The House reviews
Echoing what everyone has said below - overpriced, decidedly average fare. I have been a few times now, each time thinking I'd give it another go, as I would really like this very handy place to be good... But lunch today, at a table wedged next to a pillar, with a miniature serving of cold food which I had to send back and staff who barely interacted with us, means that this is the last chance I give this place.
In addition, what is the deal with not giving you a side plate for your bread - I don't eat off the table in my own house, so why would I do it in a restaurant?
Overpriced. This pub thinks it's a restaurant but does not have the food to back it up. Crazy prices for very average food, kind but unknowledgeable staff. Either settle for good pub food and reduce the price, or you need to seriously improve the food and service. Such a let down.
by tromeu, 05 Dec 2007Very pleasant service upon arrival, food came shortly after ordered, our waitress was very attentive and the food tasted fantastic - compliments to the chef. We will definitely return.
by stephanie cope, 04 Nov 2007Visited this pub with high expectations - how wrong I was. Not exactly sure what the place is trying to do or be but the food was average (definitely not worth the price), service appalling, and the manager on duty flapped and stressed the staff as well as my partner and I. So many better places for the price. Stay away.
by chrisevans, 23 May 2007It started off well, but has become expensive and nothing special. There is much better fare to be had at the likes of Ottolenghi and other restaurants on Upper Street, a few minutes' walk away.
by jacanon (3 reviews), 08 Feb 2007Disappointing, disappointing, disappointing... Hopeless, snotty service from a bunch of French girls with a cultivated superior and surly manner. Even witnessed an argument between a chef and waitress which they made no attempt to disguise or keep quiet. Crammed tables, hot, smelly and smokey from the open-plan kitchen. Extremely expensive for decidedly average fayre. Grossly overpriced wine list. Stuck in the middle of a council estate.
How did Time Out's reviewer get this SO WRONG?! Don't go.
I booked a table for two, only to be sandwiched between the kitchen door and a table full of overfed, middle class Islingtonites. The service was middle-of-the-road, and the food was even worse (e.g. 'Crab Hash Cakes' - by my understanding the plural usually signifies more than 1, but all I had was one measly pathetic little hash cake that was lukewarm).
For the cost of the meal, I could have gone to a 'proper' restaurant like The Wolseley, where they know how to cook and the staff know how to service their patrons.
This is not a gastropub, it's a restaurant! The food can be good, but so it should be at those prices. Very middle-class and very middle-aged.
by Anonymous, 09 Feb 2006This place is very popular with a lot of us Canonbury natives, and is becoming a bit of a hidden legend although it's only been around a few years. It's basically a very upmarket gastropub (about £30-£40 a head). Everything's to a very high standard, particularly the actual quality of the food and ingredients, which are exceptional. The fireplace and leather sofas make it a good place for a casual drink in the evenings as well.
by foolio (2 reviews), 21 Jan 2006One of my favorites in London. Never have been disappointed with my food or the service. The key here is to make a reservation, as it is quite popular.
by flynnchick (2 reviews), 25 Aug 2005Expensive prices for very basic service and adequate food.
After waiting over an hour between starter and main course, the food arrived with 2 meals missing ingredients mentioned on the menu (e.g. chicken wrapped in pancetta, but there was no pancetta).
The supervisor tried to explain that our food was late because we had chosen not to order starter, (which we had?) i.e. it was our own fault?? And from there on was rude, pushy and almost aggressive.
A sad demise of once was a nice restaurant. I would never return to such poor service, let alone the below average food.
The first time I went to this gastro pub I was positively impressed by the good food. On my second visit though the service was so bad that I don't think it’s worth going again.
When we arrived we asked for a table outside. The girl we asked was going to take us outside when another girl (head waiter?, front desk?) stopped her and told us that actually she had just given away that table. Alright, no big apologies from them, we settled for a table inside. The girl brought us some homemade bread to choose from a plate and I asked her what was the difference between one and the other, but she didn't know. Never mind. I asked her which of the 2 wines by the glass (which I didn't know) was the driest, but she didn't know that either. Never mind. When I finished my glass of wine with the starter the other girl (head waiter / front desk) approached me and said "I can see you liked the wine, eh? ".Now I think this is just being rude.
Things unfortunately didn't stop here. at the end, after we paid with our cards, I asked which one was my copy of the bill, at this point a third girl went hysteric and started saying that she gave me a copy and I must be hiding it somewhere and she took my handbag and opened it to check if it was inside. Obviously it wasn't and we left, speechless.
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Photograph © The House
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