Restaurant review: Roast couldn't live up to what Pack Horse has to offer

Don’t get me wrong, there were a lot of positives, and it wasn’t like I felt I had been short-changed, more that I had missed out – knowing The Pack Horse in Northborough (a great looking stone-built pub) as I do and what features on the main menu every other day of the week.

Pork confit and stilton or crab and crayfish on toast for starters, a seared venison or shakshuka on the mains for instance.

Anyhow I was there by choice, and Sundays is one course for £10.95, two for £14.95 and three for £17.95, and as well as roasts there was salmon fillet or sun dried tomato pasta.

Brad Barnes dines at The Pack Horse in Northborough

My smoked duck salad was ok. The duck (four slices) was subtly smokey without it being overpowering and I did like the plum and soya dressing on the mixed leaf salad. Enjoyable but not very exciting.

Now, the braised pork loin I liked a lot – moist, soft and a decent serving (two thick slices) - and the cider jus was beautiful. The mash had a smattering of kale, just enough to notice.

The veg was perfectly cooked, plenty of firmness in the carrot and brocolli - and the samphire made a nice change.

Donna had a roast beef dinner so a bit of mixing and matching went on. There was more than enough beef, which had a nice taste to it, although it was a bit dry before the introduction of the stunning gravy.

The potatoes had a lovely taste too, if a bit soft, and the Yorkshire pudding was the right combination of softness and crispiness.

Again, good without any real wow factor that makes you stop mid-chew and drool.

It was filling and although I liked the sound of the desserts it was game over.

Service was very pleasant indeed, although I would have liked to have been told when booking that we were to be seated in the bar (I sat at a soft leather sofa to eat) rather than the restaurant.