Harvester Pontypool

The Queen Inn

➤ Upper Cwmbran Road, Torfaen, United Kingdom, NP44 5AX

Menu • Soup • Steak • Curry • British

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"My friend and I finally visited this restaurant in February after talking about it for years, and I am thrilled that we did! Even though I am not a vegetarian, I had never tried meat alternatives before. The chilli beef stir fry was absolutely delicious and the best stir fry I have ever had. The waitress recommended it as her favorite dish on the menu as well. The pub itself was cozy, clean, and had plenty of parking. We plan to return in the summer to enjoy the huge outdoor space. The service we received was outstanding. Our waitress was friendly, honest, funny, knowledgeable, and seemed to genuinely enjoy her job. I have had my fair share of bad experiences with pub owners in the past, so I believe this speaks volumes about how well this place is managed. Unfortunately, I did not catch our server's name, but she mentioned that she usually works behind the bar and bakes cakes as her day job. I just wanted to extend my gratitude to her! We will definitely return in the future."

The Little Crown Inn

➤ Elled Road, Torfaen, United Kingdom, NP4 6PB

Menu • Pub • Steak • Welsh • British

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"We attended a memorial service for our friend yesterday and were very impressed with the changes that have been made at the restaurant since we hadn't visited in many years. The staff, especially the man serving us, were very friendly. The buffet was exceptional and we congratulate the restaurant on their outstanding food and drinks. Overall, we give the service a 5 out of 5 rating."

Tiffins Indian Buffet

➤ 4 Glyndwr Road, Torfaen, United Kingdom, NP44 1QS

Menu • Cafés • Mexican • Seafood • Fast Food

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"I can't speak highly enough of this place. The food, staff, atmosphere, layout and everything else about this place is just spot on. My 18 month old daughter absolutely LOVES coming here. The staff are all soooo, so friendly and always make us feel very welcome. Not only that, they always go above and beyond. The customer service really is impeccable. The food is always fresh, hot and full of flavour. The variety is brilliant and they cater for everyone. Plenty of veggie options, salads, currys, starters, breads, sauces, desserts, icecreams, etcs. Most definitely worth every penny. Their drinks are considerably priced too. I'd recommend this place to anyone. We'll definitely be long term, returning customers. Super excited to come here for our for Christmas meal away from home this year. Thankyou to all the staff at Tiffin's, you're all amazing!"

The Open Hearth

➤ Sebastopol, NP4 5DR, Torfaen, United Kingdom

Menu • Pub • Steak • Brunch • British

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"My husband booked the Open Hearth so we could go out as a family for my birthday. It had been a lovely sunny day so we did anticipate that the place would be busy. However, as we had booked the table they knew we were coming so we assumed that that would be sufficient with regards to the service etc. On arrival, we were greeted and shown to our table. The gentleman then proceeded to fire off a load of things on the menu that we couldn 't have as they had run out of ingredients. We put that to one side and ordered our food. We waited a little while for our food but as the bar area was so busy we just put it down to that. In the end, it was the kitchen staff who ended up bringing our food out. The food was ok, just basic 'pub grub '. My husband 's steak was supposed to be cooked medium but it ended up coming out well done. The staff were so busy, there was no one really to approach about this and he didn 't want everyone else 's food to go cold so he ate it. After finishing our food one of the girls from behind the bar cleared our plates away and asked if we wanted dessert. We said yes and waited for her to bring the menu. It never arrived. Eventually the same girl came back and asked again if we wanted desserts and again we said yes. We were given the menu and waited to order. Again, no sign of anyone so I went looking for someone to order our desserts. I noticed on the specials board that they were doing a dessert with strawberry ice cream so I asked if I could just have a dish of strawberry ice cream for my little boy. They checked with the kitchen and apparently we couldn 't have that, we could only have whippy ice cream! Desserts finally ordered and we waited. My husband and son had their desserts brought to them and we waited for my dessert. We waited and waited and waited..........After my husband and son had finished their dessert we were then informed by the gentleman behind the bar that they couldn 't bring my dessert as they were serving food to other tables! I was shocked. Surely, you should finish serving one table before proceeding to the next. By the time my dessert arrived we were just ready to go home. I explained that I didn 't want my dessert as it had arrived too late. The girl who brought it did apologise but it was too late. I sent it back and asked for the bill. There wasn 't ever an offer off taking any money off the dessert as it had arrived so late. They were obviously happy just to scrape it in the bin rather than try to make amends. We paid the bill and left. I have noticed on a previous review that someone has said the same thing about the service and the response from the Open Hearth was that they prioritise their booked tables over their walk ins. However, that certainly was not the case for us. We booked the table over a week before we turned up and we arrived in good time yet they prioritised other food over completing our order. Surely it is basic practise to complete one order before proceeding to the next. Unfortunately, the whole experience was not enjoyable and we all came away very disappointed. We will note be returning again nor will we be recommending it."

The Horseshoe Inn

➤ Old Abergavenny Road, Mamhilad I-NP4 8QZ, United Kingdom

Menu • Pub • Welsh • Vegan • British

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"The interior of the restaurant was charming and traditional, featuring warm lighting from candles and classic pub tables and seating. The atmosphere was peaceful, free from loud music or rowdy patrons. We were promptly seated by a polite and attentive waiter who handed us the menu. The menu boasted some intriguing starters and main dishes—far superior to typical pub fare. It was compact, which I always see as a good sign, but with a vegetarian in our group, a picky 12-year-old, and a 6'2" teenager with a big appetite, we all had a tough time deciding among the excellent options. I opted for the confit duck in cherry sauce, which was absolutely delightful. My son went for a homemade curry served with chips and rice, which he devoured and found very filling. My wife chose a broccoli soup that she described as delicious. Despite being full from our entrees, we couldn't resist trying some desserts. The dessert selection was impressive, featuring classic choices like bread and butter pudding, treacle tart with custard, and a cheesecake that was impressively sized—about the size of a house brick! We all enjoyed some drinks, with a selection of nice ales and IPAs on tap. The total bill for our family of four came to just under £100, which felt quite reasonable. The staff were attentive, friendly, and polite, and the owner took the time to chat with us after our meal. We had a lovely experience and left feeling very satisfied. This place is truly a hidden gem; if you're in the area, it’s definitely worth a visit! Vegetarian options: There were several tasty vegetarian choices available. Parking: There were plenty of parking spaces just across from the pub. Kid-friendliness: Our 12-year-old and 14-year-old felt welcome, and there were kid-friendly menu options as well."