IT is one of those places where there always seems to be a lot of cars parked outside.

That in itself is a good advert for any pub.

For to attract people in, it's handy to look busy and popular from the word go.

And The Fox Covert at High Leven, just outside Yarm, has no trouble scoring in this respect.

Often passing on the way to and from assignments, I would make a mental note that it seemed to be worth a visit. When I did last weekend I wasn't disappointed.

As usual, there were plenty of cars outside.

But I had been advised to book and was able to go straight into the area which runs as an a la carte restaurant.

It was only early evening, but already the rest of the pub was filling up with people wanting bar meals.

Despite the numbers, though, the girls waiting table were unruffled, helpful and polite.

The a la carte menu is not extensive. So while you don't have to wade through scores of choices, there is something for everyone.

For starters we chose garlic and ginger king prawns with a spicy tomato dip.

This was the weakest part of the meal. I had expected the prawns to be bigger and not breadcrumbed. And I could not detect much flavour of ginger - which I love.

The main taste came from the dip. At £5.75 I don't think this was very good value.

Our main course selections, though, were fine.

I went for pork escalopes cooked in onions and mushrooms in a marsala and green ginger sauce (note the ginger again!).

While the meat could have been a bit more tender, the taste was lovely and portions adequate.

My guest chose supreme of chicken in a mango and curry sauce.

The chicken was plump and moist and the sauce delicate enough not to mask the taste.

We shared a dish of delicious roast vegetables and new potatoes.

In other reviews, I have mentioned the problem of large portions which can lead to a feeling of being over-faced and food being wasted.

These meals were just about right.

Pud was chocolate mousse.

Like the streamlined food menu, the wine list is simple. There are house wines and there are others. The average price is around £10.95, with the house choice a little less.

We opted for an Australian chardonnay which was absolutely delicious.

The total bill was £46, including coffee.

Other starters include soup; mushrooms in various guises; moules marinieres and black pudding.

Other mains choices were salmon; lamb cutlets; sea bass; cajun chicken; monkfish, steaks and a whole Dover sole costing £17.95.

The puddings list includes tiramisu, sticky treacle pudding, lemon cheesecake, chocolate pudding and fudge sauce. All at £3.75.

Assistant manager Nicola Edwards says the pub is nearly always busy.

And she reckons the a la carte menu is reasonably priced compared to similar places.

"We get a mixed clientele," she said, "including a lot of regulars and people from nearby hotels. During the week many businesspeople come here."

There is a no smoking rule in the restaurant at all times and in the bar between noon and 7pm. But there is a "far bar area" where people can smoke.

"We have operated this policy for several months now with trouble at all," said Ms Edwards.

Kevin Carr, who heads a small team of chefs, has been at The Fox Covert for 18 years.

"Most of the staff are long-serving," said Ms Edwards. "There is a very good atmosphere."

On a day-to-day basis, The Fox Covert is run by owner Sue Neill, Nicola and Pauline Alday..