Address: Broadhead Road, Edgworth, BL7 0JQ.

Phone number: 01204 852276.

The Bolton News review by Steven Thompson from October 14, 2010.

I HAVE fond memories of the Toby Inn.

It used to be a cracking little Italian back in the early nineties.

My mum and dad used to take us there for special occasions — birthdays, exam successes (my sister’s), exam failures (me) — you get the picture.

Up on the moors above Edgworth, it had great views, a roaring fire in the bar and in the middle of every table, bread sticks — which seemed a novelty at the time — and candles plonked in old wine bottles, the red wax dripping down the side of the green glass.

So, with this rose-tinted picture at the back of my mind, I returned last week with an old flame, to see what had changed.

There is still a large, warm, welcoming bar, and in the restaurant, while the bread sticks and candles are long gone, the layout is still very much the same.

Sit in the conservatory if you can, the views are still just as good as they always were.

For starters, Jill went for an old classic — breaded mushrooms with garlic dip (£4.50) — and it was spot on.

My king prawns (£6.50), however, were not so great. There wasn’t much wrong with the prawns, but they were drowned in an overpowering garlic butter, which totally ruined the dish.

For my main, I had to try the midweek steak special, mainly because it seemed too good to be true.

On a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, you can get an 8oz “local rump steak” and chips for the slightly unbelievable price of £5.95. The offer fills the place out — I’d say about half the people there were tucking into the steak.

I approached it with some trepidation but I was pleasantly surprised. You know what you are getting with rump.

It is one of the cheaper cuts and it is never going to be as tender as a fillet or as tasty as a sirloin or a ribeye, but it was a good steak nonetheless and cooked to order.

Jill, who was starting to get annoyed with me flirting with our waitress, had chicken breast in a creamy mushroom sauce with rice and Greek salad (£12.95).

She enjoyed it, but the salad was overkill and remained untouched.

We shared a garlic bread, too, but sadly, a bit like the prawns, it was far too garlicky and slightly bitter.

In the good old days, we’d save dessert for when we got home, but on this occasion, I had to make do with sharing a tiramisu (£4.50).

It was huge, as were all the portions. You certainly won’t leave the Toby hungry.

Unfortunately, as with the old flame, the place still looks good, but I’m afraid some of the magic has gone.

Lancashire Telegraph review by Caroline Dutton from July 24, 2007.

ISN'T IT great when you try a restaurant for the first time and are given a warm welcome?

It was just what my boyfriend and I were in need of when we called at the Toby Inn on our way back from walking around Entwistle Reservoir on a wet Bank Holiday Monday afternoon.

The restaurant manager and waiting-on staff were friendly and efficient from the moment we walked through the door and we were quickly seated in the light and spacious dining area.

The Toby Inn, which was busy with other Bank Holiday roamers, serves an array of exciting dishes from around the world but there is a definite Italian feel about the menu and the restaurant dcor.

This was further reinforced by the various pizza and pasta dishes being served and the Mediterranean smell wafting in from the kitchen.

After some deliberation I went for a bowl of olives to start and a pepperoni and mushroom calzone pizza, while my boyfriend went for the minestrone soup and the spicy meatfeast pizza with fresh chilli.

Both were authentic and delicious. Suitably full we enjoyed the views of the distant Darwen and West Pennine Moors from the conservatory-style dining area as we finished our drinks.

With two starters, two mains and four drinks the bill came in at under £30.

I'll certainly be trying the Toby Inn again when I need a welcome break from weekend walking.

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