Oven Restaurant in Darlington

Beautiful food and great service. Forgot to take any pictures as food was soooo nice (and I was hungry).

Picked up a takeaway Sunday lunch, what can I say - exceptional value for money! Quality and quantity were first class. Also the service is excellent - call in and pay, the wait in your car and they deliver it to you! What more can you ask for.

Food: Fine if you like lashings of gravy on everything. Chunk of pot roast beef tasty, Roasties and mash made well from good potatoes. Vegetables nicely cooked but mashed turnip dissolved in gravy. Yorkshire, sadly soggy. First two choices of red wine unavailable. Table service polite and helpful, but wait for the beef was unacceptable, as the restaurant was only half full, and we remembered why we hadn't been back in a year or so in a year or so. We were on our way to a live music performance and were almost late.

8 of us went for a meal last night, food was lovely, and the 2 young girls that were serving us cudnt do enough, thank you .

Amazing night food was delicious Staff fabulous so helpfull We will definitely be back 5 star service

The atomshere is nice in here the staff are attentive and the food range is really nice I had a deep fried camambert for a starter with chili jam followed by belly pork for a mains with vegetables and a lovely cheasecake for dessert my friend and I shared a bottle of rose wine which was reasonably priced and tasted good they have offers on and an early bird menu

Frankly, what I enjoyed most here was gazing at the vibrant wallpaper - delightful! Otherwise, a disappointing first visit. We endured painfully slow service from a stony-faced waitress, and were rewarded with largely mediocre food. While my potato skins were okay, others remarked that the chips tasted as if the frying oil was 'just about to turn'. The beef in a pepper(?) sauce was bland, and the grey sauce tasted and looked like oily cream that had split. A nearby diner sent her fish and chips back, as the fish was so hard she couldn't cut into it let alone try to eat it. The sullen waitress soured the atmosphere on a quiet weekend afternoon, and we didn't stay for dessert or coffee, which would have been our usual practice. Please folks, take some inspiration from the wallpaper, and bring a bit of life, joy and fun into the place! And, get the basics right with the food. Only then might we consider returning.

Just had a takeaway Sunday lunch. What can I say but wow. It was absolutely beautiful the beef just melted and yor mouth the veg was cooked to perfection the gravy was nice and thick. Definitely recommend.

We spent some great time in here. Service is excellent and the food is good and fresh. The dessert is also amazing. The staff is very nice as well.

Absolutely delicious food, great staff, great service. Have only been there once and absolutely loved my food. Ordered a chicken parmo & t filled my plate had take half home. Absolutely gorgeous meal. Would highly recommend

Really enjoyed this little pace for food and a catch up birthday meal.

Great food excellent value and good service as always! Been here a few times now and the food is always consistently a very good standard and great value.

Every meal has been great. Even free puddings for the kids today thanks very much 👍🏼

Just fantastic, cannot complain.

Visited on a quiet Tuesday evening, got chicken fajitas, loaded fries and a few started to share. All lovely and excellent value for money. Gorgeous food, fast service and very friendly staff, couldn’t fault it.

We came here for our late valentines night. The food was beautiful and the staff were extremely helpful and friendly especially Charis (I think I spelt that correctly 😀) she went over and beyond to help me, and my husband her professionalism and honesty made the night even more magical. We'd like to put a good word for her as she done the restaurant proud because of this, we are definitely returning for Easter this year and I hope she's working that night. Thank you Charis for a lovely night I hope your bosses appreciate your skills and hard work ❤

It was really nice and the staff were lovely. They are doing a very good job I would highly recommend !!!! Thankyou so much

Thanks for a delicious and value for money birthday meal 🙂

Was there for my birthday Wednesday 21st we had to wait 1hr 20 mins for starter took nearly 30 mins for a drink order then we got the wrong dishes served and told sorry that's the food for upstairs it's great on a Sunday when we go for lunch but it was a shambles blaming internet going down but customers shouldn't have to listen about all the problems and to give us wrong dishes amd ask to we mind yet charged for the things we paid for that never got we would have stayed for dessert but we waited so long we decided not to no offer of complimentary drinks nothing dont think we will be back

Overall disappointing. Smoked haddock tagine didn't taste like it used smoked fish at all. Was pretty flavourless - had to add a fair amount of extra salt on the table. Fish was also overcooked. Seafood pasta was fine, still low on flavour and, again, seafood a bit overcooked. Big portion size.

We had a lovely meal and the service and atmospher were next to none. Thank you.

First valentine's date and first time visiting the oven, it's was lovely great atmosphere, with friendly and attentive staff. The food was amazing good size for the price. A big thanks charys and her staff that night, for an amazing night will definitely be back soon.

It is a great restaurant in Darlington. Meals are very delicious (And they were special to me). Service is very friendly and helpful. Prices of meals are very correct. Thank you for all, Lori from Debrecen, Hungary😊👍

The oven was excellent the staff were great very nice and easy to like, the food was nice and had very good portion sizes the only bad thing was the prawn cocktail starter the prawns were abit hard but apart from that it was a great experience and would go there again

Really great food and great service

Best portion of dishes I have ever seen!!!!

Family Birthday meal out. Prompt and friendly service, great food.

Our party of 4 were seated immediately, the two waiting staff were exceptional, our food was hot, tasty and plenty of it, I would recommend this restaurant to anybody. Thank you

So very disappointing. My friends and I ordered the Christmas Dinner which was presented swimming in gravy and apart from mashed potato and a few roasties had no other vegetables on the plate. Some green beans appeared half way through our meal. It was okay if you liked an enormous Yorkshire pudding which took up most of the room on the plate. Not sure if the whole meal was lacking because they had rather a large group of people in before us, who knows!! One thing for certain I will never go there again.

Excellent meal at Oven today. The Christmas menu is extensive with something for everyone. The food was lovely and the service couldn't be faulted.

Excellent meal from the December menu, delicious food, a couple of drinks at a very reasonable price. Would have given a five for atmosphere but it was a little chilly where we were seated.

Christmas menu so varied with loads of choice. I had the black pudding starter- tasty and loads of it and shin beef, chips and enormous onion ring for main meal. Absolutely gorgeous. We were a group of ten and thoroughly enjoyed the food and drink however we picked the coldest day of the year and were seated opposite the main door which was being opened by prospective clients and was really drafty!!!

Quality food at very reasonable prices served by friendly staff.

Food isn't too bad here, came here for a nice little Sunday roast. Service wasn't amazing, one of the staff was serving us with food stuffed in her mouth whilst trying to talk to us.

This is excellent food at a great price. Egyptian Stew and Black pudding were great choices for starters. The pork belly and braised shin of beef were delicious. (Big portions) I'd have given a 5/5 except the coffee machine had broken, not much they could do about that.

Staff lovely but the food is the worst, remember going here a few years ago and it was the place to go for Sunday dinner,

We came with a large group. I absolutely loved my meal, deep fried brie, shin of beef and apple crumble. Huge portions, reasonably priced and the staff did a great job. I had 3 courses and a soft drink and it came to £23 which in this climate is amazing! However we came as a big group and there were quite a few grumbles about the food. That was not my experience. I really enjoyed it but that's why I've given 4 not 5 stars

Shared a meal with a group of friends. Good choices on their menu. Everyone enjoyed their food, the service was excellent. Staff friendly & helpful. Would definitely recommend.

Average service. Abysmal food. Really unpleasant. Would not return. Kitchen looked like it was run by kids with 0 experience. Best thing was front of house staff who did an ok job.

Lovely food, nice and clean restaurant. Would highly recommend

Held surprise 40th birthday celebration for our daughter, the manager went over and above to ensure everything was perfect. We were a party of eleven, the food and service was excellent, all of the serving staff were friendly and good natured. This was the second milestone celebration we have had at the oven and we can’t fault it.

Let me start off by saying the lady who was managing the restaurant was all on her own, and served us brilliantly, we didn’t have to wait to long to be seated or served, and she checked up on how things were regularly. However, even though the food was presented nicely, it just tasted nasty, very bland, unseasoned and sauces watered down. Plus how can you make homemade potato chips taste bland? Atmosphere was calm initially as we went at 12 noon on a Tuesday, and we were surrounded by elderly couples. Then 30 minutes later, a group of loud drunks walked in and started their session. Luckily a few minutes after they arrived we’d finished, as we only ordered mains. Unfortunate for the other couples in there that had gone for three course meals.

My food was delicious as usual . Took my oldest sister in for the first time and she was very delighted with her food . Shin beef which melted in your mouth, in peppercorn sauce . She said she would definitely go again . Prices are very reasonable. Food wa 10 out of 10 . Well worth a visit x

Service good but the food extremely poor They seem to have their own versions of traditional sauces. More style over substance Don't think I'll be going back

I went to pick up my partner who was celebrating her birthday with work colleagues, whilst I waited the restaurant staff were kind enough to let me pull up a table, also I ordered a mushroom parmo to takeaway, which they were more than happy to do. I’ve just finished it at home and it was amazing, thank you for that and for helping us deal with an over enthusiastic 3 year old !

Pork Belly fatty and flavourless, doused in gravy to try and disguise. No effort to crisp the rind, white and soggy hidden under that gravy. Beef Tagine, if that’s what you could call it, looked like a few small pieces of beef in a tin of chopped tomatoes and diced onions. Everything was so bad.

Seems to have gone down hill, my starter was not very nice. The main was cold. Wouldn't go back.

The only nice thing about the Sunday dinner was the gravy and Yorkshire pudding ! Quantity rather than quality was certainly the case with this dinner! Everything slapped on with no taste ! We had beef and pork belly and you could tell they were all chucked in slow cooked with no flavouring ! No pork crackling with the plain looking white pork belly ! Absolutely disgusting ! 4 disappointed customers who will not be retuning !

Sunday lunch was lovely, only let down, was …. No crackling with the belly pork

We ordered Sunday lunch to take away as we were working. I ordered to pick the food up at 1 however I had to go and wait in my car for 15 mins until it was ready, then a member of staff brought it to the car. All the food was in containers, so it did not spill whilst travelling. The food was very , very poor. The pork belly, looked disgusting, and didn't taste much better. The beef was 2 big lumps, with lots of fat. The roast pots were more like chipped pots. The turnip, I've never seen turnip look that colour before, it was like baby food. Sorry but the food was disgusting. Very disappointing I won't return.

Food was really good and the prices are unbeatable

Sunday lunch . We had the roast beef / chicken . Plus desserts . The food was average apart for the roast beef which was tender and tasty . The meal It self was barely warm . The broccoli needed a bit more cooking . I wouldn’t go back again , sorry.

Had the most amazing Sunday lunch. The chef should get a rise haha!

Best food and value in darlington.

Very disappointing. Have been going to the Oven for years. Today two starters - tempura prawns and mussels were unavailable. The calamari was tasteless and chewy. The mashed potatoes with the starters and main courses were tainted with vinegar. No response from the chef.

We found this place and what a little gem it is! Fantastic food, amazing prices, friendly staff we had a superb evening! I had the deep fried brie for starter it was delicious and very large! Followed by chorizo parmo which was equally delicious then creme brulee for dessert. I couldnt really fit a dessert in but love creme brulee and you dont find it in many places these days so i couldn't resist! I can't fault anything, service was great. Would highly recommend and will definately be back. Thank you!

Garlic bread, didn’t taste of garlic, side salad very poor, asked about gluten free, received halloumi fries with batter ( glad only an intollerance to wheat and not an allergy, chips were overcooked, bread with pate- should be toasted, very disappointing overall

Ordered a,Sunday lunch for delivery food was delicious will defently order again well worth the money would highly recommend roast beef was lovely and tender and the roast pork was lovely and tender too 👌

Had 2 beef dinners delivered absolutely gorgeous, the beef was so big and tender the veg just right and the Yorkshire puddings and Garvey were amazing will definitely have again

Canny little gem hidden down a side street. Got a Sunday lunch and it was really nice. Friendly staff and reasonable pricing

Went for Sunday lunch. Items offered and prices don't match those currently up on the website. The food was ok but not amazing quality. All enjoyed starters. Pork belly was chewy, vegetables offered separately to the main roast dinner dish were poor quality. One in...

Went for Sunday lunch. Items offered and prices don't match those currently up on the website. The food was ok but not amazing quality. All enjoyed starters. Pork belly was chewy, vegetables offered separately to the main roast dinner dish were poor quality. One in the party had fish and chips, where the chips were soggy and the mushy peas were completely cold. Have been here a lot of times over the last 7/8 years, this was disappointing.

Four of us went for a meal yesterday teatime. The food was lovely and very reasonably priced. The staff were very friendly and we will definitely return

Sunday lunch was excellent, great tasting food, amazing Yorkshire puddings and beef would highly recommend. Staff all very friendly

Excellent food and service as always. Great menu options. Highly recommend.

We have been to the oven restaurant several times, never had a bad meal. Beautifully presented, food is delicious, at a great price. Staff really friendly and would recommend to everybody 🙂

We went for Mother’s Day. Prices are reasonable but the food quality is poor. The fish cakes were clearly just frozen and then deep fried. The tartar sauce was squeezed on like a child has done it. The pate came with bread not toast. Just no pride in the presentation. The Yorkshire’s were home made and massive and the gravy was delicious but the “stuffing” was just cooked sausage meat I think. Not even a whiff of some paxo! The staff looked like they wanted to be anywhere but at work and they had no ice for drinks. Toilets were disgusting. Someone had clearly been sick all down the back of the toilet. The whole place needs a good refresh and the prices could be raised if they used better quality ingredients and made things from scratch. Overall I would not rush back and would not recommend this restaurant.

Went for mothers day and grandaughters 1st birthday Service was awful nobody seemed to know what was going on Staff looked miserable and came across rude Drinks and food took ages to come out and some items were missing and never came that they tried...

Food was lovely, couldn't fault it but the wine...🤢 we ordered a chardonnay (only 5 bottles of wine to choose from) it was so bad I couldn't drink it and it was actually spoiling my meal. I would definitely go back for the food but...

First time was no vegetables after we got it home we found out. We Complained and got no response…2nd time they couldn’t find our order then made us wait in car for 20 mins. Personally won’t use again and wouldn’t recommend. Staff don’t care.

Amazing Sunday Lunch delivered to our home today. It was beautiful- will definitely order again.

Excellent take out lunch today. Food fabulous, service great and staff were really helpful. We will definitely be back

We just needed good food without stress or palaver. Also, I like spicy and my wife, tasty but less spice. No menu outside but lovely welcoming staff inside, with an assurance they did all sorts. Sure enough, I had hanging chicken with Piti Piti sauce...

My risotto didn't look like the traditional dish and appeared to be made of ordinary rice and was so creamy! On my return home, I looked up risottos and found the look-alike on line - economy tomato risotto. Open a tin of tomatoes and so...

Excellent steak dinner. Rump steak was so tender and juicy with saucy chips and sides. Was so good value already booked to go back.

Had great xmas 3 cpurse meal food excellent will go again

Frozen veg and yes I mean frozen , tatty place and as we were eating a light fell of ceiling on someone's table , realy nothing nice a good to say about the place

Went to celebrate my Nana’s 80th birthday here on New Year’s Eve. The staff weren’t particularly friendly, we waited a long time for our drinks and food, and it wasn’t that nice, especially for the price. Won’t be rushing back any time soon.

I had Sunday lunch at the beginning of December in this busy restaurant. I turned up purely by chance as it was a rainy Sunday and I needed a break from Christmas shopping. The staff was friendly and helpful. This was definitely one of the...

Great food,friendly atmosphere and staff.

Great night food fantastic the staff are so friendly and helpful always smiling they must have been knackered going up and down those stairs (i know i was )

Went here yesterday 12th November. There were 9 of us and we all agree this place is spot on. Both the starters and mains were gorgeous. All cooked fresh. Would definitely recommend this place. We will be going again

Excellent food. Great prices. Attentive staff.

Breaded garlic mushrooms awful.They had so much breadcrumb on and deep fried until they were so hard I could not cut them.Infact one flew off my plate while trying to cut it in half . Pate was large portion but unfortunately served with 2 tiny...

A wonderful lunch experience. I had wonderful fish & chips and Justin had rare fillet steak with shin sauce. Superior.

Excellent food and large portions

Would of have given 4 star food slow in between each course, floor and the rug upstairs very sticky I had to take my shoes off when I went outside 😱

What a wonderful find! The best fillet steak I have ever had 👍not exactly on our doorstep but worth the travel & will definitely be back

Went to the Oven last night for my mams 40th birthday meal. We had a lovely night and the staff really went above and beyond for my mam (even making her favourite desert despite it being taken off the menu months ago). Thank you again to all the ladies working last night (and the chefs for the gorgeous food). We will definitely be back :)

First impressions- Sticky floors, crumpled menus with remnants of others people food on them and dirty, dusty plastic flowers on the tables. Lunchtime “not so” specials, I appreciate the cost of food has gone up but personally I would of preferred to have paid a...

Delicious food, good size portions, friendly staff and lovely atmosphere... highly recommended

12 of us booked here last night for husbands 60th birthday, our second visit this year. Staff were amazing, food was very quick and beautiful, couldn’t fault it, and prices were very reasonable. My husband was even given a bottle of wine on our way...

In my opinion (and we eat out everyday) this is the best place to eat in town. Don't by pass the salmon on fresh roasted veg.

We popped in here on a Thursday night to see if they could fit us in and the staff were very obliging and found us a table. We ordered starters which arrived promptly and were very good. Our mains arrived a while later and were...

Great staff. Generous portions of delicious food. The staff even brought it to my car. I thought she had brought the wrong order as there was so much of it. Fantastic value for money.

I popped into Oven today on my way back to my guest house. Happy hour wasn't due to start for another twenty minutes but the server took my order and was very helpful with advice on drinks and food. When my main arrived it was...

I was in town on my own, walked passed this restaurant and walked in, i had to ask if they were open as I was the only customer in the whole restaurant, The girl serving couldn’t be faulted it’s just the chief couldn’t cook beans...

This food is gorgeous and lovely. The detail to it is amazing staff is so nice and friendly and u get a really big portion of food! it was delicious and tasty, I loved it. I recommend the oven!

Great home cooked food, lovely staff, good atmosphere, reasonable prices……definitely recommended

A group of mixed ages and mixed tastes met here and left full and happy. They have a diverse menu but from our experience all of it was done well from the haddock tagine to the kids pasta. The service was great - friendly efficient...