For mothers day this year, my mum and i decided that we both wanted to enjoy a meal out with the children, we usually go to the toby for a carvery but after having some wonderful lunches and dinners, i suggested we have lunch at the moorhen.
The Moorhen is a greene king pub, so therefor a chain pub is situated in a beautiful area of the outskirts of Harlow, Overlooking the river Stort, you can sit and watch the wildlife and boats go by as you enjoy your meal, Neil and I have visited many times previously for spontaneous lunches and nice evenings out, The area feels quiet considering how close it is to the train station and once the meal is done you can take a little walk along the river.
I sung my praises for the moorhen in a previous post where I talked about a nearby pub and charming my mum a little with the past roast dinners she has had at the place we all wanted to go along again, and unfortunately we all came away feeling a little disappointed.
The Moorhen
I normally get the same thing when I go to The Moorhen, However as we had a slightly different menu as it was for sunday lunch I thought I would try something new for my starter, I always try and get a starter when I go out to places and decide to review it, to try everything, but most of the time the starters at The Moorhen are lovely, I went with salt and pepper squid which was accompanied with a sweet chilli sauce, Amelia and Kai also got a starter, she got fried prawns and Kai had fried halloumi, Robin and my mum decided not to get a starter but did taste ours, The starter itself was the highlight, I really enjoyed my starter meal and so did everyone else’s, its just a shame that the main dishes weren’t what we was expecting.
Myself, Mum and Kai got hunters chicken, I have a thing for their hunters chicken there and was exited to have it again, however I asked to have mash as I really fancied it, Amelia, who wasn’t too sure what to get opted for a shepherds pie and Robin picked a pizza from the children’s menu with a selection of sides.
Expecting to get what I usually get when I make that order, what came out wasn’t it. Yes i got my mash and yes the hunters chicken was lovely, I wasn’t expecting to have overly cooked peas. Usually it has sides of onion rings and a coleslaw, Kai did enjoy his but sadly despite looking and smelling lovely Amelia didn’t like her shepherds pie, she declared mine was better and just ate the carrots and a few mouthfuls and Robin didn’t enjoy her pizza either, it was a pie more than a pizza which confused her and she only really ate some of the chips and the corn on the cob.
It was a little bit of a slight let down, and in the end we all decided not to get a pudding and just pay for our meal and leave, It could’ve just been the Sunday menu but it felt like they gave up a little on the quality of the food, Still I do think I will go back there just to see if it was just the one off or just the menu, which is a shame as the service was wonderful, Our server was Leo and they was fantastic and so helpful and we also didn’t get shoved into a booth which is what we requested.
It was just such a shame the meal itself wasn’t up to the standards I have experienced before.
Still it didn’t ruin our mothers day, We saw some ducks and the girls played outside for a little bit in the garden and then went along to the shops for Pokémon cards and steam credit and ended the day relaxing and enjoying the sunshine.
Sarah
x
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