Had a lovely meal last night at the Gainsborough Pub last night. I had the Mixed Grill, my daughter had the steak. All cooked to perfection. All the food was hot and came to the table quickly. Thoroughly recommend eating here.
AndyC59
Went in for a lunchtime sandwich. Quite a traditional pub with wood floors and wood tables throughout, which I quite like. A pub should look like a pub. It was early lunchtime and we were the only ones there to start with. Service was friendly and polite but lacked any more curiosity or personality, whether it was in conversation or, later, as to whether everything was ok. The beer was good and the food was good but basic, as reflected in the price. There was a small pot of crisps and as I got through these the bottom ones were soggy where some liquid (from washing up I hope) was left over. That's when it would have been nice if someone had been interested, I wasn't going to raise it otherwise. As the score suggests, it was ok and I would go back, but there are other pubs to explore too.
Amelia
A rather disappointing meal, burger was good but only one mouthful of coleslaw… ‘Homemade’ pie was terrible, dry, no sauce, tiny portion of tough meat. And most probably not homemade. Mash was rather salty, and no seasonal veg as menu stated just peas…Atmosphere more for local drinking not somewhere to have a nice meal.Definitely won’t be back.
Chris WHITE
Had lunch here on a Friday. A lovely atmosphere and the staff were so welcoming, friendly and polite.
Mike McCartney
The service was great but the food was disappointing. It arrived lukewarm and I tried someone's soup and agreed it was gloopy, had little taste and felt like it had come out of a can. Comments were that there was very little turkey and other meat had been cooked more on one side than the other. The beer was nice though and staff were friendly.
Louise Tricker
Our first visit to The Gainsborough and we weren't disappointed! Very friendly service and a good selection of ales...I was really pleased to find one of my favourite beers, Woodfordes Wherry available. We both ordered the roast chicken which was beautifully tender and served with a great selection of seasonal veg (more than we could manage!). The prices are incredibly reasonable and the atmosphere is laid back and welcoming. We look forward to returning soon!
Paul Davies
We came to town for a meal, ordered possibly the worse meal we have ever had, homemade pie gravy was like water. The chicken burger was Tastless , coleslaw was awful , the drinks were a joke. Would not recommend this establishment . Will never return, in fact had I not paid for meal in advance I would have walked out .
Louise Milton
Great chef lovely food great
2bad1965
Had table booked for 4 of us for 7 pm (booked almost 3 weeks previously ) ordered food ,burgers and fish and chips ,so nothing fancy or difficult ? Waited ...and waited ,eventually went and asked how much longer the food would be, was told it was 'on its way' ..waited more....food still didnt arrive so went and asked again to be told ' its being plated up ' ...well obviously it wasnt as waited another 20 mins ,by which time it was 8.30 pm, so we had been waiting for our food for an hour and a half ! Went up to the bar to say we couldnt wait any longer ,the response was 'ok' and that was it ?? No apology ,nothing .We dont believe they had even started cooking it .Absolutely appalling service .An hour and a half wait for burgers and fish and chips which never turned up is a joke ,and their customer service attitude was shocking .If they couldnt cope with the number of people dining they shouldnt have taken the bookings . (Although There were only 2 other tables that we could see who were eating ) We walked out and went to The Codfather Restaurant Opposite and had a lovely meal, cheaper and with fast , great service .Will NOT be returning to The Gainsborough that's for sure .
Had the greatest topside Sunday lunch. Even I couldn’t finish. The vegetables were cooked perfectly. A lot of my friend’s lunch was put in a doggy bag as she is too thin to fit it all in. Can thoroughly recommend. Service is excellent. Never tried the desert as I couldn’t have eaten a peanut. ?after the main.
Sharon D
Really disappointed with the food, salmon overcooked. Crushed potatoes cold. £15.95 for half a piece of salmon. We have eaten there so many times in the past. would certainly think twice before going.
Ttgffhhgfds
Wow!! What a great place to stop in, after a long drive back down to East Anglia we were wanting some food, so while driving through Sudbury we saw The Gainsborough. First thing we noticed was how friendly and welcoming the staff were as we came in. The building interior was of a classic style, wooden beams and columns and a log fire (not lit thou) but making you feel relaxed all the same. Once seated and drinks bought we looked through the delightful menu and was really pleased to see classic pub food and more to our delight was how they created their own stamp on Dinner options too! The food came out hot and smelled amazing, with little room for dessert we passed on these but again the choices were superb. We stayed after for a few more drinks and bought in particular a beer/ale that gave a percentage back to a registered charity fund called Tiegan’s Smile which helps other children going though the same conditions their own daughter Tiegan is going through. All in all we thoroughly enjoyed our evening and will definitely go back again! What a gem to have in Suffolk ?
lynneg708
I booked here on recommendation from a friend for some friends and myself.... I booked a table for a Sunday lunch 2 weeks in advanced and was asked if we had any dietary requirements, I replied that one of us was vegetarian which they noted. (1) On the day my friend asked for a vegetarian roast to be told they don't do one! But my friend adapted and overcame this issue and ordered a roast without the meat and in its place had a portion of cauliflower cheese. We were happy that they would accommodate this, the rest of us ordered 2 x roast pork and one roast beef dinner. (2) On arrival we found all the food to be warm not hot, so requested it to be taken back. (3) When it came back out it was a little warmer and as we were all hungry we decided to keep and eat. (4) My first disappointment was no homemade Yorkshire pudding :( (5) 2 of us were promised on the menu crackling with our roast pork, we had a little tiny soft bit (6) We were also promised on the menu fresh apple sauce & stuffing, there was none (7) The roast beef was promised horseradish cream, there was none (8) We ordered a portion (four) of Pigs in blankets we got two (9) Cauliflower cheese - Couldn't get a fork in it as it was so hard (10) The "fresh seasonal vegetables" were indescribable and inedible (but going from other reviews here they were rainbow carrots) (11) Buttery swede mash - We never saw any (12) Roast potatoes crispy on the outside and hard in the middle The only thing that was edible was the meat which we have no complaints over. (13) My vegetarian friend called the waitress over to complain that her dinner was inedible and take it away the waitress apologised and said well I can't not charge you for the meal is there anything else I can get you? This was not her best choice of response! She offered my friend a vegetarian salad on a cold rainy October Sunday! My friend declined and said she will not be paying for the meal again the waitress said she could not, not charge her! We asked to speak to the manager and was told he was busy but would get to us as soon as he could. (14) My other 2 friends and myself had eaten what we could and left quite a bit of food to be taken back to the kitchen. A rather heated discussion ensued with all four of us unhappy with the meal and the pub quietened down for all to hear. A chef from the kitchen came into the pub to hear what was being said but never approached our table throughout our time there (we were there over 2 hours) but did visit other tables and speak to customers. I can't comment on other tables food but I can confirm that quite a lot of food had been left that lunchtime! (15) When the waitress cleared the table she dropped knives and forks onto friends lap (16) 2 of us thought we would try a dessert and both chose Eton Mess (surely they couldn't get that wrong) on arrival visually it looked amazing and we tucked in.... My friend asked if I had any meringue in mine to which I replied "it is scarce! and I've got raspberries not strawberries" When the waitress who we later found out to be a "supervisor" came to clear the deserts she said today would be all free. We were very grateful and happy that they realised their mistake and rectified as best they could. The manager now arrives to apologise for our bad experience, blaming it on a small kitchen which is smaller than his bedroom upstairs and asked if we would come back for another meal on him.... Honestly I don't think we will.... After this bad review I have written I can confess that I had been here only a few weeks previously one evening with my partner for a meal and despite the questionable playlist playing we had a lovely pub meal, but having had a meal with friends with 16 mistakes/errors or whatever you want to call them I would think twice about going here even for a burger....
Gloria Tyler
There were 9 of us, most had roast dinners, but there wasn't much on the rest of the menu for the others to eat, they were very short staffed and run of there feet... On the whole, we were disappointed with the service. Will not be going there again...
Had a lovely dinner many thanks well worth a
Had a lovely meal last night at the Gainsborough Pub last night. I had the Mixed Grill, my daughter had the steak. All cooked to perfection. All the food was hot and came to the table quickly. Thoroughly recommend eating here.
Went in for a lunchtime sandwich. Quite a traditional pub with wood floors and wood tables throughout, which I quite like. A pub should look like a pub. It was early lunchtime and we were the only ones there to start with. Service was friendly and polite but lacked any more curiosity or personality, whether it was in conversation or, later, as to whether everything was ok. The beer was good and the food was good but basic, as reflected in the price. There was a small pot of crisps and as I got through these the bottom ones were soggy where some liquid (from washing up I hope) was left over. That's when it would have been nice if someone had been interested, I wasn't going to raise it otherwise. As the score suggests, it was ok and I would go back, but there are other pubs to explore too.
A rather disappointing meal, burger was good but only one mouthful of coleslaw… ‘Homemade’ pie was terrible, dry, no sauce, tiny portion of tough meat. And most probably not homemade. Mash was rather salty, and no seasonal veg as menu stated just peas…Atmosphere more for local drinking not somewhere to have a nice meal.Definitely won’t be back.
Had lunch here on a Friday. A lovely atmosphere and the staff were so welcoming, friendly and polite.
The service was great but the food was disappointing. It arrived lukewarm and I tried someone's soup and agreed it was gloopy, had little taste and felt like it had come out of a can. Comments were that there was very little turkey and other meat had been cooked more on one side than the other. The beer was nice though and staff were friendly.
Our first visit to The Gainsborough and we weren't disappointed! Very friendly service and a good selection of ales...I was really pleased to find one of my favourite beers, Woodfordes Wherry available. We both ordered the roast chicken which was beautifully tender and served with a great selection of seasonal veg (more than we could manage!). The prices are incredibly reasonable and the atmosphere is laid back and welcoming. We look forward to returning soon!
We came to town for a meal, ordered possibly the worse meal we have ever had, homemade pie gravy was like water. The chicken burger was Tastless , coleslaw was awful , the drinks were a joke. Would not recommend this establishment . Will never return, in fact had I not paid for meal in advance I would have walked out .
Great chef lovely food great
Had table booked for 4 of us for 7 pm (booked almost 3 weeks previously ) ordered food ,burgers and fish and chips ,so nothing fancy or difficult ? Waited ...and waited ,eventually went and asked how much longer the food would be, was told it was 'on its way' ..waited more....food still didnt arrive so went and asked again to be told ' its being plated up ' ...well obviously it wasnt as waited another 20 mins ,by which time it was 8.30 pm, so we had been waiting for our food for an hour and a half ! Went up to the bar to say we couldnt wait any longer ,the response was 'ok' and that was it ?? No apology ,nothing .We dont believe they had even started cooking it .Absolutely appalling service .An hour and a half wait for burgers and fish and chips which never turned up is a joke ,and their customer service attitude was shocking .If they couldnt cope with the number of people dining they shouldnt have taken the bookings . (Although There were only 2 other tables that we could see who were eating ) We walked out and went to The Codfather Restaurant Opposite and had a lovely meal, cheaper and with fast , great service .Will NOT be returning to The Gainsborough that's for sure .
Restaurantji Recommends
Had the greatest topside Sunday lunch. Even I couldn’t finish. The vegetables were cooked perfectly. A lot of my friend’s lunch was put in a doggy bag as she is too thin to fit it all in. Can thoroughly recommend. Service is excellent. Never tried the desert as I couldn’t have eaten a peanut. ?after the main.
Really disappointed with the food, salmon overcooked. Crushed potatoes cold. £15.95 for half a piece of salmon. We have eaten there so many times in the past. would certainly think twice before going.
Wow!! What a great place to stop in, after a long drive back down to East Anglia we were wanting some food, so while driving through Sudbury we saw The Gainsborough. First thing we noticed was how friendly and welcoming the staff were as we came in. The building interior was of a classic style, wooden beams and columns and a log fire (not lit thou) but making you feel relaxed all the same. Once seated and drinks bought we looked through the delightful menu and was really pleased to see classic pub food and more to our delight was how they created their own stamp on Dinner options too! The food came out hot and smelled amazing, with little room for dessert we passed on these but again the choices were superb. We stayed after for a few more drinks and bought in particular a beer/ale that gave a percentage back to a registered charity fund called Tiegan’s Smile which helps other children going though the same conditions their own daughter Tiegan is going through. All in all we thoroughly enjoyed our evening and will definitely go back again! What a gem to have in Suffolk ?
I booked here on recommendation from a friend for some friends and myself.... I booked a table for a Sunday lunch 2 weeks in advanced and was asked if we had any dietary requirements, I replied that one of us was vegetarian which they noted. (1) On the day my friend asked for a vegetarian roast to be told they don't do one! But my friend adapted and overcame this issue and ordered a roast without the meat and in its place had a portion of cauliflower cheese. We were happy that they would accommodate this, the rest of us ordered 2 x roast pork and one roast beef dinner. (2) On arrival we found all the food to be warm not hot, so requested it to be taken back. (3) When it came back out it was a little warmer and as we were all hungry we decided to keep and eat. (4) My first disappointment was no homemade Yorkshire pudding :( (5) 2 of us were promised on the menu crackling with our roast pork, we had a little tiny soft bit (6) We were also promised on the menu fresh apple sauce & stuffing, there was none (7) The roast beef was promised horseradish cream, there was none (8) We ordered a portion (four) of Pigs in blankets we got two (9) Cauliflower cheese - Couldn't get a fork in it as it was so hard (10) The "fresh seasonal vegetables" were indescribable and inedible (but going from other reviews here they were rainbow carrots) (11) Buttery swede mash - We never saw any (12) Roast potatoes crispy on the outside and hard in the middle The only thing that was edible was the meat which we have no complaints over. (13) My vegetarian friend called the waitress over to complain that her dinner was inedible and take it away the waitress apologised and said well I can't not charge you for the meal is there anything else I can get you? This was not her best choice of response! She offered my friend a vegetarian salad on a cold rainy October Sunday! My friend declined and said she will not be paying for the meal again the waitress said she could not, not charge her! We asked to speak to the manager and was told he was busy but would get to us as soon as he could. (14) My other 2 friends and myself had eaten what we could and left quite a bit of food to be taken back to the kitchen. A rather heated discussion ensued with all four of us unhappy with the meal and the pub quietened down for all to hear. A chef from the kitchen came into the pub to hear what was being said but never approached our table throughout our time there (we were there over 2 hours) but did visit other tables and speak to customers. I can't comment on other tables food but I can confirm that quite a lot of food had been left that lunchtime! (15) When the waitress cleared the table she dropped knives and forks onto friends lap (16) 2 of us thought we would try a dessert and both chose Eton Mess (surely they couldn't get that wrong) on arrival visually it looked amazing and we tucked in.... My friend asked if I had any meringue in mine to which I replied "it is scarce! and I've got raspberries not strawberries" When the waitress who we later found out to be a "supervisor" came to clear the deserts she said today would be all free. We were very grateful and happy that they realised their mistake and rectified as best they could. The manager now arrives to apologise for our bad experience, blaming it on a small kitchen which is smaller than his bedroom upstairs and asked if we would come back for another meal on him.... Honestly I don't think we will.... After this bad review I have written I can confess that I had been here only a few weeks previously one evening with my partner for a meal and despite the questionable playlist playing we had a lovely pub meal, but having had a meal with friends with 16 mistakes/errors or whatever you want to call them I would think twice about going here even for a burger....
There were 9 of us, most had roast dinners, but there wasn't much on the rest of the menu for the others to eat, they were very short staffed and run of there feet... On the whole, we were disappointed with the service. Will not be going there again...