Racks Bar & Kitchen

My Mum and I have just paid £44.95 for this. We ordered a sharing a board. The beef was over cooked, the belly of pork was hard and dry, the vegetables were cold, the red cabbage was soggy and there was no crackling. My Mum was really hungry as we waited quite a while to be served so she ate two small dry pieces of meat, two greasy potatoes and a very small amount of veg whilst waiting for a new one to be cooked. The new board came to the table. it was much the same as the first. But This time the cracking was added to the board but looked inedible. The veg and gravy left on the table whilst waiting for the new board was now stone cold. I asked the waiter to please take it back as I didn’t want it and I was happy to pay for the small amount of food my Mum had consumed. He replied that he would discount the bill by a few pound because of the cold vegetables. Even though a very small portion of the meal was eaten.. i said if this was the case please put the food in takeaway boxes so at least the dog would benefit. Although I could only give her the beef as the rest was far too salty. This is absolutely shocking as I’ve eaten there many times before but definitely won’t be going back. So disappointing.

We came here, as we were looking for a cheap eat January restaurant offer (2 for 1 on mains) and expected it to be quite nice. But, it by far exceeded our expectations with a warm, inviting and rustic atmosphere. The restaurant design and architecture was beautiful, the old stone archways featured throughout the building created a real charm alongside the warm blazing fire by the bar. The staff were fantastic, very hospitable and excellent at checking in and explaining the menu. We ordered the steak sandwich with fries and the ham and chicken pie with hand cut chips and seasonal veg with homemade gravy. The steak was topped with a delicious sauce and caramelised onions, adding a lovely sweetness. Although the steak was a little tricky to eat. The fries were well seasoned and cooked to perfection. The pie was filled to the brim with meat that was tender and delicious, I would prefer a little more sauce, but that might be personal preference. It was accompanied by sweet baby carrots, green beans and a rich homemade gravy. But, the star of the show was the hand cut chips. Beautifully cooked with a crispy exterior and the most fluffy interior. Fortunately, the portion size was rather large, so those extra chips certainly didn't struggle being consumed. I would certainly recommend coming here if you are looking for an affordable, rustic spot to eat with excellent service and very good homemade British pub classics.

Our workplace Christmas Do was a roaring success here this year. We had a 1230hr sitting for 15 people in our own little area happily situated near the bar. The staff were excellent and attentive and we wanted for nothing. The menu was varied with something for everyone and the food did not disappoint. I highly recommend the salmon and chocolate orange torte....scrumptious! Despite it being lunchtime, there was a terrific crowd of other work done party goers and this contributed to a very merry atmosphere indeed. A big thank you to all the staff at Racks, see you next year.