After a refurb in late 2007, the Toby Carvery in Barnet had a lot to live up to, but with superb food and friendly service it has managed to make its mark.

The Venue
Toby Carvery stands proudly on the corner, at the bottom of Barnet High Street. Formerly The Avenue, the place took a lot of stick for changing to a carvery, but it is bright, clean and clearly popular. Divided into a pub and restaurant, it has lots of little nooks and crannies to seclude yourself in for an intimate meal or a quiet drink. There is also a brightly lit bar with tables, chairs and sofas for the casual drinker.

When you walk into the bar, everything about it shouts chain pub: orange shades on the walls, loud carpets, lots of small lamps, paintings and over-sized ornate mirrors. But don’t let this put you off - the food is likely to surprise many. The huge car park at the back of the venue is needed for the number of visitors on a weekend, some of whom spill out onto the picnic tables in the beer garden when the weather permits.

The Atmosphere
The superbly genial staff, friendly banter, and overall happy atmosphere must be testament to a very happy team, with equally happy locals. An eclectic mixture of Barnet residents come to enjoy the food and drink, from groups of thirtysomething girls out for a meal, couples enjoying some decent grub, and older ladies socialising and gossiping, plus older groups of middle-aged and senior drinkers, all very happy and familiar with the place.

The Food
Every food pub in London serves a roast on a Sunday, and the results often bear no relation to the style (or not) of the venue. Toby Carvery is a case in point. It might not have the fake ‘individuality’ of the cloned gastropubs, but it serves excellent, well-cooked food at honest prices. The Toby Carvery in Barnet is one of the best tasting and best value roasts you can eat. Any hints of snobbery about a carvery will melt away as soon as you start to eat the food you have piled onto your plate.

There are three roast choices: beef, gammon or turkey. There are also other meat options, such as the moist and succulent sweetcured, bacon-wrapped chicken stuffed with creamy melting cheese and sweet sauce, or a beef Wellington, a lamb option or a couple of vegetarian choices. Choose one of these then pile up your plate with steamed green cabbage with red onion, roast or boiled potatoes, roast parsnips, steamed broccoli, steamed carrots, cauliflower cheese, massive Yorkshire puddings and sage and onion stuffing balls. Then drizzle your feast with beef, poultry or vegetarian gravy and one of many sauces including apple, cranberry, horseradish or mustard.

The very generous puddings are £2.50-£4 and include cherry pie, treacle sponge, and the excellent chocolate brownie ice cream sensation, which is like a 99 in a glass with layers of ice cream, chocolate sauce and chocolate brownie pieces with chocolate flakes and wafers on top.

The Drink
Toby Carvery sells draught wine from barrels behind the bar, including a rose, a smooth red and a Chardonnay, all in a carafe for under a tenner. Bottled wine is also available by the glass or bottle, including a soft and fruity Blossom Hill Red and a long Shadow Chardonnay for £2.20 a glass or £8 for a bottle.

If you fancy a pint, there is a large draught selection, including Strongbow, Coors Light, Carlsberg Export, Fosters, Tetleys, Bombardier and Stella. By the bottle you can drink Magners, Budweiser, Becks and WKD. Spirits are also very good value at £1.75 for a single and £3.00 for a double.

The Last Word
Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. For a superb roast dinner at excellent value, shun the poncey gastropubs for the quality and quantity of the Toby Carvery.

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