Royal Oak Reviews Summary

Service

Pros:

• "Staff were extremely efficient and friendly and in the New Forest."
• "The staff are brilliant very friendly and helpful lovey to see them interact with a toddler."
• "Good prompt service with a smile."
• "Service was quick and they were very helpful and friendly."
• "The staff are very friendly and courteous."
• "The staff here are so lovely, keeping their cool even during unnecessary confrontation from some customers."
• "The staff were all very friendly and extremely helpful."

Cons:

• "But we had to remind them to take our food and pudding order, which we wouldn’t have minded if they were busy but most times we looked up, staff were stood around chatting."
• "Waited 3/4 hour for two of us to get first course then another 3/4 hour for the second course to arrive after complaining about time taken."
• "Me with my wife and children awaited for more than an hour and in that time we asked a couple of waiters about our order as it wasn't even registered."
• "Disappointing service, average food. It took 30 mins to order food, another 30mins before we get it on table."
• "The service was not great as when we ordered our lunch the lady said that she wouldn't put our order straight away."
• "Waited quite some time for order to be taken gentleman only came when another couple had been seated."
• "The staff were slow and more interested in chatting than serving."

Food Quality

Pros:

• "The food was amazing! We shared the vegan burger and vegan pizza; massive portions and really yummy."
• "Buffet Food, fantastic quality, and more than enough to go round for everyone."
• "WOW may well be the best pie I've ever had."
• "Food is outstanding."
• "Food was amazing, we had the Sunday roast which was huge with lots of meat and fresh vegetables 😋 Not cheap but well worth a visit."
• "Our food was exceptional."
• "Absolutely wonderful food and very kind staff."

Cons:

• "The food arrived and was okay but disappointing; not to the standard we have experienced in other Hampshire pubs."
• "There was a poor range of vegetables which were so badly cooked it was like chewing rubber."
• "Had 3 Ploughman's which had only 'HALF' a slice of ham, 1/4 of an apple which was slithered, cheap bake in the oven baguette which was not at all crusty."
• "The lamb was two Pieces of Small and very thinly cut... dinners We're only lukewarm and not good value for money sorry but I Personally would not recommend a visit."
• "Pretty poor for the price. Overcooked burger and bun not toasted."
• "The food was overpriced and the meals were far too large."
• "Overcooked chicken with tasteless 'parmesan' coating and lacklustre veggies."

Ambiance & Location

Pros:

• "Very cosy with a wood burner and candles on tables."
• "Brilliant place for a meal, highly recommended. The atmosphere is great."
• "A lovely friendly pub in great location. Lovely garden with plenty of benches."
• "In the heart of the New Forest with wandering animals all around."
• "Best of all, it's dog friendly!"
• "This pub is well worth a stop off if visiting the New Forest."
• "Always a lovely atmosphere."

Cons:

• "Got there and no disabled parking, no ramps to get into the restaurant and no disabled WC."
• "Not the best music to endure, not the worst."
• "The pub can get busy as it's in a prime location."
• "Only thing that let them down were the ladies toilets. Quite dated with one out of order."
• "The car park is lethal if you're in something lower than a Land Rover."
• "There was an automatic 10% service charge added, which is not shown anywhere online or on the menu."
• "My car took a hammering on the driveway due to those large holes."