That’s what you can get six days a week at Henry VIII Carvery at Monument Square. Take your pick from hand-carved roast beef, turkey, pork or ham and enjoy it on one of Henry’s soft and delish herb-buttered buns.
On our first trip to Henry VIII, it took a few minutes to study the menu. So many choices and they all looked good. The gentleman waiting to take our order was super helpful, immediately pointing out the day’s specials and letting us know he was there to answer any questions. After some debate, I went with the Duke of Pork, a slow-roasted pork loin sandwich with light gravy and applesauce ($6.75) and Stacy ordered the Beefeater, the hand-carved roast beef dipping sandwich with au jus ($6.75), to which she added American cheese. I tried a side of the homemade herbed potato salad and Stacy went with chips.
There were several people who entered to place orders at the same time we did, but the service was so speedy that before we got settled into a cozy inside table with our beverages, we were handed our hot, foil-wrapped sandwiches.
In a word, the thick cut pork was terrific. There was just enough gravy to keep the meat moist but not sog up the baguette (which, by the way, I could have eaten three of with no fixins’ at all, yum!). I can’t say that I could really taste the applesauce, but the sandwich was warm, hearty and delish. Stacy thought the au jus was great, and the sandwich must have been pretty good too, because she gobbled it up as if we were on a time limit.
Other roast beef sandwich options include the Tower of London (with coleslaw and Russian dressing , $6.75), the Tudor Rose (with tangy BBQ sauce, red onions and pickles, $6.75), the Serf (straight up, $6.50), and the Knight (with Stonewall Kitchen apple cranberry chutney, $6.95). If you want turkey, try the Squire (warm with turkey gravy and cranberry sauce, $6.75), or go for pork with the Great Harry (sliced with pickles, lettuce, tomato and horseradish mayo, $6.75). If ham’s on your mind, try the Jane Seymour (with Boursin cheese, tomato, cheddar and cucumbers, $6.75).
Henry’s also offers several wraps on whole wheat, like the Crofter (chilled roast beef with Boursin cheese, roasted red peppers & mixed greens, $6.95) or the Duchess (chilled turkey with pine nut pesto, tomato, lettuce, red onion & Boursin cheese, $6.95).
Henry VIII Carvery isn’t particularly fancy — you can eat in or out on the patio-type tables or take it to go — but it definitely hits the spot. And, if you don’t have a lot of time to waste, it’s a great choice for a hot lunch that’s not fast food but gets to you quickly.
— Karen Beaudoin