Royal Oak and other Lampeter, United Kingdom Restaurant Reviews

When I am in the mood for chips this is where I go to get my fix. I like it for a couple of reasons. One, they have a non-smoking room in the pub. The bar separates the smoking from non and while this might be likened to having a “no peeing” zone in a pool it really does cut down on the smoke inhalation. The chips are always really good, too. The people who work there know me now so they’re used to me bringing in people to share a bowl of chips with. I can never finish the whole thing. When I’m feeling really hungry I order fish AND chips. It’s good as well, but I recommend Lloyd’s for the best. The prices at the Royal Oak are reasonable. They have a dining room as well with a full menu but I prefer eating in the pub part. It's small, but really cosy and on cold days they light a fire.

Favorite Dish: In the dining room bit the menu is more extensive, and pricier. They have a typical menu that boasts mussels, steak, sandwiches, and other upscale pub-type food. The food's good, but not spectacular. It's about average as compared with the other places in the area. Their desserts are limited and so far the best thing I have had is the sherry trifle, although it is made with canned fruit. (But the load of sherry helps.) The best bet is their snack menu that they put out for lunch.

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Theme: Pub/Brewery
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: 01570 422453
Address: High Street
Directions: Big red building on the main street. Not hard to find.

It took me a long time to try out the Black Lion because I am really more of a Royal Oak person. And when it comes to fish n chips Lloyds is the best. However, now that I have tried the Black Lion it might be difficult for me to return to anywhere else. The pub area is quite small, making it more of a restaurant than anything else. It's got a decent size dining room with a few big tables. They serve food around lunchtime but then stop at 2:30 and don't start again until 6:00 pm. Most of the pubs in town are this way. The menu is fairly large for a pub type restaurant. They have everything from the requisite fish n chips and burgers to pasta and mussels. I have had the Welsh burger with rarebit and it's really really good. The bread it comes on is probably not homemade but it tastes like it. The other people I have dined with have had chicken, a steak burger, mussels, and pasta. Everyone had good food. The only drawback was that the fries seem to vary in consistency. One night they were really thick and juicy and another night they were kind of thin and dry. They have a pretty good selection of desserts as well, ranging from creme brulee to cheesecake and apple pie. The apple pie was warm and did not come with raisins, which is a good thing in my book. Prices are reasonable for the area.


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Theme: Pub/Brewery
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 01570 422172
Address: High Street, Lampeter, Wales
Directions: in front of the bus stop.
Other Contact: blacklion2@sabrain.com

Sosban Fach is the red building across from Lloyd's (the chip shop). It's a very quaint little tearoom/cafe run by a bunch of grandmotherly women that make everything homemade and fresh. It's mostly open for lunch and breakfast and they have an everchanging board of specials but I tend to stick to the same things-apple pancakes. What are apple pancakes? Well, they are basically pancakes stuffed with applesauce or steamed apples, depending on who is cooking them. They are definitely fresh because one day I could see into the kitchen as they were making them and I actually saw the women peeling and slicing the apples. They also make terrific soups (huge) that can make meals and sandwiches. It's also a nice place just to have a cup of tea. They do not take cards so make sure you go prepared with cash. Or you can use the ATM across the street.


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Theme: Local
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter

Lloyd's is the local chip shop. They have a takeaway section where the menu is basically the same but cheaper and a sit-down section which is nicer but...more expensive. Actually, I could swear the food is better in the sit-down section but I seem to be the only one who thinks this. The menu basically revolves around fish and chips, sausages, and pies. They have a few desserts such as pecan pie and chocoalte cake, but being a southerner I must say that their pecan pie isn't quite up to par. But at least they make the effort. The chips are really really good (except sometimes in takeaway when they are soggy) and the fish not too greasy-very light. The best time to go is at lunch when they do a fish and chips special which includes a side of mushy peas and tea for £5.89.


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Theme: Local
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter

This is Lampeter's local diner. If you want something that's cheap and relatively quick but you don't want takeaway then this is the place to go. It's a little gritty around the edges, but the food is usually pretty good, as is the service. It can get really crowded at lunchtime though so keep that in mind if your heart is set on going. The dishes they do are quick and easy-things like chips, sanwiches, toasties, chicken kievs, etc. They also do a bunch of ice creams and homemade cakes and stuff. The people who dine here are regulars and sometimes have their own tables so if you get glared at when someone walks in there is a good chance that you are sitting in their seat. But oh well. Just smile.


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Theme: Diner
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter