Royal Oak Heckington — Restaurant in North Kesteven

Update Dec 2024 We had the XMAS meal in the restaurant, superb. Parsip soup a delight as was the Portobello Mushroom. Main Turkey dish was very well made, as was the Slow Cooked Blade of Beef.

Don't forget the wonderful Vanilla Panna Cotta desserts, probably one of the best desserts I've ever had.

Service was efficient and friendly. This was our second XMAS visit and based on these two won't be our last.

Update October 2023: their classic 6oz burger is truly great. The bun is a true, tasty brioche bun, the burger is a "real" one, it's super tasty and the (double, triple?) cooked chips that come with it are to die for. Service today was exemplary.

Update June 2023: first visit for a while, and it's just as good as it ever was. We discussed whether we should come here on Xmas day, if they are doing an Xmas lunch. Now there's a thought...

Update: looking forward to the festive menu, starting 1st DEC 2022!

We shared the Cheesy Tacos as a starter then I had the Fish & Chips and my wife had the Royal Oak Club sandwich.

Tacos were some of the best we'd had, nice and cheesy but with taste too.

Club sandwich had vege crips and a mini side salad WITH dressing (most appreciated) and was fantastic. Far too much, we took half the sandwich home. The server wrapped it in foil for us, so helpful.

Fish & Chips were superb; it's my benchmark meal so I was delighted at the beer batter, very light yet tasty. Fish was juicy and tasty too. Mushy peas were tasty and not bright green! Chips were chunky and excellently cooked.

Sad to say we've been in Great Hale for a whole year now and have only just "discovered" The Royal Oak even though it's opposite the Co-op in Heckington which we've visited many times.

We most certainly will be back, perhaps using the main restaurant next time if it's a more 'formal' occasion (but I liked the laid back atmosphere of the bar).

I've got to say all the staff were friendly, approachable and asked on two occasions if our meal was alright....

We booked for Sunday roast to celebrate our 30th Wedding Anniversary with family. Party of 5, seated in the lovely restaurant.|The service was very slow, although the restaurant wasn't full. Food orders taken. Drinks were taking a while until we noticed they were on the bar. Waited but they weren't brought over. Daughter went and fetched them. The waitress did apologise. Food arrived, the portions were considerably smaller than many previous visits. No stuffing with the chicken, no cauliflower cheese or red cabbage. I had 1 thin, over cooked parsnip, 1 piece of broccoli and a carrot. We waited for the cauliflower cheese. Spoke to a young waitress, who said we wouldn't get any as they'd run out. No apology. I suggested other vegetables instead and she walked away and shrugged her shoulders. It clearly states on the menu cauliflower cheese included. I hoped throughout the meal further veg would arrive but it never did. I visit on a regular basis and I rave about the food quality and service here. No one came over to ask if the food was okay after it been brought to our table. We did all go with the expectations of a dessert, bottle of wine and coffees but after this level of service and lack of food available we didn't risk it. Upon paying the staff member behind the bar was lovely and did not charge for any drinks. A lovely gesture but a ruined meal. |Overall very disappointing, this was a family celebration, where some members had travelled from London for the meal. We left and bought dessert elsewhere. I'll think twice about booking for Sunday roast. |Other meals are...

We booked for Sunday roast to celebrate our 30th Wedding Anniversary with family. Party of 5, seated in the lovely restaurant.|The service was very slow, although the restaurant wasn't full. Food orders taken. Drinks were taking a while until we noticed they were on the bar. Waited but they weren't brought over. Daughter went and fetched them. The waitress did apologise. Food arrived, the portions were considerably smaller than many previous visits. No stuffing with the chicken, no cauliflower cheese or red cabbage. I had 1 thin, over cooked parsnip, 1 piece of broccoli and a carrot. We waited for the cauliflower cheese. Spoke to a young waitress, who said we wouldn't get any as they'd run out. No apology. I suggested other vegetables instead and she walked away and shrugged her shoulders. It clearly states on the menu cauliflower cheese included. I hoped throughout the meal further veg would arrive but it never did. I visit on a regular basis and I rave about the food quality and service here. No one came over to ask if the food was okay after it been brought to our table. We did all go with the expectations of a dessert, bottle of wine and coffees but after this level of service and lack of food available we didn't risk it. Upon paying the staff member behind the bar was lovely and did not charge for any drinks. A lovely gesture but a ruined meal. |Overall very disappointing, this was a family celebration, where some members had travelled from London for the meal. We left and bought dessert elsewhere. I'll think twice about booking for Sunday roast. |Other meals are...