Upper Boat Inn

This carvery is cheap but not cheerful. Quality of food is poor. I would prefer to pay the extra and go to a better restaurant.

I visited the upper boat Inn last night with my Mother & two friends. Yes the meal was only £3−69 and I defy anyone to find a better value for money meal. The atmosphere was nice and the staff were all really friendly. You have a choice of 3 meats. A choice of 6 vegetables which you can have as many as you wish. A bottom-​less Cornish Ice cream and sauces have as much as you like. I think it cost £1−75 each. A pint of beer single whiskey & coke, A pint of lager and a glass of lager & lime. Total just over £22. I would recommend the upper-​boat to anyone. Happy eating.

First the bad news: since the last review the price has increased to £3−69 for the carvery (it’s £6−79 on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays).
The rest is all good. My partner and I have eaten here a number of times and the staff have always all been friendly. A good helping of meat (one or more, up to you) is served with a small yorkshire pudding and a ball of stuffing and there is a constantly refreshed range of vegetables: roast and boiled potatoes, frozen peas, cauliflower cheese, carrots etc from which you can take as much as you wish. It’s hot, tasty and satisfying, though the gravy is, at best, ordinary. But it’s the best value food in the Greater Cardiff area that I know, and better than many places charging twice as much, or more.
Starters and desserts are very reasonably priced as well (not that we have been able to eat more than the main course), and you can have a nice pint of EPA real ale for £2−10. Though it can be crowded, we’ve never failed to get a table.
Toilets are clean and there are a good number of outdoor tables if the weather is good (though there may be smokers outside). Contrary to other comments, we have been able to park at the inn or nearby without much trouble, but maybe we missed the peak times.
My 5 star rating reflects consistently good quality at an exceptionally low price in a standard carvery, it’s not saying it compares with 5 star fine dining costing ten times as much.

The economics of a Crown Carvery are pretty simple– charge an amazingly low price (at the moment £3.59) for a decent cut of meat and as many veg as you can fit on a plate. No frills, very little other choice. Charge quite a lot for drinks to balance it out. Make the food decent and tasty enough but nothing special. Watch as hundreds of people queue up every day for their bargain food. Job done.
In the Upper Boat, there’s not a lot of space and the way the bar and the carvery are arranged leads to a bit of an awkward queueing situation. Parking is sparse and awkward. Busy times are VERY busy times, though I’ve almost never seen it be anything other than busy, thanks to the draw of the £3.59 meal.
Decent enough if you’re hunting a bargain, but the price of the food is set against the queueing and overpriced drinks.

Great value carvery with fantastic food. This resteraunt gets very busy and as a result parking can be a nightmare however one advantage is that the food is always fresh as its never out for long. I would definately recommend this place its also very convenient and service is quick.

Lovely cavery for £3.50 ideal if your passing as it is just off the a470. Always busy here and car parks gets full very quickly. You may strugle to find a table at busy times so check before you pay!

A fantastic Inn that is located in Pontypridd on a roundabout opposite Tesco, and has recently become a carvary for a fantasic price of £3.50, great value and even better food, it really is delicious. It offers the usual meats such as chicken, beef etc and plentlyfuls of vegtables, and alongside offers plently of different bar drinks. The staff are great and if you havent been before will explain that you will need to find a table and then pay for your meal and then go upto the carvery, and then they will help with anything else that you will need, they are really friendly too :) the only downside is the parking as it is really small and half the time you have to park on the street.

This is now a carvery which is conveniently located just off the A470. It offers hot and delicious roast dinner for £3.50 This place does get very busy meaning parking is a nightmare and getting a table is even worse. The staff however, do their best to accomodate you even when they are rushed off their feet!

This is now a great value carvery offreing a roast dinner at £3.50. It is very tasty and excellent value for money. This restaurant gets very busy and only has a small carpark, so parking can be a problem. You have to order at the bar and then help yourself to the carvery. Hot and tasty food and very low prices. Staff are helpfull and friendly and will help you to find a table when it gets busy.