The New Inn, Ombersley Road, Worcester
10:06am Friday 23rd November 2007
You don't even have to go inside the New Inn to know that this is a popular, welcoming watering hole and eating place.
The patio area outside the front door and next to the busy A38 is often packed and the garden to the side is well used in the warmer months.
There is a real buzz about this pub. It has a great atmosphere and seems to be a clear favourite for food and drink with locals as well as with passers-by.
The staff are extremely friendly and helpful, while the menu offers a range of food for everyone, from sandwiches to venison stew, with special offers at different times of the day.
This pub is also very family friendly - children are welcomed with a special menu and a kiddies corner where their drawings are put up on display.
My guest started with breaded mushrooms with garlic mayonnaise dip and salad garnish (£2.85), while I opted for the Thai fish cakes with salsa dip and salad (£3.15). The three small fish cakes had a kick, which I liked, although I was thankful for the dip and salad to offset the spiciness.
This was followed by chicken BBQ melt - smoked chicken breast, grilled and topped with bacon, BBQ sauce and melted cheese - with chips (£6.85). I was told the chicken was "very succulent" and the flavour "lovely".
I chose chicken and mushroom carbonara with garlic bread and salad (£5.95) from the specials board. The sauce had bags of flavour but was a little too runny for my taste.
This was followed by Belgium waffle topped with vanilla ice cream and fruits of the forest (£2.85). My guest didn't manage much of this, as it was a little on the sweet side.
I tucked into apple and blackberry crumble with custard (£2.85) - as good as any home-made pud I've tasted.
The New Inn is unlikely to win any awards for its food and you wouldn't choose it for a romantic dinner for two, but it is quick, unfussy, frill-free fare and fantastic value for money.
We couldn't clean our plates and felt like a couple of turkeys ready for the Christmas table.
All the dishes were piping hot and delivered so quickly that I began to wonder if the chef was employing psychic powers to get advance notice of our order.
There were even three guest real ales on for the beer connoisseurs.
There were one or two hiccups with the service but these were quickly rectified. The music was also a notch too loud, but overall I can understand why this place is thriving.
the new inn, ombersley road, WORCESTER, WR1 2HY Tel: 01905 452025SERVICE: *** FOOD: *** VALUE: ***** AMBIENCE: *****