To ask what dishes you would say are 'pub grub'?

[Ilovepearjuice]

My friend is hoping to take over a pub and wants to keep the menu to fairly traditional, starting with the firm favourites. She asked for some opinions on what these favourites would be.

My initial thinking was:
Fish and chips
Lasagne
Pie and mash
Ploughman's
Roast on Sundays

So, people of Mumsnet, when you think of a proper, traditional British pub, what do you expect to see on the menu?

"Burger and child for less than a tenner" @Iongestlurkerever?
Do you have to eat the child or could you take it home with you?

Shepherd or cottage pie
some form of a stew

But I was on holidays in august and after a couple of hotel stays and multiple pub meals, I found a gem - basic dishes but done so well, very high standards. It doesn't really what the variety is, it is how well it is done. And yet normal prices. Will send you a PM, lest people accuse me of advertising...

sausage and mash

pastie

steak sandwich

pork scratchings with a hairy wart (not for me)

chips in a proper serving, not an eggcup

ketchup in a bottle

Some people I prefer mash to chips in most cases.

If you serve sausages please for goodness sake serve good quality ones, not the often served low meat sausages.

God. This all sound so boring, repetitive, and stodgy. 🤢 Every single menu the freaking same. Don’t people get tired of this?

@JingsMahBucket

God. This all sound so boring, repetitive, and stodgy. 🤢 Every single menu the freaking same. Don’t people get tired of this?

We're answering the question:

"To ask what dishes you would say are 'pub grub'?"

Gastro pub- sous vide pork

Dive bar pub - extra crispy hot wings with a side of ranch

@JingsMahBucket

God. This all sound so boring, repetitive, and stodgy. 🤢 Every single menu the freaking same. Don’t people get tired of this?

What exotic cuisine do you suggest?

Butternut squash curry n rice, fish n chips, wraps....sweet chilli chicken, falafel, roasted veg, hummus / tzatziki dips plus bread/veg, nachos.. veggie and non veg, burgers...meat, chicken, veggie, a pasta dish, sausage and mash (not for me unless good veggie sausages and sweet potato mash),omelette, poke bowls, good chips, chicken wings.

Most places round here ( South East )do a "nourish bowel" with avocado, quinoa, leaves, hummus, seeds - that type of thing and something fishy that isn't fish n chips.

@PigletJohn

sausage and mash

pastie

steak sandwich

pork scratchings with a hairy wart (not for me)

chips in a proper serving, not an eggcup

ketchup in a bottle

Some people I prefer mash to chips in most cases.

Heinz ketchup....NOT that cheap pale vinegar tasting shit!!

A roast with Yorkshire's
Burger chips
Scampi and chips
Mac and cheese garlic bread
Lasagne
Curry
Pie and mash

Fish and chips
Hunters chicken
Lunch time options like baguettes and soup, quiche.

Scampi and chips
Cottage pie
Mixed grill
Steak & chips
Sausage & mash
Chicken in a basket
Soup of the day
Chicken curry & rice
Ham egg & chips
Lasagna

These were all on the menu when I first worked in a pub that did pub food

My go to pib lunch options.

Soup, half a chunky sandwich and a small pile of chips. Bloody great. Seems massive and a huge treat but cheap (as chips) to make. Easy to make the soup veggie with fish/meat/veg options on the sandwich

Sashimi Poke bowl! Not trad but appearing more and more on pub lunches as an alternative to a salad and filling and delicious.

A great beef/cheese burger and a great fried chicken burger. Not a spooky yellow thing but a southern fried chicken thing.

Caesar salad. Must be WARM! Warm freshly cooked chicken breast with warm fresh bacon and a just poached/soft boiled egg. Gorgeous. Cold ones are horrible.

Circulating Pies with mash or fries.

I never go for curry as I assume it's microwave in a box type.

Fish finger sarnie too. Amazing.

@Hoolihan

My crap pub red flags are: *too many things on the menu *poor/lazy veggie options - no-one wants to eat stuffed fucking mushrooms *mixed cuisine e.g. offering curry/thai food alongside trad British - no way is that going to be in any way authentic or well made *horrid fast food type muck like nachos, chicken wings, onion rings - just cheap and nasty *food that's too cheap - kids meal deals for.£3.99 or a roast for £8, yuck

Hit the nail on the head with this.

@JingsMahBucket

God. This all sound so boring, repetitive, and stodgy. 🤢 Every single menu the freaking same. Don’t people get tired of this?

Yes I would, but the op asked for traditional pub grub and that's what she got. Sometimes I'm in the mood for that, but yes I do prefer something a bit more imaginative.

@JingsMahBucket

God. This all sound so boring, repetitive, and stodgy. 🤢 Every single menu the freaking same. Don’t people get tired of this?

If I didn’t want to eat pup grub I wouldn’t go to somewhere serving pub grub strangely!

When I do want pub grub I want decent quality stuff which it sounds like the Friend is trying to do

The best places locally all have a published link with local butchers so people know what they are betting meat wise.

Bottles or ramekins for things like ketchup and mayonnaise. My heart sinks when you get those annoying sachets which are impossible to open. They may be convenient for the pub, but they aren't thinking of their customers.

Schnitty or a parmie. Both preferably.

We don’t know who the target audience is though here.

I love an evening in a gastro pub with a roaring fire and would expect to see a better menu than scampi and chips, but equally i am very open to a weatherspoons lunch on occasion where I can be guaranteed quickly served cheap food.

I would be very disappointed with a spoons menu in a gastro pub.

I do think a great home made pie is a winner anywhere.

Steak sandwich is a must!

Hot sandwiches at lunch especially in winter is always a good one.

All of the above. But please ask her not to have everything with chips! We have a local pub that cooks really good homemade food, but there is literally nothing on the menu that doesn't come with chips. Something with rice, or even offering a healthy chip alternative would be great.

Even better if it comes with garlic breadth and child. Carb tastic

You win the thread for the day @longestlurkerever