Reviews in Bromsgrove

Absolutely fantastic atmosphere, food and service. Would highly recommend

Booked a table prior to our visit. Despite this we had to wait 40 mins before being seated and that was after me asking 3 times due to no communication from anyone. Got seated and waited 10 minutes before one of the waiting staff came over. Told we needed menus to then be told that there is only a carvery option on a Sunday so not sure why we needed menus other than large, small or vegetarian. Given menus so we chose the only option…carvery. Lol. Ordered, got given a ticket and then told we had to wait until it was our tables turn to be called up. 15 minutes later we were told to join the queue once the end reached the arch! We dutiful queued and then as the we went under the arch, we were informed that the curry mutton would be 20 minutes as they had run out. Christopher’s only does three meats on its carvery and Ione of them is curry mutton. I am ,guessing, but I presume as a Caribbean carvery, curry mutton is the main reason for a visit! So we eventually got a carvery for it to be a mix of juicy chicken, tough beef, tougher mutton and lukewarm vegetables and mash. To be fair, mutton sauce was nice and so was the rice and beans. I do not normally do reviews but at least£16.99 a head and £1.99 for rubbery mac and cheese, it was not a cheap meal. Poor service and disappointing food. Will not be going back or recommending it in any way. The poor reviews are sadly all true and warnings.

I’ve always seen Christopher’s Caribbean Carvery at The Royal Oak all over social media and heard such great things about how amazing the food is, so I was really looking forward to finally trying it for myself. I visited the Bromsgrove location with a friend. When we first arrived, it wasn’t very clear where to enter, and I initially went toward the bar before finding the restaurant area. I do feel clearer signage would really help new customers. Once seated, the service was good. A staff member came over quickly, took our drink and food order, and our meals arrived within about 10–15 minutes. The food itself was okay, but unfortunately didn’t quite meet my expectations—especially coming from a Caribbean background. The food was warm rather than hot, and a few items were slightly cold in places. The steam veg portion was very small (more like a sprinkle than a serving), which was disappointing. The chicken was tasty but a bit dry without gravy. The roast beef was nice, but I did notice a slight mint taste, which made me wonder if there had been a mix-up. Also, we were only given one gravy between two meals, which didn’t feel right considering we ordered extra large plates. While eating, I also noticed a couple of ants near the window, which wasn’t pleasant. I’m not saying the place isn’t clean, but it’s something that should definitely be checked. The restaurant was busy, and I’d recommend booking in advance as many people were coming in after us. I do feel that given the popularity and reputation, the food could be at a higher standard—especially in a more multicultural setting where expectations for Caribbean food are higher. On a positive note, the service itself was lovely. However, I did overhear a conversation between staff and management that didn’t sound very professional, which slightly affected the atmosphere. Overall, I would rate my experience a 3/5. I really wanted to love it, and I hope improvements are made because I would consider returning in the future—but for now, I won’t be rushing back. Thank you for the service.

Food was lovely and you got a decent amount for the price. The restaurant is beautifully decorated with a map of the canal that has a little bit of information about the different locations. The service was also fantastic.

Yeh man!!! The Royal Oak didn't fail on delivering. From arriving early and being seated straight away to being invited to a reggae bingo evening on departure. Everything in between was superb. The cocktails had us merry, the dinner plates were jammin' and the apple crumble ....wow....the crumble!!! Loved it. Coming back with family and friends

Wasn't as expected like advertised on social media. Food was okish, definitely needed more flavour. We had to pay an extra £1.99 for mac and cheese in which I think should have been included with the carvery as standard. We order x6 mac and cheese in which no one ate because it was tough all over. Dont think ill be going back

This restaurant is understaffed, leading to poor service. It took an hour to receive our drinks, management did apologise for this when they had to return to clarify the order as it had got lost. When we booked we had no idea that XL meals would not be served after 7pm, but no matter as they offered the table extra food when service was complete. Food was barely warm. Plaintain was not ripe, hard and cold. The fish is cooked when ordered, the feedback was good but meant they received their order after the table were already eating. Roast beef flavoured with mint. Mutton tasty but barely warm, chicken lacked caribbean seasoning. They offered us free sweets for delays and poor service. The manager in fairness offered her apologies and attempted to make amends. The atmosphere is lacking. I expected music and vibes, but no! Pleasant venue with good parking. There is nothing that cannot be rectified with attention to detail and a good caribbean chef.

Nice clean place , food was tasty, rice could of been warmer, but overall good value for money . Good customer service .

Was quite excited about going here with a friend but left very disappointed. On arrival although there were lots of tables empty the waitress took us to a high table with bar seats, we are both barely 5ft and nearer to 70 than 60 so would struggle to get up and down on those chairs! She then struggled to find us a table even though the place only had a few customers. Very strange - we would have quite happily sat at a table for 4 or 6 but that seemed to be a real problem. Getting onto the food - I ordered Caribbean fish and chips with Escoveitche pickles, my friend had Jerk chicken with fries. when our meals arrived 1 was on a very small plate with no salad or veg. Mine arrived on a huge oval plate, overcooked batter with soggy thin fish and fries. I asked where the pickles were, it was the waitresses first night and she didn’t have a clue - off she went and came back with a bowl of very hot cider vinegar with a sliver of 1/2 ring of onion in it and the smallest end of what looked like a pepper. Another table of people left their food , said it wasn’t very nice. We never saw the waitress again , she did say they had a new chef. No-body came and asked us if we wanted more drinks, puddings , coffee. When eventually someone appeared at the bar we went up to pay. When asked about our meal , I had to say it was rubbish! Don’t think I’ll recommend you or come there again , which is a shame.

Very disappointed with this Restaurant. Firstly we didn’t have any service for 45 minutes. Staff seemed very unmanaged. Never saw them carrying away any empty plates or glasses. We didn’t get offered a menu? They don’t even offer you a knife and fork? Maybe this is common on Sunday but, Nooooooooo, it contained the contents and options for Sunday!!!!!! We attempted to approach the carvery and were told no and we must wait our turn? At this point there wasn’t a soul at the carvery station and there were only 2 of us. Then we got told something about were maximising our profit? Bizzare statement. Everyone around us soon became agitated and tables all who had booked and paid deposits started leaving. The lack of accountability or acknowledgement of the customers even existed. Eye contact was no existent. Don’t expect to eat within 1 hour on a Sunday seems very consistent with many reviews. I have been in and eaten in the week as a party of 7 and it was empty and slow. On Sunday you’re waiting for rice and peas or a fish dish. The meat is roasted same as a normal carvery. It’s very strange seeing them struggle with a totally booked restaurant down to the numbers of diners. There’s zero vibe! It was dirty and messy. The management sadly I didn’t see any in 50 minutes and I mean managers as in humans? The food I did try in a previous occasion was very poor. No coleslaw there’s a shop 2 minutes away? Faces like slapped back sides. Traditional in the sense they doing it in their time? Here the management think of themselves. This is an experience I can do without. If you think you will eat on a Sunday without being exhausted by the wait and lack of concern, no apology, driven to moaning then leaving without eating. Hungry, annoyed. It was like faulty towers. I recommend if you do want to eat here they do a carvery on the menu for in the week! Don’t let them ruin your special occasions. I don’t think the foods very authentic tasting at all it’s bland and plated dreadfully. 2026 yet it’s as slow as the 80’s. This food is prepared in advance so am genuinely curious as to what they actually are doing. Sadly my time is precious and I will not return to this badly run venue. Read the reviews and be mindful to stay away at busy times. Not reliable or consistent for my liking. Rather eat in Birmingham. I’d of said it to their face if I could find them. Tables just walking out doesn’t even help speed it up. If I wanted to annoy someone it’s an ideal setting. Time owners like this showed their face in the restaurant. It’s rare to see people leaving but according to the reviews it’s common and still continuing. Shame as it is food I enjoy guess I must make it myself at home. Yes we left without being offered our food after 50 minutes. We got our own drinks at the bar … I’d avoid and head for a nice local Sunday dinner without rice. Also the Mac and cheese is awful. Stewed chickens sweet and not authentic and a weird colour. I base my review score on this occasion. Never again!

It was our first time dining at Christophers’s and we were completely underwhelmed. The customer service was not up to scratch. There were quite a few seating areas dotted around and as soon as we stepped in the waitress did not ask where we preferred to sit, but placed us at a table near the door. We ordered drinks and then she took our food order. We got a piece of paper and were told to wait 10 mins and then someone would let us know when it was time to go up. In that time I asked one of the waiters whether we could move to another table. When we moved we were told we couldn’t sit there as it was “reserved” and we were placed elsewhere. We sat at the table for over 20 mins and no one acknowledged us. It was only then the waitress came around, and stated that we could’ve gone up. I let her know it was not very clear. She then stated they would need the table back by 3:30pm smh!! The chef was extremely pleasant and friendly. We ate our food and not once did any of the staff ask whether we were enjoying the food and whether we wanted anymore drinks. We finished and not one of the staff asked whether we wanted dessert(probably due to wanting us out quickly). As I went to pay at the bar , the waiter and the woman at the till did not look up or pay no acknowledgement whatsoever. When it was time to pay all he asked was “cash or card”. We walked out of the restaurant and I would not recommend this place or go there again

Lovely Sunday lunch on Easter Sunday, pleasant atmosphere and surroundings only observation for future reference the staff seemed untrained and had little knowledge of drinks available and how to wait on tables

The carvery wasnt that nice at all and the rice tasted like uncle benns out the packet. Wont be going again.

First time visiting the new Christopher’s location (I’d previously been three times when they were in Aston) and I left with mixed feelings. We tried calling several times to say we were running late as we were travelling from far away but couldn’t get through until we were almost there. We also had to find the dining area ourselves as it wasn’t very clear. Once we were seated though, the service did improved. We ordered drinks that came quickly and staff were attentive. Food-wise, the beef and mash was the highlight. The curry mutton was disappointing though, mostly bones with very little meat on them and chicken felt undercooked. Some of the meats also weren’t very hot. It was nice to see some familiar staff from the Aston location, especially one tall young guy who was very friendly and attentive. Overall decent value for money and plenty of food, but the food quality and start of the service could have been better.

(sorry, second review as i didn’t notice the sliding bars whoops!) Been here twice with my partner and the food is absolutely 10/10. lovely atmosphere too with lovely staff. will definitely be coming back again!

Heard about this place on Facebook so thought I’d book it for my husband as he loves a carvery and spicy Caribbean food. We were not disappointed. The meat melted in your mouth and the curried mutton was fab. Lovely choice and staff were very friendly and helpful. Will definitely be going again but would like to try the main menu in the week. Lovely atmosphere with great reggae music in the background

We had a really lovely experience overall. The food was excellent — full of authentic Caribbean flavours and really well cooked. Portion sizes were generous, and everyone in our group of eight enjoyed their meals. The only downside was the timing. We waited around 30 minutes after being seated before we were able to go up and get our food, and then about an hour later we were asked to vacate the table. As a larger group, this did make us feel a bit rushed and took away slightly from what would have otherwise been a perfect visit. That said, the quality of the food really stood out, and we would definitely return — hopefully with a bit more time to relax and enjoy it next time.

Ridiculously good Caribbean roast! The food was delicious, fresh and authentic, the service was excellent, the staff were all fantastic. Highly recommend.