The Oak Inn, Lyndhurst Reviews Summary

Food Quality

Pros:

• "In the end the food was actually half decent (we had pheasant, steak and ale pie and venison between the three of us) and it was a really lovely lunch."
• "Delicious roast today."
• "Staff were all lovely, service was efficient, and the food itself was very good."
• "Roast dinners were still available so I ordered the Pork Roast. I have to say it was the most exquisite meal I have had in a long while."
• "Nicely cooked and presented food."
• "Food was great. Really tasty and really good prices for the quality."
• "Beautifully located pub serving lovely food."

Cons:

• "The chicken caesar salad was basically a few lettuce leaves with a mini bit of chicken thrown on the top and sprinkled with packet parmesan cheese."
• "Warm welcoming country pub with lovely staff but very disappointing food..tough over cooked pigeon... Very mediocre chicken pie and cheese board served the end rind of Stilton so inedible sadly."
• "Had the veg curry it was dreadful."
• "Burger was nasty: very overcooked and tasteless."
• "Fish and chips was bad, the kids macaroni cheese was bland and tasteless."
• "The food was atrocious - the flank of beef was a solid totally dry lump and it took two servings of mayonnaise to make it any where near palatable."
• "‘Crispy salt and pepper squid’ = not crispy, no salt or pepper."

Service

Pros:

• "Staff were all lovely, service was efficient, and the food itself was very good."
• "Staff are great fun and very friendly nothing is too much trouble."
• "The serving staff were attentive and very cheerful."
• "The staff were friendly and attentive."
• "Staff is helpful and happy."
• "Ciara could not gave been more helpful in finding a table fir ys and then providing excellent service."
• "Professional and friendly too."

Cons:

• "The service was good but stretched."
• "Such a shame, this used to be a busy vibrant pub with a great team, we are locals and would travel past other pubs to go there. In the last few years we have stopped visiting because the food, service and atmosphere have deteriorated so much..."
• "However there was a delay on food."
• "Drinks took about 20 minutes to arrive and we had to go to the bar to pay the bill because service was so slow."
• "Service is poor, at best."
• "Arrived at 13.59... stood at bar and finally got served at 14.16!!! I only wanted two pints of beer. Surly barmaid. Not acknowledged."
• "The worst. Spent half an hour in a queue just to order while a single helpless waiter was slowly thinking what to do next."

Atmosphere & Location

Pros:

• "Dog friendly and right in the doorstep of the New Forest."
• "What an absolutely stunning setting in the middle of the New Forest."
• "The pub itself is lovely, in a great location perfect for cyclists and drivers."
• "Seriously nice pub! Tucked away off the A35 just outside Lyndhurst."
• "Beautiful pub in every sense of the word."
• "Lovely little country pub."
• "Great cosy welcoming feel inside yet not cramped."

Cons:

• "Parking a doddle but getting in and out of the area is awkward because it’s tucked away."
• "Shame the beer garden doesn't have the views and openness as some of the other pubs in the New Forest."
• "Really disappointed with the experience last weekend (13th Aug) when we cycled 13 miles to this pub and when we got there they refused us food at 1.30pm."
• "I have been coming to this pub for over 12 years but now the pub has no ambience or atmosphere whatsoever."
• "Nice countryside pub lovely setting no pride in there presentation."
• "Also the toilets weren't as clean as they could have been."
• "Rather limited menu and the staff weren't very attentive. Stood at the entrance for a long time and not 1 single staff member even acknowledged our presence."

Value

Pros:

• "Normal prices for a pub in this area."
• "Great pub fare at reasonable prices."
• "Food was really good, staff outstanding, all at a price that meant we had enough money for diesel to get home."
• "The food portions are huge and well worth the reasonable prices."
• "Lovely New Forest pub with excellent and well priced food and a very warm welcome."
• "A new fixed price menu, £17 for 3 courses Monday to Thursday, really good value."
• "I love coming to this New Forest pub, which probably in my experience at least, comes in at the best value for money in the whole of the New Forest!"

Cons:

• "The price is on the more expensive side but nothing unfair."
• "Food was good but expensive for what it is."
• "Unfortunately, the prices have since increased and it is now a bit out of our budget which is a big shame."
• "The price increase is a shame, and it has prevented us from being regulars."
• "I know prices have gone up everywhere but it seemed higher here than anywhere else we've Benn lately, especially as the food was good but not spectacular."
• "Food is on the pricey side, and, servings rather small."
• "The food is 'ok' but overpriced."