Barley Mow — Restaurant in South Oxfordshire

A very disappointing meal. I went out wanting a steak with surf n turf and my partner a fish meal (being Friday night) unfortunately we were told after we made our order there were no prawns or scallops so he had to change his order and I couldn't have surf n turf. The staff were very polite and friendly but the meal was not good. The mushrooms were cold on a cold plate, and my 8oz sirloin steak had large strip (1/4 the size of the steak) of sinew. I was not impressed. We advised them about the cold mushrooms on both our plates, to be bought out another bowl to share with some warm but mainly cold mushrooms again. We then mentioned this to a member of staff (who I can only assume was the landlady) and she bought out another bowl of nuked mushrooms, but steaming hot this time, shame we'd eaten most of our steaks by then. As there were no prawns we requested some bloomer bread and butter in replacement, and received two slices of dry stale bread. Alas we didnt eat that. Luckily the chips, calamari and pepper sauce were hot! As compensation for our cold meal and poor piece of meat we were each given a free dessert (which did not cover the value of one steak meal, let alone the fact we both recieved unsatisfactory steak meals). Ironically both of which were delicious... To sum up we won't be going to the barley mow to eat again any time soon, as if the chef can't get the basics right ( ie well chosen piece of steak served on a hot plates and hot accompaniments) it's a poor show. So unless you want a cold meal like ploughmans meal I'd think twice before eating here. It wasn't as if the place was busy either as the staff had plenty of time to chat and laugh with punters. PS. I don't normally add reviews (good or bad) but was extremely disappointed on this...

We booked a table of 4 for Sunday lunch online. We had a really warm and friendly welcome and was seated. The pub is super cosy and just gorgeous! Amazing atmosphere too. A proper country pub with loads of character.

Service once seated was very poor we felt very neglected and forgot about. Which was a huge disappointment. We had to ask multiple times for our bill and ended up waiting a hour with anyone checking on if we wanted any more drinks etc too. We ended up walking to the front bar to pay because we waited for so long. We wanted to spilt the bill which they left us to sort out the correct amount and walked away and didn’t come back.

The food was very disappointing too. We all got roasts. I got a beef one and the meat was super chewy and dry needed a steak knife but as we was neglected didn’t have the chance to ask and nobody was around for me to ask either at the time. The veg was ROCK HARD. The gravy was non existent. They forgot items that come with the roast which we had to call someone over to correct as we didn’t have a check back. The potato’s were rock hard too and tasted undercooked.

Just very disappointed with the whole experience as it’s such a beautiful pub. Sadly the service and food is a down fall. We won’t be visiting again any time soon if not at all.

We also order ONE cappuccino which we waited AGES FOR and got worried they had forgotten about it. When it arrived it was half empty and cold.

Sadly leaving wishing we went...

We went for a short walk along the river and then went in here for the first time in years to cool down with some drinks and food. The front of house manager maybe the most inept I’ve ever seen & met. We asked if they had a table free for drinks & possibly food and was greeted with a grunt and no from her. No explanation as to why when the entire pub is completely empty she can’t seat us. Then whilst we’re still talking to her she then picked up the phone turned her back on us and decided to try and ignore us. Had to try and wait for her to finish on the phone as she tried to shoo us away and eventually spoke to someone else with some actual manners to be told that despite the pub being empty they only have 4 staff and therefore can’t seat anymore customers. Took all of 30 seconds and some manners. Woman at the front desk still refused to acknowledge we were even standing there and then even tried to be aggressive to my parents asking if they wanted something else whilst they waited for us to use the toilet. She was also extremely rude to another customer waiting for takeaway meal. Gave exactly the same mannerless, blunt & rude responses to him as we had received and was also rude to customers waiting to be seated. Can’t understand how on a sunday bank holiday they would have only 4 staff on and have such utterly terrible customer service and complete inability to manage an empty pub. Will never...