The Birch Tree — Restaurant in North West Leicestershire

I am never really one to complain but we were soooo disappointed on our last visit here. The waitress was unaware of drink options which I guess is more of a training need than anything. My husband and I are both vegetarian so I asked what the "Vegan roast with cranberry sauce" was and I was told it was potatoes, vegetables, vegan gravy and a Yorkshire pudding if we weren't vegan. And I thought that cannot be right?! So I asked her to come back to us as we needed to decide on another option from the menu that wasn't the Sunday lunch. Another waitress returned and I just needed to clarify that was the case but she told us there was a vegan meat substitute. So I asked what it was and she didn't know (again I think a training need) and went to ask. She returned and told us it was "mycoprotein". And when it arrived it confirmed our suspicions that it was in fact a shop bought quorn joint which is quite disappointing as usually when eating out for Sunday lunch the vegetarian options are really good, fresh and homemade. And it arrived without the cranberry sauce 😕

We were there for hours too, a couple arrived after us, had their food, paid and left before we had even had our main course. 😳

We visit here regularly for drinks and food so it was just a little disheartening. We made the waitress aware, like I say we aren't rude or complaining for the sake of it. Just not what we've come to expect from such...

One of the staff members there was very rude, when taking our order, she treated us like she had no mood to take our order and i kind of felt like it was a burden us being there, she works on the bar, maybe she was covering someones shift, no idea, the food was kind of cheap, i had the all day big breakfast, compared to charnwood arms, just down the road, it was very cheap compared to there quality of food, it even cost me more then charnwood arms, but the chef who bought it out to us, seemed very nice and seemed like a very kind of lady, very welcoming, the menu's were obviously printed by a 70 year old, very poor indeed, and they only had one set for some reason? we had to keep asking for it, then when i went to pay, i had to visit the bar, and my girlfriend keeps a very small bottle of water in her bag, incase she gets a headache or something, she can take a pill when out, so she even noticed that, and she said you're not allowed drinks here very strictly, i mentioned its only water, she then repeated, you're not aloud drinks, even water, you want water?, we can provide, i looked around and people at the bar were staring, i felt like a victim, like i didn't belong there, very unwelcomed, like they didnt want, need the extra business, will never visit there, and will never...

This is the first time we have been to the Birch Tree since it was refurbished and changed hands a couple of months ago.

Well what can I say?

ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC.

The atmosphere was very friendly and although we hadn't booked (we visited on a Friday evening) we were quickly shown to a table. There is not a huge choice of meals as you might find elsewhere but there are some usual pub favourites. I chose chicken in brandy and my husband had cod and chips. The fish was so fresh I think it must have been swimming somewhere out the back only hours before! The batter was so very light and not a spot of grease anywhere. My chicken was very tender and just melted in the mouth, it was served with white rice garnished with some red onion.

Chips (which were cooked perfectly) were brought to the table in a separate terrine which we thought was a good idea. Everything was brought out piping hot.

For desert we had a homemade chocolate surprise cheesecake and a 'pimpled Richard' (which made me smile, being a big fan of spotted dick!) Both were delicious. Prices we thought were very reasonable, for two main meals, a bitter, cola and two deserts the bill came to just under £30. I just can't recommend the Birch Tree enough! Go on and try it I don't think you will be...