ALTHOUGH it could hardly be described as being off the beaten track, The Cat & Fiddle on Lyndhurst Road near Christchurch, certainly looks like a quaint country pub.

But it is part of the Harvester restaurant chain so you know what to expect: family-friendly, good value for money, pub grub.

And it’s certainly popular. Although it was late on a Sunday afternoon we still had to wait 20 minutes for a table and unfortunately when we did get seated it was near the door, which wasn’t ideal as it was a cold day.

The menu is quite varied, there is even a special children’s five-a-day menu and most dishes include a calorie content guide, which is useful if you’re watching your weight.

Once you’ve ordered, you can help yourself to as much as you want from the salad bar, which offers a good selection and was topped up fairly regularly.

My husband and daughter were happy with their 7oz gammon steak, which they said was tender and was served with a good portion of fries, peas, a grilled tomato and a choice of pineapple ring or fried egg.

My son had the half rack of spare ribs, which he devoured.

The only disappointment was my fish and chips, which was highlighted on the menu as one of Harvester’s signature dishes and described as ‘a large cod in a parsley-infused batter’.

But the batter was too thick and over-cooked so I ended up leaving most of it and digging out the fish.

The chips were fine and were accompanied with a portion of mushy peas.

One of the highlights was the dessert menu.

The children were delighted with their towering chocolate sundaes, which were absolutely delicious.

Overall it was a good Sunday lunch experience.

Total cost: £40.94 This is an independent review by a reporter without the cooperation of the establishment.