the olive branch

RebeccaJDavies

What a great place to have some really delicious food. You do pay a bit extra but you certainly get fantastic quality in return. The food is made with love and care and making the most out of the local produce- this shines through! Fab selection of ales and wines, and the staff are really knowledgeable and attentive. Have been here several times and will definitely be returning several more!

PeterStriker

We've been here a few times , but I'm wondering about bothering again. It's a place you want to go and have enjoy something that little bit better, somewhere where the staff pay that little bit more attention, and where you leave feeling you've had value for money, as it's nit the cheapest. So here's the but. Why is it we leave feeling the food is no better than a lot of places now, and more expensive too. Some of the staff, it was commented within our group, look down there noses at you, and we left feeling it was 'ok'Resting on its laurels?

NorwichHarley

The place has a very good atmosphere. The staff are professional and the food extremely tasty and well presented. If you prefer to people watch the bar tables are ideal, although the through traffic may become distracting.Good choice of beer and a wine lovers dream, choice is vast.If you want to run a foodie pub, this is the way to do it. Good value, we will return for the gourmet menu.

19Di_a_nne

a super lunchtime experience, have read some of the reviews and just wonder if people set out to be miserable and fault finding - our visit was perfect with no flaws or faults - thank you Staffthe menu is excellent and the choice of wines fantastichave not used this restaurant for a number of years due to being out of the area (am back now)but, I know my daughter does, it will from here on in be the top of our list for lovely meals in superb surroundings with an array of good wines and beers

Jan_ATL

Always try and fit in a visit here when coming home. Friendly staff, lovely ambiance with log fire, real ale and delicious food - everything I want from a pub.

351sandraj

For our third year running we had lunch at The Olive Branch. This restaurant continues to consistently serve high end food and the menu on New Year Day was exceptional. I opted for the wild mushroom florette with breast of pigeon foIlowed by sea bass with tempura prawn special. I will mention at this point that it was sold as sea bass with tempura prawns (plural) you get one prawn which should have really been two or three at the price charged! My husband had the mushroom risotto followed by the beef wellington special. All four dishes were executed well and tickled and tantalised the taste buds. We were too full for desserts but a good selection to choose from. It is a pricey place to go to but worth it, you can tell they use quality ingredients and you always leave full and content.

Joobes

Forth visit over the past year. Thing for me here is that you get the relaxed atmosphere of a pub with the service and food in line with a very decent restaurant. I go for evenings as I know lunch can get hectic. You can find some belters in the bin end wine collection.

976joannem

Attended as a guest in the function room. Beautiful surroundings, very comfortable. Excellent service, food was amazing, old traditional building, would definitely recommend.

Tedsowner

Having read so many great reviews about this restaurant I was eager to visit again and so booked in for Sunday lunch on my wife's birthday. The place was busy, as expected, when we arrived 10 minutes before our table was due but it was disappointing to have nowhere to sit and have a drink before going through. We squeezed into the bar area for 10 or 15 minutes which wasn't relaxing for us or those on very nearby tables. When we arrived at our table everything was nicely set out and the staff looking after us were very helpful, friendly and attentive. We all chose the traditional Sunday lunch with roast beef. The good service of the waiting staff was let down by very slow service from the kitchen and the food that did arrive although inventively presented was let down by not being hot enough.This place has a nice feel to it and there are signs of real quality but it seemed to me that they were trying to cram too many people in which may increase takings in the short term but at the risk of long term damage to the product.

Medley123

This is the third or fourth time we have eaten here which have all been excellent. This time was pleasant but not of the same standard. Service was slow and with predominantly one server, by the time he got around to the last person on the table food was rapidly getting cold.In the past we had bowl of veg, however this time dishes were plated. This included in my case, 3 nearly roasted potatoes, 3 carrots the size of a finger tip, 1 small broccoli floret and some red cabbage. The beef and Yorkshire pudding were good.We were offered extra gravy which for 18 people arrived in a very small (cream like) jug, with a second turning up a few minutes later. 80% of the table opted for the roast beef but no horseradish offered and needed to be requested. Starters were flavourful, but as mentioned before not as hot as could have been. Desserts were lovely. I drank the Pinot Grigio which was excellent.I hope this is a blip and would still recommend this lovely dining room.

carmadgirly

I visited The Olive Branch with three friends for dinner. We actually arrived just before opening time having booked a table. We were made very welcome and seated at our table. The kind staff even served a cup of tea to one of our party. The menu was varied and it was hard to decide what to eat. Eventually, three of us settled for the three course set meal which was very good value at Just under £30 per head. Apart from the three courses, the menu included a palette-cleanser of sorbet and homemade petite fours served with the coffee. There was excellent bread too. The staff were absolutely lovely and looked after us splendidly. We were recommended to try this restaurant by the couple who owned the B&B at which we were staying in Folkingham (see my review of The Barn). Well worth a visit not only for the excellent food but also for the warm and inviting atmosphere.

lornaw890

A wonderful pub serving outstanding food and the best draft Leffe I have had outside Belgium. Make sure you book and don't expect a cheap night out but this pub will not disappoint you for a casual evening or a special occasion (ours was my mums 80th and the staff were great).

brushmeister

Went here for lunch after a recommendation from a friend, really enjoyed the food good flavours and well presented, the staff were polite but at times service seemed a little slow. Was it expensive ? I think marginally yes, but for the meal presented to us on the day I was happy to pay the extra.

ConsumerJournalist

A perfect English summers day, midweek and a table booked for just after the lunchtime rush.The table outside under some shade was inviting, and much more appropriate than the one reserved inside. You have to book here as it's always busy.There are signs telling which way to go in the building, it's hard to order a drink if you're not yet sitting at your table, you are NOT ALLOWED to have a menu until Louise (the less than able, bossy, self important 'manager’) says you can, the only person who is allowed to take your order and only when she is ready is again, Louise the manager.It was hard to get any attention for anything, the staff - while pleasant enough - seemed trained to avoid eye contact with customers for fear of being asked for something. A frustration felt from all the tables around.The food was good and the fixed price menu looked fair on value. You’ll find really good, but not exceptional cooking.You might be left thinking that Ben and Sean (owners) have taken their eye off the ball here, certainly they have entrusted their crown jewel (The Olive Branch is so much better then The Red Lion) to Louise, and that is not a good thing.

A27Lincolnshire

We went as part of a large group and took over the private dining room, there was a lovely ambience and we had our own waitress.The food was of very high quality, probably the best gnocchi I've ever had. Portions are small, a perfect size for me, but a man is likely to still be hungry afterwards