The Tawny Owl - Darlington

Amazing! The staff were so friendly and helpful. We were celebrating our uncles 90th birthday. As we entered the restaurant carrying two cakes, the staff were coming to meet us asking if we wanted them to take the cakes and bring them out later. They went the extra mile, decorating the cake board, joining in singing Happy birthday and making the meal special. We weren't rushed or made to feel we were overstaying our time. The food was gorgeous, I can recommend the steak and venison pie, rich and meaty. We will definitely be back.

We had a boxing day meal as a family. I am not exaggerating the food was amazing and very well presented. We had a set menu with lovely choices. Nobody in our party complained about anything, it was so perfect. The staff were very friendly, cheerful, efficient and accommodating. The pub itself was well decorated for Christmas and was very cosy. Keep up the high standards Tawny Owl, it was a delight to eat in your pub. Thank you so much.

The food was delicious and the atmosphere was wonderful at this charming old pub decorated with twinkling fairy lights for Christmas.

I appreciated somewhere that offered food at 4pm on a Tuesday in November. The place looked lovely and the staff were friendly. The only let down was the food. Both my partner and I went for pie of the day as it was beef in red wine. At £14.95 a head you should expect something reasonable, but what we were both given was an inedible amount of gristle with some very average chips. I have to admit that the carrots were actually good, though. I should have taken some photos of the amount of half chewed meat, but that wouldn't be very pleasant. We are not an old couple with dentures. I did not complain too much at the time as my partner was paying and she didn't get a receipt. We were offered a free coffee as recompense, but just wanted to leave. I hope the Christmas meals that people will have there are of a higher standard.

My wife and I had visited this restaurant previously on our way to Yorkshire and had a great experience, so we decided to stop there again for lunch on Friday. Booking online was easy, but there was plenty of space available anyway. The bar was comfortable and dog-friendly, although it was a bit chilly. The staff were trying to light a real fire to help warm up the space. All of the staff were very friendly and efficient. We started with a shared flatbread and then enjoyed the Pie of The Day (Beef Ale) and Mac and Cheese. Both dishes were excellent. We also had 2 large soft drinks, and the total bill came to £40, which seemed reasonable considering the quality of the food. Overall, we highly recommend this restaurant.