Toby Carvery, Almondsbury - Review

Considering how close we are to a Toby Carvery, it's quite surprising that we've never been. I'd heard good things about it and driven past many times, so when I was asked if I'd like to review the menu and newly refurbished interior, in return for a free meal, I jumped at the chance. As always, the meal was offered as compensation for my time in writing this review and does not affect my opinions. I have actually booked a table for tomorrow that I'm paying for, because my husband wants to go, now I've told him how good it was. You will also find that this review contains lots of photos of the lovely food and decor and the camera never lies!

We arrived at 3.30, which was almost at the end of lunchtime service. It was understandably pretty quiet, but the car park seemed to offer ample spaces for the size of the restaurant, even if it had been busy. The exterior was tidy and offered good disabled access. The interior was smart and welcoming, with a rustic feel. We were seated in a cosy, sunny corner with lots of windows and plenty of room for the four of us. It was a welcome change to have plenty of light and space. 

I found The Toby to be far superior to other carveries I've experienced. There was a good choice of meats, all expertly dressed and prepared, and each with an imaginative glaze to add a touch of variety to the traditional roast. You can choose from roast gammon with a pomegranate glaze, roast beef with a beef dripping glaze, farm assured turkey or roast pork with an apple and sage glaze. The flavours were subtle, but much appreciated, and all the meat was succulent and perfectly cooked.

The accompaniments were spot on, too. I was especially overjoyed to find the most delicious pork crackling I have ever tried. Pork crackling is a real treat and something that makes a carvery really stand out for me. I found the stuffing to be quite dry and crunchy, which was easily rectified with the gravy, and possibly something for personal taste. The crowning glory though, was definitely the Yorkshire Puddings. They were huge and looked so inviting, I really wished I could manage more than one! Roast potatoes are something I always struggle with, because I only usually like my own, but Toby roasts are fluffy, crispy and pretty much perfect. 

The Toby is, obviously, primarily a carvery, however, there are other options for those not keen on a roast. There are five vegetarian and vegan options as well as sandwiches and a selection of Yorkie wraps, which consist of various fillings wrapped in a flat Yorkshire pudding. The only non-roast dinner eater in our family is my son, who chose Spaghetti Bolognese from the children's menu and said it was delicious. I thought the raw vegetable sticks were a nice touch and added another healthy vegetable element to the meal. 

The waitress service was some of the best we've experienced, friendly and attentive, without being too full on. My only small criticism was that the carvery itself was often unmanned and, despite the useful little bell, it sometimes took a little while for the carver to appear. Overall, I think it is a great family venue and offers very good value for money. We had a budget of £50 and, after three of us having mains, desserts, drinks and tea, we still came in under budget. For the exceptional quality of the food and the appealing venue, I think that's excellent value. As I mentioned before, since our visit, I have booked to go back, which is the best recommendation I can give.