Brentwood Toby Carvery - Artichoke in Brentwood

Arrived with elderly people at around midday asked for a table for three was advised it would be over 2hrs for a table and we should book first on a Sunday not great for elderly people they should have seats available for disabled and elderly people held regardless

We love a mid week Toby but it’s gone down hill recently. Last time we visited the potato’s were very stale, returned today and again the potato’s were very stale and also the Yorkshire puddings were like tough paper, we all had to leave them even with gravy on wasn’t edible. Such a shame as as we will not be returning :(

The manger service me at the till and was very pleasant but need to spend more time walking around and observing her staff. What I observed today was shocking and highly unhygienic. A couple were at the table with a dog (NOT a service dog) the dog was sitting on the chair and on the owner lap as she played with it then when to the buffet with her dirty hand. Also a staff member sat talking to this couple for 25 minutes. This is not the first time we’ve been here and seen this staff member talking away and doing nothing. The staff member even had a couple of tea… at what point does she do any work? I also heard the staff member offer a “swappies” the customer with dog asked for an ice cream which to my understanding this is not part of breakfast, the staff member responded yes I’ll do you a swap, the ice cream for a review. This shows the review are not authentic. Lastly but surely shocking another staff member came over and asked if she could stroke the dog and was told yes. After stroking the dog She the went back to setting the tables without washing her hands… how unprofessional and unhygienic. I managed to take multiple photos to support my review. DISGUSTING

Service was fine, it seemed very quiet, or at least much quieter than normal. All the meats looked good but I opted for meat free, which I often do. I adore vegetables and load up accordingly. I favour the beef dripping potatoes and found the tray was low, but the potatoes looked good. There was no leak and onion and the Mac and cheese were just crusty remains. The potatoes, even soaked in the excellent gravy were 90% inedible. My guess is they had had a long and quiet day. My wife’s fresh orange juice was barely cold and thick from a carton. I finished with cheesecake, which was nicely presented but bland. The whole experience was sub par, having started drinking in the “Choke” in the 80’s and using the Carvery as a default since it opened.

Very nice breakfast and good service. Thank you for the great hospitality for my team of 30 people. We will definitely be returning.

Very lovely atmosphere , everyone was friendly and it was great service. Very clean and a perfect place to go with the family .

Food was good, service very friendly and efficient, would definitely recommend to others for dinner. Will be back next week.

Toby Carvery’s are what they are - mass produced food at a relatively cheap price. With the odd exception, palatable, acceptable, but average fare. I accept that. You get what you pay for, and with these thoughts in mind I’ve gad some pretty ok and enjoyable meals here over the years. This evening’s visit however let them down… We arrived on time, were seated, and told our waitress would be with us shortly. Twenty minutes later we were still sitting there without being attended to. So we took it upon ourselves to start queuing for our food. The meat portions were smaller than in the past, but adequate. The veggies were mostly overcooked to a near mush, and the roast potatoes overcooked so much there were dry and tasteless. (They had some excellent crunchy pork crackling in a separate bowl though - it was both crunchy and delicious!) The shorter middle aged server / carver behind the counter though is quite ‘offish’. I’ve encountered him there before. Don’t bother trying to banter with him; it falls on deaf ears even when they’re not busy. On getting back to our table with our food, we still hadn’t been attended, so I had to go search for a waitress in order to order some drinks. To be fair, once ordered those drinks arrived quickly. Upon eating, the food could at best be described as ‘warm’, not hot. It wasn’t horrible, but it could and SHOULD have been better - even allowing for the place being a ‘fast food, mass produced food restaurant’. It has been in the past. Despite really fancying a desert on this occasion, we decided not to have one because of how poor things had been so far. We paid our £30 bill (prices have increased recently too) and left. It is a shame we experienced this visit - as I said we’ve had many enjoyable visits there in the past. But overall we feel this evening was a wast of our £30, and it’s actually making us question if we ever want to try the place again! 🤔

I have been visiting this Toby since I was a child, it’s had its ups and downs, and I tried to remain a loyal customer, but after the last month I’ll be finding another Toby. I’ve been to this 2 ( meant to be 3) times in the last 6 weeks. I went first off and on arrival was told the oven had broken down and so who ever gets to the carvery first would get what meat remained, I put this down to just a bad day for the restaurant and so, booked again for 3 weeks later. On route to the restaurant they called to say they’d be a power cut and the whole area was out, I then booked for the Basildon festival Toby, then again on route the Brentwood one then called to say the hot plate had shorted out, but it was now fixed, but I carried onto the Basildon one. This evening I once again tried the Brentwood Toby. After getting our meal I couldn’t find cranberry sauce, so I had to interrupt two staff members that were chatting to ask for some and was told “ we’ve not had that for a few days now as it’s not come on the delivery “!. Now I understand there can be issues with deliveries, however Tesco is half a mile away, surely they could get some from there, and also advise people what they don’t have before choosing their meal. The older waitress looked miserable as did the chefs, not very welcoming, however the lady on the front desk was polite and lovely. The food was dry, and didn’t seem fresh. I’ll got to Basildon Toby from now on, they have a much bigger selection and atleast your made to feel like a valued customer!

The food was excellent, the staff friendly and accommodating which made for a great relaxed evening. Definitely recommend.

Had a great dinner in this restaurant with wife and Mother in law. The service was fast and efficient. Our waitress Stephanie was excellent

Went there today with my son who was v hungry , v v good couldn’t believe there was no q , meats were cooked lovely , all in all the best visit we’ve had and all on a deal £6 a roast

Fabulous meal this evening celebrating Mothers Day , staff brilliant food plentiful what more could you ask . There was no queue for the carvery which is unheard of on a Sunday especially for a roast dinner !!!!! Will be back again Easter Sunday so looking forward to it already

We went here for Mothers day and had a very nice time. We were unable to get parked in the car park but this was quickly resolved by staff. Waiting staff were very polite!

Mother’s Day lunch and cannot fault it !!!! Staff were absolutely brilliant and the food was faultless lots of choice and generous portions . We witnessed a lovely moment between the manager and her staff , she brought them all a beautiful gift to say thank you for working which we thought was a lovely and genuine gesture . We will definitely be back again soon

Always receive a lovely welcome, always accommodating to your needs. Gemma and her team give excellent service, good quality cooked food, always looks well presented and clean and good value for money 🌟🌟

Visited with family on Saturday 02/03. Haven’t been to this Toby in ages, normally go to the Basildon one at Festival Leisure. The food was on a par with Basildon, by that I mean excellent, couldn’t fault it. Was also really impressed with our waiter Alan who went the extra mile with our two children and seemed to be on hand with anything we needed & quick with bill when we asked for it. Would go again and hope to have the same waiter!

A great place to go the staff are friendly and so down to earth,Gemma the manageress is a joy to know as is Annie and Amy the waiting staff,I will not go anywhere else please go there and try the food it's first class just like the staff.

Lovely choice of menu with vegetarian options One of the mentor our party particularly enjoyed the Broccoli and Brie along with a huge selection of vegetables . Will definitely return

Great breakfast this morning , plenty of choice and really nice seeing the choice of pancakes , this carvery even adds extra syrup if you ask unlike others who don’t , overall we will be back again very soon.

Needs new manager And some staff not nice. We actually walked out. Unfriendly atmosphere. Shame because we think it’s good value for money

Had an amazing family meal we booked the wrong day and the manager really helped us by sorting a table for us on top of that the meal Was delicious

Lovely evening meal , fresh vegetables and meat was superb especially the beef , it melted in the mouth . Compared to others who have said this place is a poor choice I couldn’t disagree more we found it warm inviting and will definitely recommend and return

I like coming to the artichoke and always dine on my own , but it never feels like that as the staff know me and welcome me as part of the furniture . Food is always good and the food is 10/10 !

WALKED OUT VERY DIRTY AND THE FOOD WAS NOT GOOD AT ALL. DIDNT EAT JUST LEFT. THE CHEF WAS RUDE AND THEY JUST DIDNT CARE AT ALL. WAS TOLD IF I DONT LIKE IT DONT EAT IT

Lovely family lunch today . Food was fresh tasty and hot . Staff were lovely and welcoming. All in all a good quality roast dinner will definitely return

Very nice place for a family meal. Will definitely go back again. Can't remember the lady that served us, but we did have a lovely time.

Amazing place to visit for a well cooked roast dinner ! Service was fantastic and the food was hot and tasty . Did not disappoint

Great breakfast today . Pancakes went down a treat with our children and we enjoyed the choice and quality of the food . Staff were helpful and ensured we knew what to do . Will be back again soon

Fab lunch today with friends . Food was hot and plenty to choose from , really enjoyable and will definitely visit again.

An amazing Christmas day take away feast for a king,for nurses on duty. From me personally Thank you for everything. To all the girls,you are stars. Love Danny ❤️

The staff are a joy,so polite and helpful food is very good try it out you won't be disappointed...

Went for breakfast with santa. Was brilliant value of money, santa and the elf was fantasticly in character. Present had my sons name on which he couldn't believe santa knew his name. 100% recommend to anyone. Throughly enjoyed.

Really good breakfast today - welcomed and everything explained to us on arrival , food was plentiful and hot and tasty

Great choice for a roast , good selection of vegetables lovely to see parsnips and Brussels not everyone’s favourite but definitely one of ours as a family . Restaurant was beautifully decorated looked very festive

A good carvery with a selection of vegetables. The beef was excellent, on the downside the veg could have been hotter. The real treasure of the place are the staff who are always friendly and helpful, particularly Toni and the absolutely charming Annie.

Had a fantastic evening with family from start to finish everyone was so friendly and helpful. We loved the Christmas decs made the place look amazing

Used the 50% off voucher and was not disappointed. Staff were brilliant and could not do enough for us , we had a very difficult allergy to be dealt with and they made us feel totally confident in their handling of it

All staff very friendly and welcoming especially Annie who is charming! The beef on this visit was excellent.

Breakfast spot on ! Choice was brilliant and great value , refillable coffee option also good value .

Had a lovely meal with our family . Food was tasty and most of all hot and lots of choice . Desserts we had were lovely and the service was also very impressive . The Christmas decorations looked fabulous and very very festive

Lovely choice and great for families , food was hot staff friendly and the environment very very Christmassy

Really lovely little restaurant type pub, small area but cosy and welcoming. Drinks reasonably priced and staff always friendly , Beer is cold and choices are good

Great Lunch today - family meal and what a good choice of venue ! Staff and food top notch and lovely warm atmosphere ⭐️ if we could give more stars we would . One thing we would like to mention is some of the reviews we read really are not a correct reflection of this restaurant , clearly people are far too quick to complain than they are to compliment and we honestly cannot fault our lunch and the way we were looked after

Upon arrival we both thought that the appearance was pleasant. My Partner and I were served by a person with zero concept of customer service. At 4:20pm it was far from busy that Thursday afternoon. We did consider a light bite in addition to the Coffee’s. When receiving the hot drinks; thrown at me more than placed on the table. Zero eye contact with additional grunts; far from something I would constitute as welcoming. The foul looks were far from cordial: attitude suggested she didn’t appreciate a mixed couple in her establishment. I say “her” as her dress code indicated supervisor or higher. Folk as she; I don’t take kindly to. Bigotry and ignorance wasn’t something I find appealing. Racist attitudes close down establishments. I’d give Zero only there isn’t that option!

Good ingredients dished up warmish and not hot. Shame. On the other hand the draught beer was ice cold, ok for the summer heatwave but not winter.

Roast on point , great selection of meats and could not fault price , you could not recreate the choice of meats if you tried for what you pay . Counter was clean staff friendly and fast food , best potatoes we’ve had at a carvery in a long time .

Wonderful choice for a family Sunday lunch . Food was plentiful and for once in a carvery it was really hot, great to see Lamb as our other carvery always runs out so Brentwood is doing things better already in my opinion. Staff were knowledgeable my son has a gluten intolerance and they were really helpful with the allergen guide and helping us navigate it as we are not tech people. Overall a great meal, good value and great service all around

Really good choice for us today . Food was hot and tasty and lots of choice , staff were friendly and on hand when needed without being too pushy , really enjoyed the honeycomb ice cream 🍨

Great value breakfast lots of choice . Served by a bubbly lady , slight husky voice wearing glasses , we didn’t have a voucher for the kids eat for £1 so she helped us find one and we saved even more money on an already great value offer

Lovely hot lunch with plenty of choice . Yorkshires were lovely and the gravy was just how I like it !!!! Staff were really friendly and the building is very welcoming , loved the Christmas display

Arrived for lunch and was greeted by a lovely lady who I think was referred to as Jem , she was friendly and answered a few questions we had about booking for Christmas . We sat down ordered our drinks and went for the Carvery...

We went for breakfast. Excellent food and staff were super friendly. We will definitely go again, highly recommended

Great breakfast , good choice staff are always friendly and welcoming . Would recommend to anyone that likes a good brekkie

Great place for a Sunday lunch , lots of choice and good service . Car park was busy but that’s the sign of a good business

We took Brentwood Stroke Club today to celebrate one of our members 90th birthday. As we had people with us that were disabled the staff could not be more helpful. The food was excellent and we all had a wonderful time.

The smallest portions of meat always occur when we are served by the same chubby old chef who has been there forever, and he is very stingy. I even told him before, and his response was "you get what you pay for." If we're fortunate...

We booked after passing by and liking the look of it. Toby Carvery has gone downhill so badly over the years but we thought let’s try again. I’m so sorry we did. Venue promising but food all over the floor, dirty plates everywhere, massive queue...

Lovely choice of venue for a good roast dinner , lots of choice great staff and really lovely ambience

The welcome was lovely, and the food was tasty and hot. The manager Gemma Barnard was exceptional .

Excellent service from our waitress food was delicious huge variety of choice extremely good value for money and the manager gave us a lovely friendly greeting thank you Gemma

Had a lovely meal with family they make kids feel very welcome and we really enjoy going here. Also the Yorkshire puds are yummy

Great food and great service. Best Toby in Essex, been many times over the last few years and always so well looked after!

Staff we're great, really helpful and friendly. Food was very nice and fresh - would recommend yorkshire pudding and deserts. I'd happily come back.

Great evening with friends , food was lovely and so were the staff . Highly recommend if you want a good meal and a great atmosphere

I was visiting alone whilst waiting to collect my son. The waitress was very friendly and I was warmly welcomed. The meal was very tasty.

Been to the carvery a couple of times over the summer and it's brilliant. The staff really looked after us, the food is fantastic and unlike lots of other places you get a decent sized portion. Thanks very much to all that work there.

Great night out with friends. Excellent service, friendly and efficient service from all. Our thanks to all staff. Manager made a point of seeing her customers were happy with service and food.

I went here with my family and we had a very nice meal. The meat was lovely and the roast potatoes were amazing! My kids really enjoyed their ice cream sundaes!

Great place to meet with friends, we all had a full English breakfast which was plentiful before our day out.

Staff and food were amazing. Best carvery around and by far worthy of 5 stars. We will definitely return

Where do I start. £20 breakfast for 2. The only thing good about it was the refill drinks. Toast machine burnt the toast, eggs over done even waited for the next batch they were worse. Beans floating in bean juice, lack of actual beans. Sausages...

Staff were fantastic and we’re working tirelessly in this current heat ! They deserve a pat on the back 😀

The food was absolutely stunning, meat was so tender and moist. Roast potatoes were stunning and there was a beautiful selection of vegetables. All the food was fresh and hot. The staff are ever so friendly and helpful. I ate so much, I had to...

The service was fantastic and so was the food. Our waitress was very good and always there when we needed her.

Lovely food and excellent customer service. Was helped a lot with my food choices as I have allergies as well. Would recommend highly as lovely location as well.

The breakfast is amazing. Plenty of garden space to enjoy after a long walk with the dog. Staff are always helpful and cheerful. They always pay extra attention to my kids and dog.

Great food and great service. We always leave full and happy. Great with young children and very helpful.

Booked online not been there before ,seated on times totally happy with our visit ,nice friendly staff enjoyed the food ,plenty parking will go again ,,

After our debacle in Worthing it’s nice to come to a carvery where you are served by pleasant staff and the food is of a good standard and not stick to the serving spoons,I didn’t get the name of the lady who served us but...

Food cooked well, great portions, friendly staff, all at an affordable price, it’s all you need for a quick tasty dinner.

Clean and friendly food great and plenty of it from the carvery, staff where attentive when needed. Plenty of car parking spaces eSy to find.

Some of the plates were dirty and it’s a Shame to see only fried eggs there tho I did appreciate the black pudding available , generally the full English was fine and beans this time were warm !! Got to say it’s pretty good value...

Today we went for a Sunday roast and the first thing I’d do is take down the sign outside which says Home of the Roast because clearly it’s not. The meat was overcooked and sliced thinly , roast potatoes were awful , yorkshire pudding was...

I met with friends for breakfast at the Brentwood Toby. We visit there regularly as I find the staff really friendly and genuinely pleased to see us. Within my group there are a variety of different breakfast favourites and the buffet style caters for all...

Been here many times for breakfast and dinner … always ample portions and tastes good … ideal stop for breakfast, and coffee if on cycle rides. Never had any issues but always been greeted by friendly staff , who go out of their way to...

You can't go wrong. Nice meal, red hot and plenty of it. Friendly staff and nice atmosphere. 👌 Martin

Unfortunately In Norfolk we don’t have a Toby’s (please can we have one in Norwich), this was my first experience and for the most part I was impressed. Generous with the meat (I had a bit of gammon, Turkey and beef) and the meat was...

Cracking breakfast! Arrived in the morning before a planned bike ride, friendly staff, fresh ingredients resulting in a great breakfast! Will return.

Came for breakfast this Wednesday (19th) with partner and young daughter. The breakfast was very tasty with a great selection to choose from. The serving area was well stocked with food and very clean and tidy, as was the restaurant in general. Great price considering...

Reminiscent of school dinners: the standing in line, waiting to get to the front, only to receive a disappointing portion before selecting from a range of bland vegetables.

Met up with my son and his family and a very enjoyable meal had by all. Service was good and the environment comfortable and welcoming. Great choice at the carvery counter.

Food from carvery was terrible, cooked earlier and left to dry out for the start of evening meals. Sausages were inedible as were the roast potatoes. Staff were never around to make any complaints. Never again.

Tonight 4 of our young people went to Toby carvery in Brentwood with staff. Our young people all have learning disabilities. We had a table of teenagers being really rude about the children we work with and making horrible comments. Spoke with the manager and...

We hired the conservatory at the Artichoke for our wedding breakfast as it was the perfect size for our 30 guest event and ideally located across the road from registry office We had 3 course meals with guests choosing from a varied menu feedback from...

We took my 91 year old mother to the Brentwood Toby for her birthday. Being elderly, she asked for a slice of pork and that's what she got, a small slice of pork. My wife and I asked for gammon and turkey and had some...

Went today for breakfast, had full English and toast , bacon and sausage fine (beans however were cold Shane really ) reasonably priced with unlimited tea / coffee

A big selection of a full english breakfast. Food was hot and fresh. The staff were great and helpful. Very good value for money. Will defygo there again

Great food , hot & well presented Friendly helpful staff Very clean restaurant Would definalty recommend

Really nice food and a nice venue. Really busy and vibrant today and the staff are really friendly too. Nobody does a roast quite like Toby.