Following the refurbishment and rebranding to Stonehouse Pizza and Carvery from Crown Carveries, we visited the restaurant located in the outskirts of Cardiff to see what the fuss is all about.
Also known locally as The Hollybush, it underwent a major refurbishment at the start of the year and re-opened in February.
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Prior to our visit, we have never been to a Crown Carvery before, so we had no idea what to expect. We have driven past this particular restaurant many times and it always appears busy with a full car park.
If we were going out to eat a roast dinner, we would usually go to Toby Carvery – firm favourite with those in our family whom love a good feast without the washing up. What’s not to love?
As the name suggests, Stonehouse Pizza and Carvery really appealed to us – it offers the two foods that we all enjoy all under one roof. As most families often are, we don’t always want the same food, and although Toby does offer some variety to non-cooked roasters, the variety is limited. Whilst Stonehouse offers a fully menu of alternatives in addition to their Sunday roast.
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We turned to to the restaurant having no idea what to expect. We hadn’t booked but we were quickly shown to a table by friendly staff. We had never been to a Crown Carvery or a Stonehouse before, so we had no idea how to order. Do we order at the bar or is there table service? How does it work? We had to ask.
It’s the little differences that you take for granted. If you’ve ever been to a Nando’s before, you are always asked without fail “have you been before?”, as you quickly snub the question as it’s your one millionth visit.
One of us opted for a pizza (Ok it was me this time) and the rest for roast dinners. I ordered at the bar and was handed a buzzer, which would ring for me to go to the ‘Pizza Station’ to collect. Absolutely fine if we were all having pizzas, but it was a little chaotic having to go back to my table having ordered at the till to have to go up again – it’s also a little off putting when the alarm and buzzer does finally go off, with everyone tucking into their meals around you and looking.
The verdict
The Meat Feast Pizza
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A tasty thin based Pizza, which tasted very similar to the pizzas that Wetherspoons recently started selling. Although it was perfectly pleasant to eat, I was expecting a little more give that the word pizza is in the restaurant’s name. Typical pub grub, but nothing more.
Adult & Child Carvery
A freshly cooked roast dinner with plenty of vegetables on offer. If you’ve never been before, the carvery works very similar to Toby Carvery. You pay at the bar, get given a ticket to redeem your meal, go up and queue. So, it’s a little different but an experience most of us will be familiar with.
Our top tip
Download the Stonehouse app, sign-up and get 33% OFF your first visit.
There are also plenty of other great offers including kids eat for £1.
