The Oak Tree Inn - Darlington

Go here regularly. Not aware it has been taken over. Ordered grilled beef and onion pannini with onion gravy. Came on a dry baguette no gravy, masses of awful salad in baguette with a few pieces of beef on top, no onions or gravy. Other orders incorrect. The staff were hovering over us throughout the meal, very off putting. Will be finding somewhere new for our monthly catch up

Avoid at all costs it’s vile. Nothing at all was enjoyable about our experience tonight. The Parmo looked and tasted as if it was cooked last week and served today the photo from other customers below is exactly what to expect, the chips tastes as if they had been soaked in what can only be described as old stagnant larger. Full of young staff that couldn’t care less, spent the majority of the night stood outside the kitchen doors talking amongst themselves while there was tables waiting to be served and tables that needed clearing. Such a let down when the previous owners made such an effort

Have always enjoyed visiting the Oak Tree so went for lunch on Saturday. Was aware the restaurant was under new ownership but was surprised to see the old menu has been replaced. I would normally order the scampi but this wasn’t on the new menu so went with the Parmo which was awful. We will not be returning

Not great. We’ve been here quite a bit since it re opened and with each visit the food has gotten worse this latest visit was the worst food we’ve had so far. Lamb chop starter was truly dreadful, I understand lamb can be fatty but these were 80% fat and white, uncooked, grisly, inedible fat at that. One of us had what was called cheesecake on the menu but it was a weird rubbery consistency and nothing like cheesecake. We did tell our waiter but all we got was a mumbled “sorry” and he just took our plates away and never came back to our table. It’s such a shame as it was quite nice when it originally re opened, wonder why it seems to be going downhill.

Visited last night for the first time since the Oak Tree was taken over. We usually are regular visitors at the pub, but unfortunately last night was our last visit. Even though the place was busy, we were disappointed in the evening and the changes that had been made. We did not realise the menu had been changed and it has not been changed for the better. Real lack of choice now, and a pretty non-existent childrens menu which has now changed to burgers and chicken wings (which young child can eat chicken wings? Ended up just asking for plain pasta, which was still brought out covered in garlic butter! Adults both had parmesans, which came our extremely greasy, and with terrible chips... this pub used to serve the best proper chips. Other small changes which just didn't make the pub feel as nice as it used to, cheap plastic bottles of morrisons vinegar on the tables, decking steps into the tent area broken and a tripping hazard with no tape or mat over them, dirty menus just printed on plain paper. Sad that this was our experience, and now going to have to find a new Friday night pub to frequent.