Unimportant in the scheme of things but…..

Give them a review on their website. Don't go back.

I think it’s best to speak to someone at the time if possible rather than complain later. Be firm but polite. On one occasion I had a dish described as with king prawns and it came with those tiny ones. When I pointed this out they said the suppliers had only sent them the small ones. So my reply was that they should have explained this when I ordered to give me a choice of choosing something else. Giving a critical review later on Trip Advisor on one occasion resulted in the establishment replying to it very rudely and blaming me for what went wrong!

Another vote for Toby carvery. Our local one in Cleadon village, is just the best.

I was brought up by a mother who was a cookery teacher. She was very insistent that every meal had the correct accompaniments so we only had yorkies with beef. Personally I can take them or leave them but most pubs serve them with any roast these days. If I ordered pork I would certainly expect apple sauce and crackling. Stuffing would be welcome but less essential. You are not being unreasonable to feel let down and ripped off!

I used to find it embarrassing if my ex (or more likely his father) complained about something in a restaurant, but it was often more abut the way it was done or the reasonableness of the complaint. Once my FiL complained of the lack of suitable options on the desert menu for him as he was diabetic! My DD was really embarrassed as it was a local pub and one of her schoolmates was serving there. She ended up apologising to him for her granddad's behaviour!

I agree with other posters that you should give the feedback in retrospect, whatever way is convenient.

I would email about how disappointed you were explaining why. I've done this on a couple of occasions. Not an nasty email just saying how disappointed I was with x y z etc etc.

P.S. In fact, originally, Yorkshire Puddings were served with gravy, before the rest of the meal, being roast beef with vegetables and roast potatoes.

Sorry to hear about your experience. Yorkshire puddings are traditionally only really meant to be served with Roast Beef and maybe horseradish sauce.

I wouldn't go there again.

Sasta was respecting her husband’s wishes not to complain.
Mum was a waitress in silver service restaurants and a high end Chinese back in the forties. She told me that when people complained and the food was returned to the kitchen the chef would spit on the food and return it to the customer. I guess that’s why she was reluctant for us to treat her to a birthday meal out. She made nice Yorkshires with any type of roast with extra portions for pud with golden syrup and cream. Doubt we had heard of maple syrup back then.

I think Trip Advisor. I’m a big fan and most of my reviews are favourable.

Bazza

In my experience if you’re going to have a Sunday roast in a carvery or pub, go early! I think everything is cooked for first service at twelve and everything is just festering in a warming drawer thereafter. We had a very average roast in a pub on Sunday at three, timing not my choice, and it was pretty rank. And a bill for £60, but we did have a bottle of wine. The best thing was the cauliflower cheese which was served separately.

Good grief! Who eats lunch at midday? Let alone Sunday lunch. I am still digesting my scrambled eggs and coffee, wouldn't even consider booking lunch before 2pm and that's pushing it.

I once found my Sea Bass overcooked in a branch of Cote. It was OK though so I just ate it. The waiter came to ask if everything was ok in the usual way so I said I thought the SeaBass was a bit tough. Nuff said. It disappeared off the bill and a dessert was not charged for either. I hadn't complained or made a fuss. Great customer service and we go back often. That's the way to keep customers happy and returning.

Similar thing happened to us when we went to a Mothers Day Special roast meal at a ‘gastro’ pub. Several things advertised weren’t included and we were rushed out for the next sitting. My daughter emailed to complain the following day and they replied offering us all a free meal. Result!

Aw shucks! What a downer of a dining experience. I’m sure it’s happened to everyone here, in all degrees.

I do know some places don’t work well with asking for substitutions or additions, etc. That’s where they feel they can tack on extra charges for the “bother.” Frustrating.
Really GOOD and reputable places will work to satisfy their customers, no matter what. Keep that in mind.

I just don’t go back, I let my friends know too. I may even post a review on their website - let them take a hit. They’ll only clean up their act when others complain too.
Have a g’day!
USA Gundy

Firstly this is a forum of moaners and that’s good - same as Mumsnet .. where else to get it off our chest
Secondly it’s a forum where people sometimes want reassurance or advice or an opinion and that’s good too
Thirdly Yorkshire puddings belong with every roast because that’s where half the gravy goes
Fourthly you should have challenged them when the bill came - what’s to lose ! Unlikely you will be returning ..

I’ve been in this situation before I never complain on the day to over worked staff. I always get HO address if it’s a brewery and email customer services manager they are the people that need to know what’s going on in the pubs. If it’s privately owned email pub direct. Of course you should let them know what’s happened how are they meant to improve if they are not told.

No good complaining on here. If you didn’t complain before paying the bill then vent your annoyance on their FB page, website etc. At the end of the day you should have complained there and then.

I used to enjoy eating out but now find it hard to justify the expense. I spend the whole meal thinking "....how much?" A classic sign of old age I think.

I hate complaining too but when I thought about the bill for a pub meal we had yesterday it seemed very high, it wasn’t itemised. I checked in a very tentative fashion of course and the 2 for 1 offer hadn’t been applied. So for £17 it was worth checking!

Thank you all for the interesting comments. Looking forward to a full roast on Easter Sunday, yorkies in abundance and crispy roasties served with lamb, cooked by moi! Have a lovely Easter everyone x

I have often asked for a Yorkshire pud to be added to my Sunday lunch (never order beef as not too keen) and have never been charged any extra. I rarely complain in a restaurant but think I would have refused to pay the extra and said that it was because I didn't get the stuffing that was supposed to be included.
Definitely wouldn't be going there again.

In my experience if you’re going to have a Sunday roast in a carvery or pub, go early! I think everything is cooked for first service at twelve and everything is just festering in a warming drawer thereafter. We had a very average roast in a pub on Sunday at three, timing not my choice, and it was pretty rank. And a bill for £60, but we did have a bottle of wine. The best thing was the cauliflower cheese which was served separately.

Sago

We ate at a well known gastro pub a couple of weeks ago, it was also Sunday lunch.

The food was only OK.

I have a major gripe though, the menu had beef, lamb and pork, I insisted all the condiments were on the table before the mains arrived ( you really shouldn’t need to request this!) the staff didn’t comply so we were left with food going cold whilst staff went back to the kitchen, eventually someone returned and stated there was no redcurrant and no Dijon mustard.
How does a professional kitchen not check before the menu goes out?
In the time it took to sort all this out I could have nipped to the COOP across the road and bought the bloody condiments.

Regarding the crackling, my husband has a theory, he’s convinced the kitchen staff eat it!

I feel that a lot of these establishments are struggling massively due to rising utilities and lack of staff.
It’s such a shame because they will lose their good reputations.

It does irritate me when they haven't bothered to check that they have stock of condiments. I've been served lamb without mint sauce and beef without horseradish, for me it detracts from the meal. The staff seemed surprised that I was annoyed and I wondered if this was some pathetic cost cutting exercise on the part of the pub.
And yes, the OP really should have complained. If it is somewhere where you are know and which you visit regularly you can do it discretely. If it's somewhere you don't visit often you should definitely do it and they should give you some sort of recompense.

No, you aren’t being unreasonable sasta. Whether or not Yorkshire pudding is served with pork a charge of £1 is far too much, particularly with items from your own roast unavailable.

I’m usually wary of eating a roast meal when we’re out, too many disappointing experiences. We do have roast at a local, tiny, garden centre. The cafe is not smart but the food is excellent. Vegetables are fresh and nicely cooked. Portions substantial, good quality meats. I don’t eat beef, always have chicken, at my request a Yorkshire arrives with my meal, no extra charge, no fuss.

MillieBoris

Forgot to add - tried a Toby carvery once ……… admittedly it is cheap but ….. soggy frozen veg, overcooked meat etc etc and the wine is pretty grim - sorry that was my experience

I went with a friend of my mother's some years ago and had a lovely meal, the vegetables were fine as was the meat. Generous portions too.

We went early because he told me that they got very busy; sure enough, by 12.15 the place was absolutely full, almost everybody was over 65. Everything was lovely and fresh and was finished pretty quickly, at which stage they produced fresh food for the next sitting.

Sasta

Ps, my 8 year old granddaughter seriously asked me if I could make Yorkshire puddings with EVERY meal. I asked her ‘even spag bol?’ Yep, even that, she said. I make it with all ‘gravy’ dinners for her.

Yes, my grandchildren love Yorkshire puds too, so I make them with every roast dinner for them. They're so easy to knock up and the extra hot oven helps the roast potatoes to brown.

It's not unknown for us to have them for pudding with honey and apple or chocolate sauce. Plus custard! My granny liked Yorkshires for pudding. After all they're basically the same mix as pancakes so fine for dessert.