C S
Lovely evening at one of our favourite, family friendly restaurants. It’s a fantastic all rounder; delicious food with a great atmosphere (be that for a chilled meal with the family or a drink whilst watching the football!) not to mention the staff are always really friendly and do their utmost to make you feel welcome! 5 stars all round!!
Jo Sowerby
Had a meal booked for 9 people and the service was great. This was a catch up with my best friend from Australia and he’d family and we did not feel rushed at all and they were very patient with us for too much chatting rather than looking at the menus hand ordering :-)! Thank you so much
Joanne Magner
This is our favourite place to eat in Oakham. The food is excellent, staff are always polite and conscientious as nothing is too much trouble. The Manager Michaela is extremely professional and considerate, we would not hesitate in recommending this pub to eat.
len Morgan
Very relaxed atmosphere, charming waiter, good food, what's not to like?
It would be better if disabled parking was a little more convenient.
I have MS and can't walk very far. I found the distant very challenging.
starr reid
Service was really lovely and friendly we got sat down quickly and asked if we would like drinks drinks came quickly. We then got asked if we was ready to order we did ask for extra time to choose which was fine. Food arrived and it was all lovely. The only thing I would recommend personally is putting the children's food on a cooler plate as my son's was hot and he is only two so wouldn't understand that it could burn him. Service again was good asking if we would like a teaspoon for our son to eat his peas so that helped a lot. I would also recommend maybe leaving some children's menus in with the adult menus as it feels a little awkward asking for one.
Mark Knight
Wet clean environment, with very friendly staff. The food was great value, and tasted especially good. My 2 companions both complimented on just how good the burgers were, and my Sunday lunch was equally satisfying
Lynda Griffin
Following on from my previous review I would like to post an update.
Having been contacted by the Manager to discuss my concerns we were able to arrange a follow up visit where we had another meal with our friends.
The staff were very pleasant and we had a lovely meal with very good service. It has certainly restored my faith in this establishment and their customer service.
“Having booked a table online we came along for lunch with our 2 friends and when we arrived placed our drinks order which arrived promptly. However, after ordering our main courses we were very surprised and disappointed that our friends meals came out first, then after about 10mins my husbands meal came out and I was then told that mine was still being “finished off”. After about 5 more minutes of still waiting my husband had to stop eating and go to the bar to find out where my meal was. In the meantime, our friends had finished their meals and I had still not received my main course.
My husband asked to speak to the manager and explained to him that this situation was not acceptable, and when you order 4 meals you expect them to all be served at the same time.
He seemed very dismissive and uninterested that this situation had occurred however he did reluctantly say he would look into it. Then after a further 5 mins my meal finally arrived but no apologies from the manager.
We felt very embarrassed in front of our friends as this was their first visit and we wanted to all have a nice time and due to this bad experience we now feel that we would not recommend or visit your establishment again. This situation made us feel very undervalued as a paying customer.”
colin cooper
This was our first visit in what must have been 4 years.
The restaurant changed hands and the food went downhill and was not as good as it could be which was why we did not go back until now.
The present manager has restored the quality and presentation of the food and along with good service and a wide choice of menu. We will be going back again for sure.
Desiree Mahase
A nice place to eat. Not over the top, not expensive. We were well looked after, I had steak, was cooked perfectly to my taste, and apple 'crumble' for dessert, the crumble was the oat mix you get sometimes and was delicious, but would have preferred fresher apples... Say, cooked on the day rather than what seemed to be out of a tin. Still, a very good enjoyable meal, and very attentive waitresses.
Lizzie Ponsford
It was the 2nd day of me spending time with my sister Carly, and we stopped off for a bit of a light lunch...
One of the waitresses (god knows how.she got a job serving people),she was rude, and she thought I was taking the mickey out of speaking, I tried to tell her that my words get slurred (due to my illness) but she just walked away..my Sister had caught me up,after parking the car she could see that I was upset...and I told her why(My sister knows that it takes a long time for me to get my words out if I'm tired)...we decided to sit outside in the end,as I didn't want to see the waitress....apart from that, food was lovely, and it was better for us to sit outside anyway as the weather was glorious
Anne Gorey
Good value for money. It was lunch time we went and they do a set menu. There was definitely plenty to eat. Staff was very friendly and helpfull .
Diane Nolan
Had a lovely lovely meal. Was our 50th Wedding Anniversary and hubby birthday.
The staff were amazing Alexa behind the bar, and Charlotte was our waitress. Also Mark is an amazing manager. Well done!
Steve Morgan
I have been house bound for over a year, and my sister and husband visited from Wales. I wanted to take them out with some of my children. We had a lovely time with good food, super atmosphere and a very pleasant and helpful waitress.
L n M G
What a find! In the current financial climate it was great to find good food at reasonable prices along with table service with a smile! Michaela couldn't have been more helpful (Hobgoblin 😁 if you know you know) and welcoming! Will be back before heading home from our holiday! *****
Helen shea
Whenever we go , we get the warmest welcome and attentive service you could wish for, no matter how busy they are.
Good honest food at very reasonable prices in a lovely friendly atmosphere.
Neil Treece
It was ok, menu has changed slightly from my previous visit but food was still good. Of the lagers offered, as soon as Peroni on draught was mentioned, that was my choice.
Overall, still pretty good.
julie hollinshead
The staff were very friendly and efficient.
The food was faultless and very reasonably priced. Lovely atmosphere. Will come again.
Kevin Swanwick
We found the staff extremely friendly and attentive without appearing rushed or stressed.
The food was excellent in both taste and great value.
Many thanks for a relaxed and comfortable experience.
Angie Hall
Great food, great service and lovely staff.
I'd requested 2 separate tables as it was my daughters 16th and it was no problem at all
Susan Cooper
Absolutely gutted with the Christmas Eve meal at the old buttercross. We used to be regulars, every couple of weeks with the family, but now I don’t think we will be going back anytime soon. I’m not sure if the chef had changed recently or there has been a change in management but some of the food was not up to the usual standards and one item was inedible. To start the bruschetta was garlic bread slices with a blob of tomato sauce on and the Brie and cranberry parcels were just ginger parcels! Next came the mains, the beef with the creamy sauce was actually beef stroganoff and tbh spot the beef! The veg hot pot was just veg in gravy with a sprinkle of uncooked sage and onion stuffing on. For desert we were accidentally given the Christmas pudding which was inedible however the other deserts were ok. Coming from people who would have always given this place a 5* with no questions this was a huge disappointment. The staff were as lovely as always.
Duncan Tomblin
Would love to give this a higher rating as the food and staff were fantastic. Came to the Old Buttercross tonight with my pool team in celebration of us being promoted to a higher division. Staff were very friendly and the steak I had was great quality. Unfortunately what spoilt this was, despite no bad behaviour or anything on our part, the manager coming over and demanding we leave immediately. No prior requests to drink up. Just the manager coming over and demanding we get out at once. Very rude from him. Congratulations sir, you just cost your staff what would have been a £10 tip. I will be spreading word of this far and wide as your attitude in this industry is unacceptable. Great food and service from the staff, however the management really let this place down.
Tina Mann
I have had a few meals here with friends and family. And we have never had a bad meal or bad service. The staff are always very helpful. And it is good value for money. the icing on the cake was celebrating New Years Eve there. The food was gorgeous and the staff were all helpful and cheery. And to top it off we had Elvis in the building. Brilliant, keep up the good work.
Emma Herd
I am changing my review from earlier this year in June. My husband and I visited this evening around 6pm. It was quiet, but still a number of customers in. I was keen to try the new menu, especially as there are now more than one vegan option. The next table to us also had a vegan guest on their table.....there are actually a lot more vegans now than ever before! My husband had the black pudding croquettes to start, then rib eye steak, then chocolate crownie for dessert. His opinion is simply “all good”. Man of many words � I had the BBQ Taco with jackfruit, then BBQ jackfruit pizza (no cheese), and chocolate tarte with vegan ice cream. Mine was all good! It was so nice to have more than one option available, but also a chocolate dessert with ice cream!! My only request would be for vegan cheese to be added to the pizza but it was perfectly delicious without it �
Keep it up Buttercross
David Harris
By getting a few basic things right could really improve customer experience.
When you go to the time and trouble to have a special kids menu, but then give small children full size adult cutlery, it is a basic mistake. Similarly, do not serve 2/3 year olds their food on a plate that is so hot the waiting staff have to use a towel to hold it. Again, it's a basic and anyone with an ounce of common sense can see the issue with that. For a place that specifically markets itself as "family friendly", and wants to attract the aforementioned, it hardly spells professionalism. In much the same vein, to serve small children their drinks in adult glasses that are nearly as tall as they are is another little thing but now they are starting to add up. Dealing with a small charge who is now in control of large glass, a red hot plate and cutlery akin to an adult eating with a spade and garden fork is hardly conducive to a relaxed dining experience.
Generally the food is of a good standard, but again it's the little things that annoy. Having to send food back because it's cold is unforgivable in this day and age. Doubly so when no apology is forthcoming. Also, if the intention is to drench a side salad in dressing, at least point this out at the time of ordering. On a related point, there's very little to be gained by asking the paying customer how they want the steak cooking if three steaks of different levels are served and are all exactly the same. If the staff aren't up to the job, then don't pretend they are. It doesn't help the situation when management then speak to the paying customer like an errant schoolboy.
Generally we like this place, but a little more thought and service could improve the experience greatly. It's such a shame when lovely surroundings, decent food, excellent facilities and well maintained grounds are let down by such easily rectified shortcomings.
Brenda Palmer
Many thanks to
The old Buttercross
For a lovely � Christmas meal last night that we won in the Christmas party � competition
Had a lovely time the staff were really friendly and the old buttercross was very nicely decorated food was great disco was good beer flowed nicely many thanks to all Merry Christmas xxx
James Smith
First time I had visited The Old Buttercross the food and staff were great The Restaurant was really good I would really recommend it to anyone
Ryan Hall
Considering how busy it was, the staff delivered food on time. There was a slight issue with the food but this is not s regular occurrence, and the staff gave us the dish for free and a discount. Couldn't ask for better service.
Tonii Sharne Richards
Bloody gorgeous meal this evening� me and my other half really enjoyed it, best meal in so long and we go out to eat a lot �
RyanandSharon Millican
Fantastic staff , fantastic service, food was lovely , would highly recommend . Thank you for a lovely day x
Tasha-Jade Allen
Second visit now and food is brilliant always hot and neat presentation not just bunged on a plate and staff are really friendly
Laura Ellis
We were really impressed with the food on opening day!! I had the t-bone steak & was pleasantly surprised � Great price & cooked perfectly � We’ll be back �
Emma Adams
Lovely 3 course meal tonight great new menu and lovely friendly staff .
Melanie Hudson
After being disappointed by a local restaurant we called to ask if they had a table available for 5 people which included a highchair and were told not a problem. After arriving we were greeted by smiles by all staff members and our waiter named Joe couldn't help us enough. He immediately settled us in, took our drinks order and asked if there was anything else he could do. Our food arrived quickly and it was hot, unlike other establishments. He simply couldn't do enough for us. We normally visit a more local restaurant but we are so happy we made the further car journey to here. Would recommend to anyone and will definitely be returning again. Thank you Joe!
Samantha Beastall
Fantastic place and Kate is amazing I have a very fussy family and she always gets it right for us super women xxxx
Paul Hope
Excellent service and food would recommend to any body .........
Josie Smith
Visited today for lunch it wasn’t very busy for Easter Sunday had to wait 40 minutes for our food which wasn’t that great to be honest we had the roast
Jordon Yates
Had a mixed grill here saturday afternoon
What a overpriced disappointed , tasteless , still unsure of what the meats were ?,
Good staff and service tho , shame about the food ,
Art Rudd
After stopping off earlier in the week to book a table for 13 and told we don't need a booking, we arrived to be turned away. What disappointed me, was the not only did we try to book a table, but the group behind of a similar size managed to be seated. I wouldn't recommend the old buttercross to anyone. There are much nicer local restaurants with better service and food.
Toni Sawyer
Great friendly staff yet again, made room for 16 of us on a busy Sunday lunch
Sophie Harris
Lovely food and great friendly service, we will definitely be coming back again
Rosalind May Cerqua
Had the best sunday roast lamb dinner ever!!
Always friendly staff, and very clean xxx
Sue Fern
Can't think of anything good to say about this place. What a disappointment.
Tina Dawson
I would just like to thank The Old Buttercross for there fantastic Pizza Takeaway prize. The pizzas were gorgeus and were enjoyed by the whole family. Thank you
Mim Capewell
Great three course xmas dinner. Really enjoyed the Dj here.Good evening out.
Linda Galleozzie
Had steak deal last Thursdays plus few extras. Meal was fantastic, couldn't fault the service, value for money and more .
Heidi Farrow
My first visit here, we went in to a half empty pub with plenty of free unreserved tables we asked if we could just chose a table and were told there wasn't any for half and hour. Looking around there obviously was but we didn't have the time to wait so left. Looking at the reviews tho I'm glad we didn't get food.
Amy McClure
Had my daughters 6th birthday lunch here today, very helpful attentive staff which can't have been easy with 11 excited princesses!! Food was lovely and reasonably priced. Helped us decorate and bring our own cake, can't fault the .Thank you x
Gwyn Andrews
Superb welcome, friendly attentive staff and great appetising variations on the menu.
Definitely a return visit imminent!
Karen-bryn Carter Neehuis
Just been to the old Buttercross for husbands birthday ,fantastic food cooked absolutely perfectly and the staff were accommodating,friendly and very efficient thankyou Paul Neehuis for your brilliant service .
Jodie Lee Charlesworth
Excellent service . Staff are really friendly and food is amazing xx
Gavin Coshell
Brilliant brilliant brilliant. Cant fault anybody at this place. To seat 16 at short notice on a busy Sunday afternoon. Thank you to all and the team
Barry Swallow
Lovely family meal, good food, good staff, good surroundings.
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