Is a family member comparing your home cooked roast dinner to a Toby Carvery a compliment or an insult?

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hengehanger@reddit

I've never had anything but mushy veg and overcooked meat at a Toby so I don't think I'd take this well.

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Aetheriao@reddit

Depends on the family member so no one knows. If my dad said that to me it’s compliment as he loves the place for some reason (I hate it). If my friends said it I’d be wildly insulted lol.

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lunchbox3@reddit

Haha yeh if one of my uncles said that it would be an absolute complement… if another said it it would be a slap in the face.

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MaizeGlittering6163@reddit

If they aren’t food people this was high praise. If they are then it’s an insult

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Luna-Lux-@reddit

Im food people but sometimes a Toby Carvery really hits the spot. It could be for nostalgia reasons 🤣

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PromiseOk1295@reddit

Food people don’t consider cheap meat, chewy yorkshires and bisto gravy to be a great dining experience. TC food is horrid.

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Luna-Lux-@reddit

Lmfao, I never said it was a great dining experience though. I said it's nostalgic.

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PromiseOk1295@reddit

If you are a foodie with a refined palate, no amount of nostalgia is going to make up for objectively bad food.

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pajamakitten@reddit

Sounds like how a lot of people do a Sunday roast at home.

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PromiseOk1295@reddit

Sounds like a lot of people are terrible cooks. Yikes.

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rice_fish_and_eggs@reddit

Their roast potatoes are a soggy mess.

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front-wipers-unite@reddit

The whole country is a soggy mess.

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Ludrin@reddit

I heard that's why you keep coming back.

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Narrow-Device-3679@reddit

I'm a chef, I make a fucking good roast. My wife took me to Tobys for father day last year. Loved my shitty roast!

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ResponsibilityNo3245@reddit

Same, and I love a Toby Carvery. People just like sneering.

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Tunit66@reddit

I love a toby, it’s nowhere near as bad as Reddit makes out Living in London I rarely go to one these days but frequently have £20 pub roasts that are worse

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fergie_89@reddit

Could also be the set up, OP might have given them all an empty plate and said help yourself?

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Adam-West@reddit

Shitty food has its place for sure.

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Luna-Lux-@reddit

It does indeed. It's exactly what you expect 🤷🏻 it's not fine dining, it's soul food.

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HeadBat1863@reddit

Was going to say the same thing.

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If they like a Toby's, then obviously praise! Maybe you filled their plates and they didnt go hungry, or they compared you to the people paid to cook roasts and felt you were on the same level. Just assume it was positive!

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Samyewlski@reddit

Was likely meant as a compliment (assuming your family member likes Toby Carvery). In what tone was it said?

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Cornishlee@reddit (OP)

It was a passing comment like “ooh it’s just like being at a Toby Carvery Trevor” so maybe a compliment as I had plates and bowls of sides to choose from. It just felt like a sly insult at the time. They don’t like to praise things when they are not their own. Their own bland as you like roast would be touted out like it was cooked like James Martin!

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txteva@reddit

I'd say that's a compliment and saying you had a good spread of food.

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CiderDrinker2@reddit

I think it was a compliment. At worst a neutral statement. Not an insult or criticism.

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MathematicianOnly688@reddit

Sounds like a compliment to me but you were the only one there to witness the tone so 🤷‍♂️

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Dennyisthepisslord@reddit

Sounds like you are a little bit insecure as to me that sounds like a compliment of how many things to choose from.

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Bgtobgfu@reddit

Definitely sounds like a compliment

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Remarkable_Movie_800@reddit

Based on this, I definitely think they were impressed - as their own is quite bland, yours must have been impressive for them, and this is probably the best they managed in terms of a compliment 😅

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GwdihwFach@reddit

Do they serve it differently? and is this the first time they've had a roast cooked by you?

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MountainMuffin1980@reddit

Yeah they were complimenting the wide range of sides...

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ProgramDifficult1376@reddit

Sound like they were just trying to appreciate that you made an effort.

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jamnut@reddit

Maybe it was more of a volume/choice thing? Or the fact they plated up themselves

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No-Photograph3463@reddit

Depends. If my parents or sister said it then it would be a complement, however if me or my partner and her parents said it then it would be an insult tbh.

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yearsofpractice@reddit

If they’re cool, total compliment. If they’re dicks, total insult.

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greenglossygalaxy@reddit

The food at Toby carvery is both plentiful and bland. I see why people go, as it’s a known quantity, who doesn’t love a second/third/fourth helping & you know what you are getting. But there are no stand out dishes amongst what is offered. If they are saying your food is like the food at Toby Carvery, I’d feel insulted. If they are saying the experience is like Toby Carbery’s, I might be more forgiving. But only slightly so.

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scarydan365@reddit

What Toby carvery lets you have a second helping, never mind a fourth?!

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greenglossygalaxy@reddit

They do an all you can eat breakfast at Tony Carvery & the main carvery comes with 3 meats plus unlimited veggies/sides

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hallerz87@reddit

No other context clues eg laughing, smiling, throwing up? Just a monotone “this is like a Toby carvery” without any follow up?

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Ysgramorsoupspoon@reddit

You could make a good argument that along with supermarket meal deals, Toby carvery is the lowest quality food available commercially in the world

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scarydan365@reddit

You’re on a different planet. Jesus Christ.

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Ysgramorsoupspoon@reddit

What's worse?

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Nonbinary_Cryptid@reddit

Respectfully, I present Wetherspoons food as a counterargument. That said, pretty much any food that I don't have to cook myself is a bonus.

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brandysnacker@reddit

As an American, who is cooking a roast today, on Sunday, and who was telling my husband all about roasted dinners in the UK every Sunday… This thread is delighting me. Thank you.

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scarydan365@reddit

Bloody hell, Reddit is so up its own arse. Bunch of middle class whingers.

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JohnCasey3306@reddit

Toby is a fucking horrendous roast ... but I know people who _love_ it, so this really could go either way.

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Practical-March-6989@reddit

I have not had a lot of toby carveries, but those I have had have been great. I would say this is a compliment.

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Tim-Sanchez@reddit

Depends how they said it. Some people like a Toby Carvery

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LittleSadRufus@reddit

It 100% depends what was said. Eg "This roast is a hundred times better than a Toby Carvery" is a comparison and also a perfectly decent compliment.

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G12356789s@reddit

That's very obviously not what was said. OP is implying they said their food was on par with Toby Carvery. Whether that is a compliment or an insult fully depends on the person saying it's opinion on Toby Carvery.

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PennyBunPudding@reddit

This. I would say the carvery is bang average. However I went a lot as a child and have fond memories so while it might be technically an insult without context it's certainly a compliment.

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HankHippopopolous@reddit

I would take it as an insult. I like a Toby Carvery but their mass prepared food left under a heater is never as good as a freshly done home cooked roast, unless your roast cooking skills suck. A home made roast is always the best.

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Lea32R@reddit

I think it works like this: if you're working class it's a compliment. If you're middle class it's an insult. 😂

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Real-Apricot-7889@reddit

Depends if they like Toby Carvery or not… maybe they meant the generous selection of sides rather than the quality etc?

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Plugpin@reddit

As someone who cooks a roast every Sunday, and, if I do say so myself, has learnd to perfect the art, the only thing going for a Toby Carvery is the options and volume of food. So if that's what they're comparing it to, then great, thanks. Otherwise, get fucked lol.

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MoominMai@reddit

Meat = compliment, Roast potatoes = insult

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Suspicious_Tax8577@reddit

I flipping LOVE their roast potatoes.

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MoominMai@reddit

Lucky you - any I’ve been to there’re always rock solid and burnt looking! 😭

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Suspicious_Tax8577@reddit

Oh no! I must be lucky that our local Toby is actually decent.

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-qqqwwweeerrrtttyyy-@reddit

Make it awkward and ask them to elaborate. Follow up by saying, "What do you mean by that?" or "Why would you say that?"

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-myeyeshaveseenyou-@reddit

I’m a chef if it were another chef I’d be insulted, older in-laws probably a compliment

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WordsUnthought@reddit

I'd lean praise. It might not be Michelin star stuff but I think of a Toby Carvery as pure, full, unfiltered proper roast.

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when_music_hits@reddit

I'd be pissed if I respected the person... though, I can't think of one time I'd had a carvery I done anything other than endured so I'd smile and thank them for the high praise, maybe even offer them a glass of their favourite tipple i.e. wifebeater or quite frightening while holding back the urge to cause a scene by cunting them off directly.

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Brewer6066@reddit

Any guests comparing my roasts to Toby Carvery would politely, but firmly, asked to leave.

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therealhairykrishna@reddit

Does "Get the fuck out of my house" count as politely but firmly?

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TheyCallMeBullet@reddit

A compliment, it’s the nicest roast place in England

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therealhairykrishna@reddit

You need to try more places.

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Impossible_Volume811@reddit

“Is that a good thing?” Is what you reply to the person who said it. Online reviews suggest that Toby Carvery is generally well liked and considered ‘a good, high-value option for a traditional, accessible roast dinner in the UK, often praised for its tender, slow-cooked meats (beef, gammon, pork, turkey) and extensive, unlimited vegetable selection’ I’m a fan of the traditional roast meal, although I hardly ever have one, so if it were me I’d be flattered. Also, if they ate everything on their plate and asked or more that’s a good sign.

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Norman_debris@reddit

Sometimes I feel I live on a different planet to the rest of Reddit. "Help me decode this ambiguous sentence". Yeah, or just ask your guests "did you like the food?"

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PolarLocalCallingSvc@reddit

For some family members I intentionally make my food like a Toby Carvery because they really like veg boiled to mush and meat that's dried under a heat lamp for an hour.

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Fun-Jaguar-6094@reddit

Coming from my teens this would be extremely high praise indeed.

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spittingparasite@reddit

Depends on how basic they are.

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Responsible_Club_638@reddit

It depends on whether they like Toby or not

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hhfugrr3@reddit

Depends if they like Toby Carvery or not I suppose.

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Redline_independent@reddit

A compliment to a toby aninsalt to my mum and if a gf said this about my granny/nanar' roast she would instantly be single

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TulipTattsyrup99@reddit

My BIL once said that about my Christmas Day Spread. When I took umbrage, he said he meant that there was loads of it, and he could keep refilling his plate. I didn’t accept that explanation, as he was hyper critical of everything from the gravy, to our new curtains, hence they are no longer welcome at our Christmas Dinner. That could be what your in-laws meant, but if I’ve worked hard on providing a lovely meal, only to have it compared to a Toby Carvery, I’d be bloody annoyed.

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ihavetakenthebiscuit@reddit

Definitely an insult, unless the person saying it as basic AF where toby is a treat.

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Hopeful_Food5299@reddit

It’s a goddamned insult.

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SpudFire@reddit

I know people that rarely have a roast dinner and see going to Toby as a treat and think it's absolutely amazing. Unless your family member is known for being deliberately insulting, I'd assume they meant it as a compliment.

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DrWkk@reddit

Insult

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emmjaybeeyoukay@reddit

Response: "why thank you; I shall so enjoy coming over to yours as I know you'll spend hours like I did to cook up a fine meal for the entire family"

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gander8622@reddit

I really like the Toby carvery near me. Unlike the carvery I had today at a Brewers Fayre today. I'm sure yours was way better than all of them.

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BasisOk4268@reddit

It’s mundane but reliable consistency imo. Didn’t taste the greatest but you know what you’re getting.

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freyja_the_frog@reddit

My gran loved hospital food so would have considered a Toby Carvery the height of fine dining.

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Active-Hotel1719@reddit

If you serve Sunday roast to family dressed in tracksuits and offer XL as an option it could be a compliment 🤷‍♀️

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ReportTop2156@reddit

An insult in my book. Toby is the absolute slop of a roast I don’t understand how people genuinely think their any good, they mustn’t of had a decent roast dinner to think a toby is good

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_KAZ-2YG_@reddit

Depends on the Toby in question. Ours is really good quality every time. And I've eaten plenty of decent roast dinners in my forty odd years, made plenty too.

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No-Actuator-6245@reddit

Depends on the person person. If I said it then it’s an insult, I think Toby Carvery is awful. I have some family members who think it’s great, if they said it then it would be a compliment.

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ResplendentBear@reddit

A huge insult.

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BG3restart@reddit

Depends how they rate a Toby Carvery.

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Powerful-Ticket-7945@reddit

This is the highest compliment I could possibly comprehend

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_KAZ-2YG_@reddit

Sounds like a compliment. The Toby near us is absolutely banging every time we go. But I guess it depends on how you feel about it.

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Patient_Panic_5704@reddit

Insult

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Infamous-Ordinary-39@reddit

If it's a man then a compliment. If it's a woman then not a compliment.

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Far-Sock7614@reddit

It's an Insult

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smay1989@reddit

How was it served? If served in various dishes to help themselves with a wide selection id say its a compliment.

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Fuzzy_Cantaloupe6353@reddit

Depends on the person. If it came from my daughter then it would be the highest of compliments as for some reason and the grand age of 8 she has decided this is the pinnacle of good food. From my chef friend it would be a back handed compliment that boils down to well at least it's edible....just...

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YouGotTangoed@reddit

It’s a complisult

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having_an_accident@reddit

Compliment, big time. Toby’s Carvery is always banging

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ThrowRAMomVsGF@reddit

I have had Sunday Roast dinners in many places, from Toby to various nice pubs to fancy places. They vary a lot and, I have to say, Toby is definitely above average in my experience, while being the cheapest. Not all Tobys are equal, but if you have a good one near you, it can be quite good, with consistently decent Yorkshire pudding and gravy (which for me are probably the most crucial parts). The gravy itself is a bit subjective I guess, but I quite like it and I prefer it over many "fine dining" attempts at a gravy that I have found. TLDR: There is a reason Toby has fans, and if the family member is one of them, they were complimenting you.

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ramapyjamadingdong@reddit

I mean I think Toby carvery is where roast dinner goes to die. The Yorkshire are rubbery, the beef is overdone and the veg is mushy. But other people like eating there.... this is 100% subjective, but I'd be offended.

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Macrihanishautomatic@reddit

It depends on whether they’re sincere, genuine people or not. People that are genuine will almost always mean it as a compliment, people that are snarky and Janus-faced can make anything into an insult.

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BlackJackKetchum@reddit

Tone and accompanying expression(s) should have been enough of a tell. If they were being arses it is too late to do anything about it now, but depending on how your other half feels about things, you can get your own back in the fullness of time.

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sihasihasi@reddit

The last Toby I went to was shockingly bad. Take from that what you will.

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swordoftruth1963@reddit

Insult

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ceciem2100@reddit

Hmm, I would take it to be 'it was a decent but nothing wow', even tho I personally love a Toby Carvery.

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darthyoda76@reddit

Insult definitely. You know what you're getting at Toby but it's hardly the dogs bollocks of roast dinner

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Knowlesdinho@reddit

Take it with a pinch of salt. I could take my Brother in Law to Toby Carvery and then have God himself provide his roast dinner and his reaction to both would be the same. At a minimum I'm getting a grunted thanks, at a maximum I'm getting a complaint that there wasn’t enough gravy (because he had all the gravy).

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x0_Kiss0fDeath@reddit

...depends on if they like Toby Carvery or not I s'pose. I know loads who love it that would mean it as a compliment but from what I know Toby Carvery is (never been myself), I'd not take it that way.

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