Three Crowns Inn, Ullingswick

after looking forward to meeting up with friends at The Three Crowns, Ullingswick we had a very disappointing and expensive evening and we ended up going to a neighbouring pub were I had a packet of crisps for my supper at 10.30 pm! After waiting an hour between starter and main course the meals received tasted ransid and burnt. The chef was extremely rude when a polite complaint was made and walked off without apologising. The waitress was very apologetic, but we felt it should have been the chef/owners responsibility to apolgise. The atmosphere was very unpleasant and he was extremely rude. It was an upsetting experience which could have been handled very differently. I do not wish others to experienced an evening as we did.

Warm and friendly greeting. Brilliant room. Deep bath, lots of hot water, twin basins. Excellent beer. Food delicious. Good selection of courses. We loved it and shall be going back.

The Three Crowns Inn is located in a lovely rural setting in Ullingswick, Hereford, Herfordshire. A lovely small Inn set in Hereford beautiful countryside. The Inn at present is having accommodation built on. I am sure that the tables would be laid up with table cloths for evening dinner, but no so for lunch. Although on a freezing cold day it was lovely to relax near a crackling open fire.

A 3-course set lunch menu was available for £14.95 per person, but we decided to sample the A la Carte menu.

Starters were all £6 and there was a choice of Fish Soup with rouille and croutons - Little Hereford Cheddar and Swede Souffle - Smoked Haddock with spinach, poached egg and crumpet - Roast wood pigeon with soft herb risotto - Moules marinieres. Mother-in-law and I opted for the classic moules mariniere, where my husband sampled the Roast wood piegon. Starters were well presented, but although the mussels themselves were very tasty and of a nice size, the white wine sauce lacked somewhat. The roasted wood piegon went down very well and although I thought that the herb risotto would not be a great compliment to the piegon, I was wrong. Full of flavour and well worth a recommendation.

Main Courses: all were £14.25. A choice of grilled sirloin of Herefordshire beef with bearnaise sauce and fries - Loin of local farm pork with Three Crowns black pudding and Pommery mustard mash - Soy and honey glazed duck breast with rhubarb sauce and camargue rice - Grilled salmon with spinach, carrots, rosemary creme freshe - Grilled whole plaice with leek & savoy cabbage fondue and herb butter - Side order of vegetables £1.25. I opted for the Herefordshire sirloin beef, cooked to perfection and served with courgettes/french beans & fries.

Disappointed that there was no English mustard, but never-the-less very tasty. The pork was commented on as being delicious, and a thumbs up for the homemade black pudding. Mother-in-law had the duck which went down very well, although I personally didn't think that the rhubarb went with the duck, but that's my personal taste.

Desserts: all priced at £4.50. I opted for the Raspberry Creme Brulee, delicious and I could easily eaten another one (hell with the diet). Chocolate and ameretto torte soon went down, huband was very quiet when eating, therefore it must have been good. Other choices were local cheeses, Apricot and frangipane tart with vanilla ice cream. Coffee & Petit Fours £2.25. On the whole a very nice experience, although I did think that for the setting/decor and location it was a little overpriced. For the money I would have expected table cloths at least, although probably at lunchtime they don't bother. Overall, I would rate this 7/10 for food, Decor 4/10. No children's menu noted.