The Pheasant - North Norfolk

My family always tries to have a meal at this hotel when we visit North Norfolk, and this time we booked a Sunday lunch in the Orangery. The service and staff were exceptional as usual, and the food was delicious. However, it was evident that the hospitality industry is facing challenges with staff shortages as the service became progressively delayed as the afternoon went on. Despite their best efforts, the staff were struggling to keep up. In the end, we decided to forgo waiting for the dessert menu and instead went to the nearby Kelling Garden Centre where we enjoyed a fantastic coffee and cake. This experience won't deter me from returning, but I hope they have enough staff to manage a busy Sunday lunch service next time. It's worth noting that dogs are allowed in the Orangery, which may not be an issue for those comfortable with dogs as long as they are well-behaved.

We booked here for Sunday lunch during our stay in Norfolk and selected the ‘casual dining’ option in the Orangery when booking. This is where we were seated on arrival and let’s just say we felt very under-dressed compared to other guests! Despite this we still enjoyed a lovely meal. What we also did not realise is that it is a two or three course option, but we only wanted the one course with the main meal. The staff were very accommodating to adjust our bill so we were not overpaying for what we had ordered. I would definitely recommend this restaurant for Sunday dinner as the food was cooked beautifully, giant Yorkshire puddings too, however I would say do your research first to avoid feeling a little out of place like we did!

We entered the hotel and were greeted by sign advertising for staff, which suggested and indeed was confirmed throughout the meal, that they were short staffed and the new people not fully trained. I think it’s possible to get away with this in the fast food restaurants of the world, but more difficult to hide in what is regarded as a main stream restaurant.The main restaurant was closed and the more informal garden room with its doors open to the world was a pleasant enough setting, although somewhat unsuited the bottles and cans scattered around the table we sat down to eat.I dislike food not served on the plate, so I was immediately wary of the starter, tempera prawns that were delivered in minature wire baskets. Actually they were quite nice, (but it seems to me) that the chef must lack confidence in his food if he feels the need to distract.The fish and chips were nice although very expensive and not the haddock advertised on the menu. They were served without tartar, or even the offer of tartar, another indication of the staff training need.My colleague’s liver and bacon looked stunning and was quickly consumed with a finishing mmmmmmmmmmmh.However, we were all disappointed by the dogs that appeared initially in the bar and ultimately in the restaurant! there was no indication when we booked that this was to be the case, and it did cause us to leave early and somewhat dissatisfied.

We decided to try out Sunday lunch at The Pheasant, which is not something we usually do as it can be hit or miss depending on the place. However, The Pheasant exceeded all of our expectations! The setting itself is gorgeous with stunning decor and impeccable cleanliness. The service was good, although it could have been slightly better, but we understand that it's a tough time for the hospitality industry. The food was amazing from start to finish - delicious flavors and visually appealing presentation. We have found our new favorite restaurant in The Pheasant...and we can't believe it took us so long to visit! We are already looking forward to returning and I'm determined to try the Pheasant Royal cocktail next time!

My group stayed at this restaurant for a few nights and had breakfast daily along with a couple of dinners. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food. While it looked better on the plate and in photos than it tasted, the breakfasts were excellent and the dinners were above average. Although I can't remember exactly what we ate a week later, I do remember being happy with the meals at the time.