What's the best part of a carvery?

[Greenbeanmcgee]

I rarely eat roast dinners, perhaps 3x a year at most but I'm really craving a carvery now. I know it isn't really the weather for it but I'm craving one regardless.

What's the best part of a roast dinner/carvery for you?

I'm going to be controversial and say all the veg especially cauliflower cheese. I don't get the fuss over roast potatoes though.

I love cauliflower cheese. Also roast potatoes and stuffing. I eat meat but it's probably my least favourite bit ,but depends what it is.

Cauli cheese, roast potatoes,, creamed leeks, greens. I love the veg. BUT it has to be with gravy

Yorkshire puddings, stuffing, vegetables and gravy. The roast potatoes are normally disappointing and I am very fussy about meat.

I havent been to a carvery for at least 15 years, the kids asked yesterday if we could go to a local Toby's. Might have to give in based on this!

All of it, I just can't choose one single thing.

DH and I had a takeaway carvery yesterday which felt decedent!

It was far too hot to cook though.

Roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings 😋 they HAVE to been home made though. No frozen rubbish (which is ok for a quick roast at home but definitely not acceptable at a carvery!)

Gravy

If you mean going to a restaurant with a carvery - the not having to shop for it, prepare it, cook it or clear it up. I've never had a meal from a carvery that tops the best home made roast dinners though.

Apart from the fact that I haven't had to cook it?! The choice of meats, veggies, GRAVY and that I can have as little or much of each as I fancy. And gravy.

All the sauces. Roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding and caulie cheese are all fab but it's all thecduferemt sauces,thatvmae it perfection. And sprouts. I love glazed sprouts.
Oh I might have to suggest a carvery tonight now.

The roasties. I could probably eat just a plate of roasties without all the rest, tbh! Crispy outside and lovely, fluffy inside. Yum.

Certainly not the meat at the average chain carvery - it's never good quality.

Our local restaurant does very nice roasts but dh says they aren't as nice as mine and I don't see the point of paying £140 for 4 when I could do it better for £15 to £50 depending on the joint.

Ahhh I love a carvery.

That potato dish with the sliced potatoes, carrot etc ... ohh thats my favourite dish! Also the mac & cheese.

I'd never make or put mac and cheese on a roast I make at home but it just hits different at a carvery.

Now I'm starving!

Best bit is when it's gluten free, especially the cauliflower cheese. Worst is when I can't really eat much and watch everyone else digging in.

I agree the 'best bit' is the fact you've not had to buy/cook/clear up.
The quality is not usually as good as you can make at home.
A very cheap carvery will cost more than decent ingredients so it's a case of is it worth the 'extra' not to have to bother producing it?
A decent restaurant roast meal can be quite expensive.
But it's nice to have a choice of 3 meats, * veggies, ALL the sides etc when it's not Christmas :)

Disclaimer: I’ve never been to a carvery 😳

Had posh roast dinners at gastropubs etc. can you literally just go in and eat as much as you want??? 😁

Having a bit of each meat :) And the gravy, which is always good.

I'm vegetarian so at our carvery of choice I go mad for the veg. They are all delicious and the mash is the creamiest of delights, but secretly I love all the extras best - gravy, mint sauce and cranberry sauce.
God, I'm desperate for one now!

Only if its proper gravy and not one gravy fits all .Veg , not roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding etc !

Roasties are lovely but not from a carvery. My favourite bits are pork crackling, apple sauce and stuffing.

Mint sauce.

No washing up

Never heard of macaroni cheese in a roast. Cauliflower cheese, yes, but never seen macaroni. Where does this?

There’s a lovely old pub near where my DBIL lives & I have never seen anywhere that offers so many vegetable dishes. Leeks with bacon, green beans, carrots, parsnips, cabbage, red cabbage, cauliflower cheese, broccoli, Brussels, new potatoes, roast potatoes, swede/carrot mash, peas etc etc

As others have said, the fact that you don't have to make it or clear up makes up for the fact that they're never as good as homemade. Also that you can all choose different meats. Our local one does great pork crackling.

The best bits for me are the meat, plain veg and gravy, the worst are cauli cheese, creamed leeks and braised red cabbage, I never have any of these.

Parsnips. Every carvery should have them. The one near us does them roasted in honey and parmesan and they are incredible