The MUDDY TOAD in Torfaen

Beautiful restaurant! I highly recommend visiting this cosy pub/restaurant. The food is delicious, and the waiters were so attentive. It was a lovely evening

Fantastic food been there twice now but a huge problem no draught beers or lager or cider really spoils the pub needs to be sorted asap

Outstanding Sunday lunch. Great use of textures and tastes and a decent serving. Excellent service from staff who are all very attentive. Pleasant and relaxed environment.

A wonderful experience. I would fully recommend a visit here. Outstanding!

Thrilled we found this Place tonight! It was Brilliant - Staff were So Professional & Friendly , Interior was So Attractive and Food was Superb!!! We would Love to live Near but we will visit again Very Soon!! Thank You Everyone for such a Warm Welcome. Our little dog Loved it too!

Me and my boyfriend came here on a Sunday and the food was excellent! The atmosphere was spot on, the staff were friendly and couldn’t be more attentive. We can’t recommend enough and are looking foward to returning and try the evening menu.

Had lunch here earlier today. Unbelievable food, very high quality and nice selection of dishes. Friendly service and a lovely setting, would highly recommend this place.

Came here for a birthday this evening, service was amazing even though they were short staffed, the food was well presented and tasted delicious , will definitely come again and recommend to friends

Excellent food cooked to perfection. Friendly and polite staff, will defo be going back

Situated a couple of minutes off the Cardiff Road we found this gem for our lunch. Definitely more of restaurant than pub, but all the better for it.

Fabulous tasting food which was beautifully presented up to the standards of other far more expensive restaurants in this area Service & ambience faultless - our second visit last Friday but will be back soon to try out the Sunday lunch

The most amazing breakfast & service. Highly recommend!

Beautiful food in a lovely environment. Great service, very attentive throughout. Second visit for food within a month. We regularly visit fur drinks in the bar which is very welcoming and has a fireplace during winter.

I'm visiting my dad, but grew up here and worked behind the bar before I went to uni in the 90s, so I remember it as the Lower from the olden days (IYKYK). Turns out, both of us look a bit different to how we looked back then. It's had a GORGEOUS makeover, and the decor is just on point with a tasteful fusion of modern and classic European. The music was appropriate, if a touch loud when sat close to the speaker. But not offensively so. The service was excellent; friendly and attentive. Ok so drinks; they have some sort of French gin that was sweet and went perfectly with elderflower tonic, served with what I think were sloes and a sprig of rosemary. I was LIVING for it. Papa said the malbec was very decent too. I also had a chocolate martini, and it was divine too. The food. Yaaaas, queen, the food. So there's not a huge range of choice, like when you go somewhere and you have to go through a ten page menu, but I can recommend the chicken & goose pate and the sirloin steak. Both were done perfectly and I could literally eat that every day for ever. All in all, a well deserved five stars. Not cheap (hence the title), but given there's ample parking and it's a restaurant rather than a pub that shouldn't be a problem. Will definitely recommend and visit again.

I appreciate people gave up their Christmas day. I felt we were invisible at our table. Had to chase up service after waiting a long time for each course. Even had to wait to receive drinking water. The only time we had unprompted table service when they were trying to sell more drinks.

Mash potato side and beans were great. It would have been nice to have a single side with the main dish but not the end of the world. Would deffo go again

If I could give more than 5 stars I would, we had our annual Christmas family meal here today and all I can say is wow!! Food was incredible, service was so much more than we expected, we are already looking for dates to go back in the New Year, thank you to all of the staff at The Muddy Toad for giving us such an amazing afternoon.

What a fantastic Sunday lunch. The food was outstanding, service was amazing. Definitely will be going back.

We had a fantastic experience right from the start of walking into the pub. Food was amazingly and staff was so warm and welcoming, we look forward to coming back for our wedding anniversary 😊 ❤️

Food was beautifully presented and delicious. A local top class restaurant. Will be returning definitely

Well impressed, food amazing, outstanding service and atmosphere ! Highly recommended

Excellent Amazing food amazing service with a great atmosphere Definitely will be back

This was a treat to find - great food, friendly service, great ambience and good value for money. Highly recommend.

We visited the Muddy Toad after watching Tom Lodge's demo at Cowbridge food festival, and it did not disappoint! The food was incredible, service was fab and venue is gorgeous. Photos of the pigeon starter, venison main and chocolate mousse for dessert. Highly recommend 👌

Celebrated my birthday with friends last Thursday. Had a great time. the food was excellent, great service and we all loved the place. Thanks Stefan and Erin for looking after us so well. I will certainly be back.

Exultant. 5 of us, no complaints at all

Cannot praise this place enough. Carl and his team created a beautiful buffet for us. Delicious 5* food & service. Absolutely thrilled with the whole experience. Extremely attentive staff, highly recommend. Please see for yourselves- you won’t be disappointed!

Since the changeover from The Lower Inn pub, I would say that the food is much better. There’s a lot more thought into the menu and the starters / mains are absolutely delicious. It’s definitely a little more expensive than the previous ownership but I think that you definitely get your moneys worth with their menu, atmosphere and service. A must try: the fig and Brie starter is divine. I hope they also bring the scotch egg back. Mains are also gorgeous.

Booked for my nieces birthday. Delicious lunch. Excellent service and loved the decor. Real fire was on and the place looked so quaint from the outside. Indoor very contemporary. Thank you

This is the second time I've dined at The Muddy Toad, firstly I was very excited to see new owners, having lived in the village for 6 years and not having had a good experience from the previous owners. The food is exquisite, the service is high end and the general atmosphere and décor is just beautiful. Lots of green and plants which gives a lovely calming ambience. I am a huge cocktail fan so to have somewhere in walking distance from my house that offers such an imaginative and exciting menu makes me very happy. Erin recognised me and welcomed me back in such a lovely manner, what a lovely girl. Keep doing what you are doing - dining out is a rare treat for many families at the moment but I feel you absolutely get what you pay for at The Muddy Toad.

Delicious food, beautiful setting and extremely attentive staff. Even the dog was looked after! We can’t wait to visit again.

Lovely place. Food is stunning and service is great.

Nice bar with a really lovely barmaid

Lovely pleasant restaurant, staff were incredibly helpful, food was fantastic, atmosphere was perfect Would go there again

Situated a couple of minutes off the Cardiff Road we found this gem for our lunch. Definitely more of restaurant than pub, but all the better for it. A quiet Wednesday lunch time and pretty average to look at from the outside. Inside though tastefully decorated in a rustic style. The wow factor was provided by the house plants, there must be hundreds of them all looking great and really enhancing the look. We chose from the set lunch menu very reasonably priced and a good selection. The food was excellent both in quality and presentation. Service was unrushed and attentive. We will be coming back. many thanks.

We went for a family meal. Great service, lovely meal. We would definitely recommend.

As an Italian I found it stunning to eat the best mussels ever eaten here in Galles! Amazing place, with super nice waiters and cosy atmosphere.

Nice selection of beers and lovely staff we will be back for food

We really enjoyed the whole experience.

What a lovely evening we had..The food was fantastic. It isn't cheap but the food is fabulous. I think the sea bass was the nicest I have ever had. 2 of the party had chicken supreme and they said it was great too. I had Beetroot salmon to start awesome. One of us had the scotch egg which they really liked. 10 out of 10.

Lovely meal. Food was excellent very friendly staff

Nice place to eat. Not much atmosphere, we went on Thursday night and it was quite empty. Good food, nice selection and very pleasant waiting staff.

I've eat in a few high restaurants in Ritz but I can honestly say best food and staff we have ever had don't miss this place lush lush 10 out of 10

Lovely evening meal even with a party of 10 food was incredible

Lovely ambience and friendly staff. Service was slightly too attentive, constantly approaching our table and filling our water glasses (the bottle of water cost £4.95) The food was beautifully presented, and tasty, but both courses were served luke warm. Scallops to start, beef as main. Disappointed

What a fantastic meal we just had over here. Not the cheapest but not over priced, well worth trying 👌👌

Couldn’t fault anything. The food was incredible

food was cold had to send it back and when it returned the Yorkshire pud was missing, lovely taste but expensive for what you get you have to pay extra for cauliflower and potatoes, service is fab the girls are lovely, desert choices very poor

Limited menu, tiny portions, extremely expensive. Haddock dog in brioche turns out to be a small haddock goujon in a bit of hot dog roll. No vineger for the chips and the waitress spilt my beer.

Lovely decor, loved all the plants! Friendly, helpful staff. Lovely food - some different options available. One of the desserts was served on a wooden toadstool! Novel! Drinks weren't cheap, but I suppose they've gone up everywhere!

Great front of house service, unfortunately though, the owner is not only rude but when you point it out to him he becomes argumentative, then tries to blame you. I’d never go back

Food came out and looked lovely but thats about all the good I can say. Over cooked meat and under cooked veg. And service not the best. Very slow and getting orders wrong or just changing items on meals without consulting us first. Got fed up with waiting for desserts order to be taken so picked up check and left.

It was nice - food was good overall. However, took a 1.5 year old and everything on offer was either fried or smothered in salt.

We like what the owners have done to the place and can’t fault the service from the waitresses. Unfortunately the food was disappointing and not up to a standard that fits the environment. The head chef walked through a couple of times and had massive face ache which is not great to see.

I so wanted to write a good review of our lunch today 7th June but !! My Wife ordered the duck waitress said servered pink just how the good lady likes it.Tom who the hell was cooking the duck today it was grey and tough.I ordered the pork fillet well it was three pieces of pork not good enough Tom .Potatoes and cabbage with sauce and that was it.We spoke to the waitress when paying the bill regarding the duck she said she would give the feedack to the kitchen !! Sorry Muddy Toad we gave you ago

Top tier food - chefs are special. Service was brilliant. 10/10 all round.

Amazing gastropub. Food was delicious, ambience perfect and outstanding staff.

Really great evening with lovely staff and amazing food

Thoroughly enjoyed our meal tonight at The Muddy Toad. The food was delicious with flavours that complimented each other perfectly. Congratulations to Tom Lodge and all the staff, great service and atmosphere

Our first visit since it's changed to the Muddy Toad and it did not disappoint! Service was top notch, great selection of drinks and the food was amazing. The new decor is beautiful. Will definitely be booking again soon and would highly recommend a visit if you're in the area.

Absolutely amazing.. nothing else can be said.. well done Guys..

Well where do I start!! Brought my family up here for Sunday dinner last weekend all the way from the North Pole as the the Tiktok world famous Chef Tom lodge recommended it to us. Fortunately I ordered the cauliflower cheese ( which was a specialty ) it turned out to be caramelized cauliflower with some bacon and cheese grated on it and seasoned with CORNISH SEA SALT COMPANY!! And wow!!! the TikTok sensation Chef Tom Lodge said it was the best thing to have for Sunday lunch And it was. Best thing I’ve ever had in my mouth! ( and I’ve had many things in my mouth) Now I’m currently traveling back to the North Pole on foot as the Staff at The Muddy Toad decided to put my car on the log fire as it helps with the smoking process of the famous Pork They do! ALL RISE FOR CHEF TOM LODGE! He literally wipes the floor with Gordon Ramsey and Marco Pierre white! And it only cost £5,767.76p for the 3 of us for 3 courses! I’ve had to remortgage our Igloo but it was worth it! Best Experience ever

Met a friend for dinner and the place is decorated beautifully. Got offered water for the table which we accepted then got charged £2.50 per bottle. The food is very overpriced for what it is. I had a steak and fries. The steak was tiny, like a minute steak, and overcooked. Came out to the table cut into pieces with greasy fries. Not what you expect for £25. Very disappointed. The desserts on the menu are confusing and not what you would expect. Paid £7 for a blob of mouse with a few chocolate shards on. I won’t be returning.

One the tastiest Sunday Dinners I’ve had in a really long time. Staff extremely accommodating, venue tastefully decorated and very clean. A real gem and 100% will be going back…the sooner the better! I’m a coeliac and no problems adapting the menu to suit. Thank you!

Had a lovely meal here- a very nice experience! My partner is gluten free and cow-dairy free and they were able to cater for that as well which was a major plus

Had Sunday lunch today. It was absolutely delicious. First visit but definitely won't be our last. Amazing staff, beautiful settihg.....Thanks so much.

Two of us recently had lunch at the Muddy Toad, and it was an amazing experience! The atmosphere was welcoming, and the staff was friendly and attentive. I couldn't resist trying their burger, and it was truly outstanding. The burger at Muddy Toad was a flavor explosion. The patty was perfectly cooked, juicy, and delicious. The toppings were fresh, adding a delightful crunch. The attention to detail was impressive, from the homemade sauces to the melted cheese. Every element came together flawlessly. The restaurant itself had a cozy and inviting ambiance. The rustic yet modern decor and comfortable seating created a pleasant environment. The staff was knowledgeable and provided excellent service. In conclusion, Muddy Toad is a must-visit for burger lovers and anyone who appreciates great food. The exceptional flavors and warm hospitality make it a standout place to visit.

Had a fabulous birthday meal food excellent service 1st class

Expensive, also wasn't told there was an offer on, also presentation, was awful

Remove my review as the restaurant has new owners and name new menu and are use old review from previous restaurant. I will however be eating here soon so I will repost.

Unfortunately the menu was limited and a number of those menu items were unavailable despite us arriving at 7.15pm. Food was not over priced but was lacking in presentation and thought. To be honest the pub is lovely but better preparation needs to be done. I always try to support independent local businesses but please read the feedback and use it to improve and not take exception.

Amazing food and hospitality at the muddy toad so relaxed and friendly. Good variety menu choices. Would highly recommend and will definitely be revisting again and again. Thankyou

Steak brought out and was told medium, we had ordered medium rare, went back to kitchen and then came back immediately and said it was medium rare, their error, we did not then see a server until we had finished our meal, we were in a section with no other diners, no one came to ask if everything was satisfactory, took photos of the meals, steak was medium at best, very small and overcooked, chips (more like overcooked McDonalds chips)were hard, that was the meal, no sides or anything else we expected more for £25.00! Poor service, food not to a Gastro pub standard and waaaay too expensive for the portions they serve Will not be returning! Shame as food tasted okay, just poor cooking / portion size

Our Ruby wedding añniversary lunch. Perfect thank you Muddy Toad. Food = perfect, service =perfect, atmosphere =perfect. Can't get any better than that guys and girls. Thank you a good memory of our important day.

Can't fault the service staff couldn't do more. Food was ok but was expecting a lot more considering all the hype.

Lovely food (Hake and Tagliatelle), very good service.

Have been twice since relaunched as the Muddy Toad with chef Tom Lodge’s menu. Food was excellent, packed full of flavour. Chef’s passionate about food and is engaging with the customers and the rest of the team were polite and attentive and treated food allergies with the caution and respect needed. Very pleased to have this on the doorstep. Will be back!

Well what can I say, heard good things about this place. We had Sunday dinner today and the meat was hard to cut and chewy, not a lot of flavour In the veg which there was hardly any of . I'd recommend you give it a go as might have just been a bad day because the reviews are good but not when we went. I.e 2 small carrot, one small parsnip tiny Yorkshire pudding and 2 roast potatoes with a tiny amount of cabbage.

Excellent Sunday lunch, with great service.

Food fabulous, staff friendly and very helpful...Will definitely be eating there again, chef came to talk to us too. Really pleased...we had table for seven plus a three year old, can't praise enough. Thank you

Nothing to eat for children not even an icecream for dessert, need a proper chef and management

What an incredible atmosphere Carl and Stephan have created. Chef Tom’s food is absolutely delicious so much so we have eaten there two days in a row so can try his dishes. I have to say we have visited here I believe 5 times since they opened two weeks ago and honestly think the owners and team are so welcoming and kind! Highly recommend, and make sure you try the muddy toad spritz or raspberry mojito if you enjoy a delightful cocktail!

Great to see new business doing well.

Lovely food, generous portions, great prompt service and the dog was allowed too!

Excellent food and great team to serve you. Nothing was too much for them to assist with

Food was lovely highly recommended 👌

Food ok very, very cold freezing eat my food with my coat on so cold

Visited tonight for one last date night before our baby arrives ie a special occasion for us both that we were looking forward to. The food is delicious and can't fault it at all. However, the blonde short waitress is an issue (other staff all lovely and friendly). I literally didn't see her smile once the whole evening and she made us feel as if anything was too much trouble, like asking for a steak knife for the fillet steak. The bigger issue though was that I asked if it would be possible for the bruscetta with goats cheese to come without the goats cheese as I'm pregnant and can't eat goats cheese. She just responded with 'no'. My partner ordered this for himself and the goats cheese was just placed on top so absolutely could have come without it. This was disappointing and made me feel like I asked for the world. Just be a bit more accomodating !

Food was good but the staff not welcoming the lady wasn't very pleasant at all . Even when smiling back she just had the straightest face ever my friend & I thought very strange if you work in hospitality which we both have that's all part of the job even in a pub & not a 5 star hotel.

The food was lovely, a little pricey but delicious, only let down was the barmaid, no observational skills for customers wanting to pay, get served etc, plus she was unable to comprehend the concept of deducting deposits from the bill at the end of the evening, she lost you a star by her attitude towards us when it turned out that we were correct with our mental arithmetic and she was wrong, not even the grace to say sorry.

I was slightly disappointed with the evening experience on Saturday 15th October 2022. The food was a good standard no issues there. The problem was linked to the atmosphere, half the lower area was allocated to a single party with excessive noise, wooden chairs on stone floor moving constantly with the young guests. We were seated on a table for two which was very small with the constant staff going back and forth behind my seat. Not a pleasant setting on a romantic table for two. Not the special feeling that I had anticipated for a place where the bookings are very limited.

Great value lunch time menu...15.95 ...2x course ..either starter main or main desert...Good balanced main menu with tempting deserts....Will be back..

Very helpfull staff, lovely atmosphere

Met up with family for a celebration. Food was lovely and service was good but the table was not clean. It was sticky to the touch all over and there were traces of hard, dried sauces/gravy right where my forks were placed. Others on our table had the same thing at their seats. It really doesn't take long to wipe down the tables properly between covers and it would have made a nice family meal a better experience.

Fantastic meal, all freshly cooked, portion sizes were perfect . There were 4 of us, we each had different meals and every one was delicious. Will definitely be back

Really tasty Sunday lunch washed down with a couple of pints of tasty ale.

First time we have been there since the new owners and what a difference. Nice relaxed atmosphere, staff were excellent and the food was very good. The price is pitched right when you take into the food, service and atmosphere. Would recommend and will be coming back soon

Four of us had a fabulous lunchtime meal here last week! The choice of food was amazing and the young man serving us was both friendly & efficient. Absolutely fabulous value for money. We can’t wait to return 😊

Had Sunday lunch here a couple of weeks ago and it was superb. Pretty small pub so not too busy and nice family atmosphere. Food was superb, service excellent and quick. Nice friendly staff. Easy to find and some parking at back. Definitely worth a visit for a nice relaxed time.

Great service beautiful food reasonably priced