Good country food in a good country pub. I could leave my review at that as I think it's self explanatory but I feel like sharing so here's a bit more detail.
The Countryman will not win any fine dining awards in my lifetime but it does do tasty plainish food in generous portions. The menu is very much of the chicken Maryland style which helps to explain that it ain't modern fusion type cooking. Instead their strength is in unpretentious filling steaks and chicken dishes, with some fish, although it's battered and comes with chips and peas. I normally have chicken gougons which come ungarnished and with a separate little bowl of sweet chilli sauce and garlic mayo. Freshly cooked and tasty and sometimes that's exactly what you want.
Service is very family friendly and full of good old fashioned courtesy which I think is great. The staff behave as if you are doing them a favour by eating there rather than the reverse attitude you get elsewhere.
The Countryman is good for family outings and groups as it's big and spacious and has plenty of pace to wall about with fractious babies and toddlers. Been there and done that. read more