Questionable pub roast dinner

[Choccablock]

I may be being unreasonable here so please do say?

I went to a pub for a roast this afternoon. It wasn't a good meal. It just didn't taste of anything other than gravy. (It was also missing the Yorkshire pudding and parsnip as promised on the menu)

My AIBU is, the menu said 'seasonal green vegetables'. But all I was given was huge helping of lettuce and a few half carrots.

Am I being greedy to think lettuce isn't particularly seasonal, and expected another vegetable at least?

I'm happy to be told I'm being unreasonable. I was just a bit at the huge pile of lettuce

Yes, I've given up on pub roasts too. I had in my head the idea that somewhere out there was the perfect pub roast, with the perfect Yorkshire, and braised red cabbage, and cauliflower cheese on the side, and carrots which aren't overcooked or undercooked, and proper gravy that doesn't taste like school dinner Bisto - but it's a fantasy that will never exist. Like world peace or summat. An unobtainable nirvana. I've given up trying so as to avoid the crushing existential disappointment I feel each time.

Also, in Italy once, DS1 ordered a random pizza from a menu in Italian and it came with just lettuce on top. I have no idea if this is authentic or if they were taking the piss out of the tourists, but I suspect the latter.

I've had a Sunday dinner starter of Yorkshire puddings with lettuce done in a vinaigrette dressing and served with gravy - it's really tasty. My friends occasionally serve this with the roast.

What I got was some sort of vinegary liquid with a few chopped up mint leaves floating in it, the waitress confirmed that this was what they classed as mint sauce wtf

That sounds like Yorkshire salad. It's yum. Totally different to mint sauce though, so if you were expecting mint sauce I can understand your disappointment!

Youd be shocked at the amount of kids at school that ask for lettuce with their roast dinner and gravy!!

Lettuce?

I'm dearly hoping you mean cabbage, otherwise everything great about living in the UK is in dire jeopardy. The only appropriate response to be served lettuce with a roast would be to re-assert as much Britishness as possible by putting a life-sized cut out of the Queen at your table with a cup of tea and a scone and hope that sorts out the Universe's British equilibrium.

Soggy lettuce? 🤢

I'm sure it was lettuce

Oops posted too soon.
I'm sure it was lettuce it was soggy yes. There was some cabbage in there too come to think of it. I won't be leaving them a negative review as they are so new and perhaps they need time to improve.
Urgg I have a dodgy tummy now!

Yes I pointed out the missing Yorkshire pudding. But only realised later about the parsnips and was too embarrassed to ask again. It did seem a bit odd, the whole combination. Everything just tasted of gravy.

OK the word lettuce has ceased to mean anything to me now. I've never read it so many times in one place!

so, in Italy once, DS1 ordered a random pizza from a menu in Italian and it came with just lettuce on top. I have no idea if this is authentic or if they were taking the piss out of the tourists, but I suspect the latter.

I saw locals in Italy eating pizza that was just the base and a mound of rocket.

Just to add to the 'is lettuce seasonal' debate (not going to mention how wrong lettuce with a roast is...)

We picked our last 3 lettuces from our vegetable patch last week, so technically lettuce is a seasonal vegetable in our house at least!

Hassled - that pub roast does exist !

I had that dinner ( all except the braised red cabbage ) at The Oakley Arms in Harrold, Bedfordshire, about a month ago. There was a choice of beef, pork or chicken. The cauliflower cheese was very good indeed.The bill for 5 adults including drinks was £ 70.

Stephanie - why do I have to live so far from Bedfordshire? But if that's the perfect roast, it may have to happen. I'll bring my own red cabbage.

It doesn't matter if lettuce is seasonal or not it's strange with a roast and gravy! I have had charred little gem lettuce before which is yummy but not on a roast dinner. It's like having a burger with a side of cauliflower cheese, both ok on their one but never together.

A roast, like a Christmas lunch/dinner, is almost always best served at home.

I know Hassled - I live too far away too. It's where my mum grew up and although she doesn't live there now we were visiting family. I thought it was going to be the run of the mill carvery experience so it was a lovely surprise.

Hi Pumpkin, have just googled Yorkshire Salad to see what it was. Didn't get anything remotely like that, mine was like weak tea with a few "mint" tea leaves floating in it, nasty. I love roast lamb so was very very disappointed.

Always complain if something isn't right.

I used to be a chef and if people don't complain then how are they going to know that they are doing it wrong?

I have had a few bad roast dinners over the last few year, I have complained and got a refund and a free pudding, one pub I waited over an hour and a half only to be served one slice of meet, a few over cooked veggies and a frozen stuffing ball that was still frozen. I got a full refund and went to KFC as I was starving. Also got served mouldy potatoes at hungry horse, I left them a bad review and received a refund. Always complain if something isn't as it should be.

That was an unexpected ray of sunshine - thank you steph we're moving to a village quite near Harrold in a couple of weeks!

Is anyone else googling The Oakley Arms in Harrold???

Thank you Stephanie

I am only about 20 miles from there and I am going to book!

And along with everyone else, LETTUCE.?? 😡

Roast dinners are never nice out though. How can they be when everything needs to be cooked fresh and served up straight away?

You are eating in the wrong places.

This reminds me of the time DS always used to come home on roast dinner day at school and say he had Gammon/Beef/Chicken etc with potatoes lettuce and gravy. He had us perplexed for months until his DSis joined the school and we discovered he meant cabbage!

But YANBU on the Yorkshire pudding thing. Outrageous.

You need to get on Instagram and follow the shitroastdinners account, it'll make you feel better about your hot, limp lettuce and AWOL yorkshires! Some of the pictures of roast dinners people have made/been served are truly, truly awful.