20-05-2025
Review of The Toad, Colwyn Bay, on the North Wales coast
And, if one gastro pub in town is anything to go by, they will be well catered for when it comes to food.
The Bay was bustling that weekend, and on the Saturday of Prom Xtra, customers were lined up out the door of The Toad's impressive building on West Promenade.
It was a little quieter when I visited on Sunday, but it was getting more and more busy during my stay.
I can see the appeal. The interior has the feel of a traditional pub while at the same time being modern and classy.
Although a regular fixture in Colwyn Bay for many years, The Toad still has the feeling of a fresh, new venue having re-opened just over a year ago following a devastating fire.
It welcomed customers back in June last year, complete with a new logo.
I had a busy day planned so wanted to fuel up, so with that in mind I ordered a starter and a main.
The Conwy Valley Lamb roast dinner had been calling me since I checked out The Toad's Sunday menu the day before, so I knew I would definitely be ordering that. More about that soon!
There were several options for starter, all of which sounded good. I opted for the Salt & Pepper Squid with a Katsu Curry Sauce and Spring Onion for £7.
The serving bowl was attractive and there was a plentiful helping of squid rings the size of puffy Hula Hoops within.
It was a well-balanced like bite, crunch and a little spice from the batter, fresh crispness from the spring onion, and a rich savoury hit from the curry sauce. I love gravy and sauce and could have gladly had more of the Katsu, but that is nit-picking.
On to the main. And what a main course it was.
The Slow Braised Pulled Shoulder & Leg of Conwy Valley Lamb, served with roasted carrots, broccoli, chive mash, sticky red cabbage, thyme roast potatoes, beef fat Yorkshire pudding and rich lamb gravy topped with lamb fat crumb cost £21.
The lamb was phenomenal, a thick serving of rich meat that, forgive the cliche, just fell apart.
Every element on the plate worked and complemented the others.
Highlights were the tricky red cabbage and chive mash, but all of the ingredients were top notch
Nothing was just on the plate without earning its place, and each item was elevated to be the best it could be.
And, remember I mentioned my love of gravy and sauce early? This was one of those rare times when I wasn't thinking this could be made better by a little more gravy because there was plenty.
There was also a side dish of cauliflower cheese that added more tasty goodness to what was already a fantastic meal.
To have food like this at a gastro pub is simply remarkable, and I would recommend trying it without hesitation.
Beyond the food, the staff were friendly, welcoming and attentive, but not overly so.
And the spectacular views of the beach and sea are hard to beat.
Later, I noticed on The Toad's website that they boast serving "probably" the best fish and chips in Conwy.
I think another visit is in order.
