Carveries are the work of the devil

My mum was northern and taught me how to make the best gravy

I don’t care enough to look in real detail tbh😂🫣 Your previous post said that they wouldn’t be standing there peeling potatoes and they are. That was my point really. I didn’t re-read the article but IIRC I think the reference to “industrial” level was the par-steaming machine they use as it allows them to cook potatoes quickly.

It’s meat with potatoes and plenty of veg available, all made freshly in-house. If you’re looking to eat a properly clean diet, yes, you’d have to consider oils etc. But for most people, this is near enough to being a healthy option especially if they want something cheap and cheerful. It’s not UPF or heavily processed and you can pile your plate with veg. I think that’s a pretty good deal - especially when it’s cheaper than shite like McDs.

Mind you, my DP doesn’t like a Toby either so you’re not on your own with avoiding the place 😂

You forgot the bit about half of them not even liking Chinese.

I'm still traumatised by an awful Toby carvery meal about 3 years ago and have refused to return to any.
I didn't overly favour carveries before this as I hate queuing for food but, like OP we wanted a quick easy meal one night. I didn't realise it was possible to make vegetables taste of nothing.

What on earth made you visit a carvery? Did you have an urge to eat 1970's food at 2020s prices? And your poor OH who is veggie... How could you?

That's strange. I never book for Toby carvery as they allways offer a walk in service.

I have never had a roast in a pub as good as ours at home, or other home cooked roasts we have had cooked for us. They are always going to be a bit disappointing, but are a cheap way to fill a hole.

The Toby near us is really bad and the last time I ate a beef wrap there I felt ill, but had some good ones years back when they first became a thing. I think the sentiment on MN at the moment is that eating out is crap value for money, as it is hard to cook something both affordable and decent, and in a way of which the business can survive. The economic situation has killed eating out sadly.

Wow OP I bet you’re popular 🤣🙄

Toby Carvery use oil seed rape oil or beef dripping for the potatos. They can provide most of the non-roasted veg streamed if ask. They certainly make the Yorkshires from a liquid - you can see them doing it through the kitchen window.

But I not you go out for dinner if you want something unprocessed. You might as well have an unpeeled carrot on a plate at home.

@Soontobe60You “sat in the car laughing” because you couldn’t get a table? Huh? Am I missing the punchline? Tbh you and your DH sound like those types who click the ‘Laugh’ reaction on any Facebook posts about weather forecasts or by the council/police/politicians regardless of what’s said, plus any post by someone sharing something you’re jealous of! 🙄

I love a Toby Carvery but do find you have to go when it is busy. Never go to a carvery in an empty restaurant. They need to get through the food to keep it fresh.

I do think it is prepped locally though since we had a period when we had to have lactose free and they were able to give us veg that had been cooked specially for us without butter.

Meh, I'm not going to one, so i suppose we'll never know!

I don't really mind being called a food snob tbh. I am not snobby towards human beings, but terrible food being produced on the mass market to make the owners wealthy while squeezing as much profit as they can out of the business, doesn't make me feel compelled to support the business when I have no interest in doing so.

You'll notice that I never tried to insult any human beings on here - just food so if you think you're somehow a nicer person by yelling "snob" at me in defence of the carvery, I disagree but whatever 🤷‍♀️

This was the last one I went to (I took the photo for my friend abroad)
was fine, veg was cooked pretty nicely, and I couldn’t cook all that myself for £6

Is there a good food exclusion zone around every motorway then?! One of the finest Asian restaurants I’ve ever been to (and I’ve travelled the world so that’s saying something!) was at the side of a motorway slip road. Don’t be so snobbish!

I’d never been to a Toby until recently. The food was really nice, great choice of meat and generous portions. It was packed, noisy and full of kids but hardly surprising on a Sunday. Amazing value.

@BlueberryLatteYou sound like a massive snob!

I think it’s unjust to blame the devil. At least he’d make sure it was hot.

You’re making a lot of incorrect assumptions there!

You absolutely can’t walk into the one nearest our house ever, and having just checked it’s fully booked from 4:30 to 20:20 tonight.

I don’t mind a carvery, and Toby is as OK as any. I do think you want to be there for an early booking though.

I also seem to pick up food smells very quickly on my clothes and hair. After 5 minutes in a restaurant I usually smell of chips.

Yeah this. Seems a bizarre choice really. I wouldn't want to eat carvery alone while someone has to eat a stale burger.

The closest Toby Carvery to me is amazing. The beef is always tender and easy to eat, the vegetables are always cooked well, I really can't fault it at all. We must be lucky we are near a good one.

We all love a carvery here. There is one less than 10 minutes walk away.

It's about £8 with blue light discount.

It's one of life's little joys. We go there about 4 times a year.

We've been to a few Toby's in our time - usually on the way home, after a big day out.

Easy to park, really decently priced, unlimited drink options so you don't have to pay a damn fortune for two diet pepsis each, no waiting when you're all starving after being out all day, simple but tasty food...we all love a roast.

I don't think we've ever had a bad one. So many people are horrendous snobs though. 'I will never enter a Toby Carvery' and such 😂. People seem to think it makes them look refined rather than an insufferable bore. It's just meat, veg and gravy fgs.

Generally they are for people who want quantity over quality.