The Cowherds

You can’t fault the décor of this pub, it’s really cosy with wooden beams and low-lighting…not forgetting a crackling fire! Really great location, situated just off the Southampton Common. A perfect pit stop after a walk in the park.

We went on a Sunday and my, was it busy! Next time I’m definitely booking. We decided to sit outside, but of course it started to rain (typical, having one of those days as they say) so we propped ourselves up at the bar and waited for our roast sharing platter…whilst drinkers took up the tables…

The Cowherds is a typical pub where you have to order at the bar and pay beforehand etc etc...Not that that’s a problem, normal procedure I guess, just I prefer to sit in my seat and not move, I’m not a diva, I promise.

Anyway a waitress wonders by shouting out a table number holding a roast platter…it must be ours I said, wrong table number. So we carried on sipping our drinks and finally a table becomes free…I honestly did some barging to get this! Did not fancy eating a big old roast at the bar, especially as it was a sharing platter, otherwise I wouldn’t have minded. 

Two hours later…still no roast. I hate complaining and asking where food is when I can see a restaurant is busy, having worked in one myself it is really aggravating and there’s not much you can do when a restaurant is heaving. Patience is the key…but in my opinion two hours was a bit much. We went to investigate and discovered the roast that wondered past earlier was in fact ours and they had put our order under the wrong number, or given us the wrong spoon.

When the roast did arrive, it was lovely! Great size for two and a great selection of meat (beef, pork, turkey) and the roast potatoes where golden, crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside! Just how I like them. The only improvements I’d suggest is a thicker gravy (we all love a bit of Ahh...Bisto, but I can do that at home), more stuffing…my ball was the size of a thimble, and finally for the condiments to left on the table. The waitress gave us a spoon full of horseradish and that was it. Although, we were given a free round of drinks for the delay in having our meal, which was nice, but I was driving and a free coke doesn't really make up for much. I guess next time we’ll just have to book!

We didn’t mind the wait too much as we were busy chatting away, but no waiting staff came to check up on us or see if everything was okay. Yes it is a pub, and they were busy, but simple waiting standards were slightly dropped and these can make a good meal an excellent meal.