it was too little too late.

In conclusion, my visit to this establishment for a roast dinner was nothing short of a regrettable mistake. I left with a heavy heart and an even heavier stomach, pondering how a place that was rumoured to serve a decent roast could fall so spectacularly short. This culinary catastrophe will remain etched in my memory as a cautionary tale – a stark reminder to trust not in reputation alone, but in the palates of those who have braved the roast...

The team at the Oak Inn helped me organise a large buffet style meal for 16 people last weekend, with a variety of dishes from their mouth-watering menu. I spoke to the manager in advance, and he was very helpful, giving us everything I requested while also making helpful recommendations. Upon arrival, the staff were so friendly and helpful, that even before the food came I was thrilled to have chosen this place for our occasion. The food arrived right on time, and was absolutely delicious to the last bite. Sixteen hungry men sat round the table (after a day of shooting, archery and tomahawk throwing) and every 30 seconds or so, someone would take a breath to remark on how good the food was. I even ordered a few vegetarian dishes out of necessity, but they were amazing too (seriously, try the Gnocchi, you will not be disappointed). While we were eating, the manager made the effort to come out and introduce himself, and make sure we were all having a good time. From start to finish, the experience was perfect - great beer (as you'd expect from Fullers), GREAT food, great...

Cosy old pub with good beers and food. Unfortunately ruined by the service - when we arrived with 4 adults & a baby in a pram we were sat at a table that didn’t have the space (despite mentioning the pram at the point of booking). There was a big table in the window with the same number of seats + a highchair but we were told we couldn’t have this table because it was booked, even though we had booked (5 adults then sat there without any children). After spending 20 mins running the pram home I returned to find I was sitting on a broken chair and that only 1 lamb roast was available. This then changed to only nut roasts and then suddenly chicken became available (not sure how these chickens arrived so quickly). Drinks took about 20 minutes to arrive and we had to go to the bar to pay the bill because service was so slow. The GM (comments below) mentions that he had only heard positive feedback from our table. Very strange considering no one checked on us throughout the entire meal. I won’t be returning to the Oak and would recommend others try the New Forest Inn or the...