The Recruiting Sergeant in Broadland

Good atmosphere, caring excellent service and fantastic food! I had a giant skate wing in caper butter, the best I have ever had, and my husband opted for a steak salad starter, still large, and a tasty apple crumble for dessert. The portions were enormous - the next table of 5 hearty middle-aged men couldn't finish their meals and were given doggy bags. An extensive and attractive menu, and you won't starve here!

Not being allowed to cut cake!!! The staff were passive aggressive and very rude!

I've been visiting family in this area for years but had never visited here, bending to the hype I attended, lovely pub not a restaurant in my eyes but the prices reflected those of a restaurant. Nice and warm inside Tables slightly to close together Staff lovely service was quick and friendly Drinks reasonable prices FOOD - decent range of food options slightly over priced for a pub, as to me this was pub food, mushy peas with a hint of mint, the chefs aiming to take this pub to the restaurant level, but for something as easy a chips needs improving, pale and not fully cooked, maybe because the place was busy. Maybe this is the best place around for those locals, but I would take a drive to gain something much better. I will not be visiting again Please note - this is my opinion, also I didn't stay in a room, hence no review.

Visited as a family of four for Sunday roast. Very popular so not the easiest to park. Lovely decor and great service. Little pricey but quality was excellent and worth the extra. The mixed roast was extremely filling, so I’d suggest only go for that if you have a big appetite. The quality of the beef was superb. So full couldn’t try a desert. Very enjoyable, we will be back for sure.

Just had dinner here with my mum, lovely welcome from all the staff, excellent service and food. At first glance at menu prices seemed a bit high but given the quantity and quality it could seem underpriced. After today's visit I would thoroughly recommend this establishment.

Absolutely delicious lunch with friends. Food was amazing, well presented, plentiful and tasty. Staff are attentive and friendly and comfortable surroundings. This is hands down one of our favourite places to eat. Cannot wait to go back!

Had this recommended for “the best Sunday lunch in Norfolk” and we weren’t disappointed! 7 of us had Sunday roast and 1 had the steak and kidney pudding. All meals were delicious and HUGE. Perfectly cooked and great service from the staff. It’s a shame we live so far away or we’d be there every weekend!

We've eaten here three days running. Great service and fantastic food.

Just fantastic, beautiful food with great big portions. Thanks so much, we will be back.

Service was excellent and food was very tasty and a good size portion . Great value, great service , highly recommend a visit. But probably best book .

Best pub restaurant around. Stunning food. Great service. A local legend.

Really good food. Good quality and really decent portion size

The food seems to vary depending on what day you visit. The first time was excellent, the second visit was below par.

Great food, friendly staff and all round excellent! 👍

I know that this restaurant is very popular, so we’re going against the general grain. However, it was not for us. The service is overwhelming to begin with - being asked what we’d like to drink before we’d even sat down?! Then we were left for ages. The menu is big, as is everything here. Service is quick, and starters good. However, those mains! Way too big (and we could hardly see what we were eating in the murky interior). I could only eat half (and I don’t like things served in a cooking dish). Offered a ‘doggy bag’, and told that uneaten food just goes into an ordinary bin. And that they can’t do smaller portions. Incredible prices for this level of cooking, so why not just lower the prices and serve smaller portions, therefore less appalling wastage? Shan’t be returning, sorry.

No wonder The Recruiting Sergeant was recommended for a catch up lunch with friends. The food was delicious and servings extremely generous, the atmosphere was cosy and relaxed. Thanks for a lovely time, can’t recommend highly enough.

Great Sunday Roast. Friendly and quick service! Loved the lamb shank roast. Catered for my daughter’s veggie roast request without any issues. Thoroughly enjoyable meal for all of us.

Friendly staff, great food, large portions 😋

Food was very good and the staff are very polite and service is excellent

Had a family birthday meal. Got parked easily, lovely warm place, staff polite and efficient. Lovely meal and yes I would go back. Google want me to rate it as a hotel, as I only live a little way away I have no idea.

Good menu large portions , good beer

Have always loved the food here. Today had the Sunday lunch. Really good beef nice carrot and broccoli everything tastes great. But why am I being served Sunday roast in a large soup plate! Just spoiled it for me too much delicious gravy swamped the roast potatoes. It may be a new trend but so was food on a slate! Please go back to a plate . Great service. Good value. Love this place.

Fantastic food, excellent quality and good sized portions. Went on a Sunday and had a wonderful roast dinner and sticky toffee pudding. Only drawback was just a 90 minute slot for lunch which felt a bit rushed and not a relaxing dining experience. This was the only issue but the food and beer was excellent.

Went for a family roast which was just average compared to 3 weeks ago. We all said the same thing the meat was lovely the veg was average but the roast potatoes were awful, dry and tasteless usually everything is spot on but not this time.

Fabulous meal for birthday treat. As always, so tasty and terrific choice.

What a wonderful place this is. Everything, the food, the staff, the atmosphere was just really nice. The staff are really friendly and very helpful. We were welcomed the second we stepped through the door, and while the service was attentive, we were able to relax and enjoy the excellent food. Colchester Inns, you are doing a fine job.

We had a wonderful meal and made to feel very welcome

Celebrating mums 79th birthday, there were 20 of us. From the get go made to feel very welcome and nothing was too much trouble. Didn't have to pre order food in advance and even though there were a few of us and the restaurant was full, food orders and speed of service was excellent. Vast menu, was difficult to choose what to have as such a good choice. All food coming out was exceptional and none of us were disappointed. Still talking about it 2 weeks on! Can't wait to return.

Booked for a leisurely lunch with 2 friends and we had the most wonderful meal and catch up. We only had mains but never once did we feel rushed and we arrived at 12.30 and left at 3.30! Cozy atmosphere lovely warm fire. Gorgeous wine glass filled with an amazing merlot, a little pricey (over £9) but it was sooooo good! I had looked at website menu and it was a toss up between duck with game pie or Dover sole. Sadly the sole wasn’t on the menu the day we went so had to suffer the sumptuous duck breast with equally sumptuous red cabbage and a game pie (topped with mash not pastry). It looked huge but I managed it. Hence no need for anything else. Friends had the mushroom pasta and salmon fillet, both pleased with their choices and cleared their plates too. Beautifully presented. All in all a most relaxing and satisfying experience. Will definitely go back. Total bill around £86 for 3 mains and 3 drinks.

Lovely roast dinner, service very good in nice environment. Value for money. Will return.

We came on the evening of Monday 29th of Jan 2024. Food was amazing , service outstanding , all waiters / waitresses very attentive & polite. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a good evening out. Special mention to Bethan. We will be back in the very near future. 10/10

Had been recommended to go and try this place. The food was lovely and plenty of it. My husband had rack of ribs which were huge and I had slow cooked lamb keg with herb dumplings, parsnips, mash potato and tenderstem broccoli. It was delicious and the food was piping hot. I would recommend this place.

We went for the restaurant, absolutely delicious food,lovely big meals,tasty& well presented, its a bit more costly than we would usually pay but it truly was lovely,everyone of us loved our meals.

Fabulous food at a great price. Unfortunately the waitresses were really vocal in the bar. As well as three woman in the next room were quite noisy, they were well oiled, hope they weren't driving. Dinner served but no courtesy check, thank goodness the food was superb.

Always excellent food and great service

5 star service and the food was amazing

Love it here, just on the door step. Very fast service even though it was packed. Massive portions struggle to finish! Lovely atmosphere

Excellent as usual Wife's birthday, staff gave a delicious piece of cake, complete with a candle, lovely ❤

Fourth visit and as always we weren't disappointed. Arrived NYE with my brother in law and his wife and 3 dogs for 2 nights. The rooms are comfortable with plenty of space with lovely modern bathrooms. The food is incredible. There are no other words to describe it. So much choice and always made with the freshest ingredients. The portions are very very generous so go hungry. You will not be disappointed. The hospitality here is second to none. Every member of staff always delivers the best service and Nicola, the joint owner, is the real driving force behind them. Her and her husband deliver the best hospitality and food we've had in this kind of establishment it's a 3 hour drive from our home to here but absolutely worth it.

Brilliant Sunday Lunch. Superb!

Another wonderful good experience here again, so much choice of mouthwatering culinary delights in this menu. Staff warm friendly and efficient, food excellent, absolutely worth a visit and I would recommend to everyone, only criticism I would make was that good arrived a little too quickly, this is lovely food to be devoured and a couple of hours to enjoy, in this occasion it only seemed to be a couple of minutes after ordering that the starter was on the table and again maybe 5 mins after starter plate removed the mains arrived.... I recommend to.just slow it a little!!

Always fantastic food here. Back again and enjoyed another lovely meal. Staff were cheerful and helpful and the right level of attentive.

Enjoyed the meal it was excellent.However beware when entering the premises at the front .l tripped over the corner of the fireplace and ended up sprawled across an open LIT fireplace,pulling a muscle in my back ...

One of the best pub meals in Norfolk, don’t think it can be beaten!

Great meal, well cooked and well presented. I would recommend it as a treat. Not great value however, overpriced by about 30% but you won't be disappointed

Fourth visit and as always we weren't disappointed. Arrived NYE with my brother in law and his wife and 3 dogs for 2 nights. The rooms are comfortable with plenty of space with lovely modern bathrooms. The food is incredible. There are no other words to describe it. So much choice and always made with the freshest ingredients. The portions are very very generous so go hungry. You will not be disappointed. The hospitality here is second to none. Every member of staff always delivers the best service and Nicola, the joint owner, is the real driving force behind them. Her and her husband deliver the best hospitality and food we've had in this kind of establishment it's a 3 hour drive from our home to here but absolutely worth it.

What a fantastic pub with rooms, just spent two nights here to see in the New Year 🥂 from walking through the front door to leaving 2 days later every member of the team were amazing. Everyone was so friendly and happy and the service...

The Recruiting Sargent is an outstanding pub. Exceptional quality food and a menu to die for.The staff and service I would give them 10/10 they are on it. I was here on NYD with my family and been here many times before when we travel...

Absolutely fantastic food. Huuuuuge portions!

Delicious meal today, a menu that you will enjoy taking your time over and will probably change your mind at least once. Fabulous fish options, I enjoyed scallops followed by halibut. Absolutely enormous portions and terrific quality ingredients and attention to detail (de-veined prawns...fantastic!). Piping hot (free facial sauna with the steaming suet pudding, see pic) and quick service, very impressive given how busy it was. Lovely setting and excellent service, efficient, friendly and experienced! What a treat! We all enjoyed our dishes and would highly recommend. Thank you!

The service and food was excellent as usual but the starter of Leek and Haddock Gratan was amazing and didn’t stop thinking about it for days after. I would recommend having that dish on the menu after Christmas as a main, I would definitely be...

Fantastic food, great service, nothing too much trouble! Choice of food was amazing! Lovely atmosphere!

Saturday 2nd December,our first Christmas meal out for the month with family,who travel from Yorkshire every year to enjoy their meal at the recruiting sergeant. Yet again,exceptional service,presentation,food and ambience. I do hope that the haddock starter,from the Christmas menu,stays on your menu as a...

We were a party of five they took our food order and we waited an hour unfortunately it was not worth the wait the steak pudding looked huge but it was nearly empty inside, served with peas and lardons which the lardons took over the...

Saturday night, could only book 5.00pm or 9.00pm. Took 5.00pm although not ideal. Food very good. Service appalling. Constantly being rushed by staff to finish eating and by 7.00pm told they needed the table and had to leave! Greed over giving customers a relaxing Saturday...

Fab Sunday lunch with our 2 dogs. Nothing too much trouble. Fab atmosphere too. Great Lamb and lovely chicken dish. Def happy to return! Lovely to go somewhere very dog friendly. Nice walks nearby to walk off the extra calories!

The service from all the staff was excellent. We were welcomed, given a choice of the available tables which made a nice change as so often you are shown to a table and expected to accept it. The food was fabulous and the portions very...

Went as a group of 6 for dinner. Food was excellent and came in great portions, wasn't any need for a starter or dessert, although they looked just as appetising! Servers and staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming, especially Toby!

The staff were very pleasant, atmosphere good and food quite good . Portions are very large. My prawn starter was huge ( too much lettuce ) with good prawns and very enjoyable. My main course wasnt so good. Steak overcooked and food too salty for...

This was our 2nd visit in a week (we were on holiday) I cannot praise this restaurant enough. From the extremely friendly staff to the excellent meals. Prices are a little higher than the norm but food is well worth the cost,everything was served piping...

The positives:…Staff where a delight. Friendly, efficient, and attentive.Well done to the staff. The negatives:.. The food was average at best. I had the red Thai curry..certainly was not anything special. My wife had the halibut, again it was OK, but? And this is the...

Stayed here at the weekend for dinner and one night’s stay. Well appointed rooms with nice toiletries and a good choice of food options on the Sunday night menu. Everything we ate was excellent and really good portion sizes. We were made to feel really...

First dined here last night with family who had been before. Welcomed with smiles. Friendly and attentive service without being over the top. We were sat in a side room with lovely decor and fireplace. Had a large noisy party arrive a little after us...

I can’t fault The Recruiting Sergeant. The food and the service were excellent - even on a very busy Friday night. Two of us had the Dover Sole which was cooked to perfection. Very generous portions as well.

Today was our first visit here, I had booked a meal for myself & hubs as a belated birthday treat. The welcome was warm and friendly, the drinks order was promptly taken and drinks received. The food was absolutely delicious and served beautifully, the service...

We had a lovely stay here. The rooms were clean and comfortable and the manager and staff were so accommodating. Fab breakfast also!! Thank you.

We visited last Sunday afternoon to celebrate our son’s exam results. I had booked via e-mail. Not a great start when we arrived, they didn’t have our booking. We were therefore sat in a small, very hot, side room off the main restaurant, unfortunately we...

This place is fantastic!! We all chose different meals and were all blown away by the flavours and presentation!! The staff were helpful and I just can’t wait to go back again soon!!

We are holidaying in Norfolk this week and were recommended The Recruiting Sergeant and we definitely haven’t been disappointed the food is fantastic and well presented. The portions are huge and you definitely will not go home hungry. There is plenty of choice on the...

We were recommended to visit this pub for food - maybe our expectations were high but we found that if just fell a little short of its reputation. The service was ok but not exceptional and the food met the same mark. we felt the...

Oh well, it had to happen, a poor meal at my favourite pub. We visited on a busy Thursday evening. The place was packed and the servers ran around at speed trying to keep everybody happy. I chose skate wing as usual. When it arrived...

Stayed here for 2 nights. Very disappointed . Photos on website look amazing but not so on entry of the building. Worse than Shabby chique. Dirty stair carpets and all paintwork badly marked. Room paintwork marked. Dirty blinds and curtains. Bed linen very clean and...

We were visiting family in Norwich from Cambridge and asked them if they could recommend a pub with quality homemade food. My brother was quick to recommend this pub and being extremely picky about where he eats made me feel I didn’t need to check...

We have been here before a few times and I have reviewed as excellent a few times but this time I felt it wasn’t as good. We had booked a table, the main restaurant wasn’t full, quite a few tables in there, we were put...

This was a disappointing experience. The place was exceedingly noisy and this is not what I am looking for. Food portions were enormous......unnecessarily so. The quality was mediocre.....not exceptionally bad......just a bit disappointing. Car parking was a bit tight. We got the last space.

One of the best pubs in Norfolk. Awesome food (big portions!!) and super friendly staff. Fair prices too and in a lovely setting.

Food amazing Portions huge The different dishes available on the amazing are all fantastic. High quality Shiraz wine - gorgeous. It’s got an outside garden which was lovely to have a drink in before eating. Service good Stayed the night- room was fine but very...

Consistently superb food, friendly staff and varied menu to suit all tastes…A favourite “go to” tried others but always go back to The Recruiting Sergeant… it’s the one we always recommend..

Excellent place to visit Superb food and excellent service We had tables booked for my mums 80th We were well looked after and enjoyed the day Pub has a lovely garden as well Highly recommended

Disappointing. 2 glasses of Cabernet Sauvignon and half pint of ipa £25 !! Food just not worth the cost- I’m not a chef but given the £85 I have paid tonight I could have done a lot better than what we were served up. Service...

Ok, went for a special occasion and was disappointed. Starter served on small plates, had to ask for a extra plate and more serviettes, the crab was so salty and had shell in it. Steak was amazing. Chips were either oven or air fried, not...

An acceptable meal, however, we felt that the quality of the food was lost at the expense of large portions. We would have preferred perhaps slightly smaller portions but better quality food. I had the chicken breast with dauphinois potatoes. The chicken was exceptionally dry...

First time staying here and had a lovely time.. Food is fabulous, we had a family dinner in the evening and nothing was too much trouble! Food was so good.. large portions! Room was great & comfortable then breakfast included too again lovely !! Staff...

Didn’t book but was able to secure a table for an hour. Food was incredible ~ huge portions and reasonably priced. However the staff were very quick when delivering drinks, food and the bill. The bill was dropped off with no conversation and 2 seconds...

We have eaten at the R/S several times and the food is always good, however the portion sizes are huge which must lead to such waste. The general decor looks unloved and shabby and in need of general maintenance. As I went to sit down...

Amazing food! Massive portions which was also absolutely delicious. The garden area is beautiful and very well maintained. Staff were very attentive and food and drinks were quick to arrive even with the pub being very busy. Thoroughly recommended.

Went for family birthday and as largish party were out in the marquee. Bar there but not open so waiters took orders for drinks and food. Majority of food was good though some prices seemed quite high, mains (plenty of it) and deserts. My fish...

We eat out a lot and have suffered months and months of disappointing meals out. Eating here was absolutely lovely! Service was excellent, premises lovely and food fantastic! Will definitely be back and will recommend to anyone who will listen 😀

What can be said other than a truly great find, I thought places like this had all disappeared Great food with really good friendly service, fair prices and a great atmosphere throughout. We stayed for 2 nights so had a wonderful 3 day experience. We...

This was an impulsive pit stop on the way to Cromer. Excellent service and food in a clean comfortable restaurant. Will remember this place for the future

My brother booked here for my birthday and couldn’t fault it. Food, ambience & staff all brilliant. Worth noting the portions are huge so make sure you go hungry! Thoroughly recommend the miso cod! Bought out a lovely birthday dessert too! Sat out on the...

Over the years we have made numerous visits not the cheapest of places but always good food and service as per our recent visit. However when paying the bill with a card was disappointed to be asked did we want to leave a tip as...

My husband and I dropped in for lunch after a week on the Broads, so glad we did! The service and food were extremely good, there was a huge variety on the menu which is often not a good sign but in this case however...

A meal to celebrate my 70th birthday, and what a lovely meal it was for us all. Three generations of family all catered for on a well prepared menu. It was a five star experience up and to the waitress took our order for drinks...

We chanced across this place and what a find it was. The quality of the food and service was second to none. Really generous portion sizes so when combined with how good the food was, represented good value for money. It is run like a...

Wow fantastic first time here but not last food was magnificent my rack of ribs was epic thanks to all staff Geoff

Outstanding Service. Outstanding Food. for our Golden Wedding Anniversary. Staff so friendly, nothing too much trouble.

Excellent food choice although a bit pricey. Good size portions. Staff very attentive and friendly. Would recommend. Parking can be a challenge

I have been driving past this place for the past 10 years and keep thinking about stopping but never have , last night the delights of the Recruiting Sergeant came to show, the service from the minute we walked in to the moment we left...

The food was well prepared and very tasty. The portions were enormous, which if you hadn't already had a starter, you may well finish but we didn't and were disappointed that we couldn't fit in a dessert. For 2 of the 4 of us the...