The Eagle Gastro Pub London (Clerkenwell)

Visited Saturday evening and had really excellent grilled bass. Service was fine and friendly. Excellent short wine list. Beers could be more interesting, but are fine. Frankly, our meal here beat the one the previous evening at Anchor & Hope on most levels.

by JEK, 14 May 2008

Visited on Sunday for lunch. Decor is the standard shabby-chic much imitated in gastro-pub circles. Few chairs match and the tables are reclaimed from skips and landfill... or are just REALLY old. Paintwork looks like it was last done when the pub opened back in 1836 (or something like that) and is making the place look pretty run down. As do the loos.

All of this would not matter one iota if the food was top-notch spankingly wonderful. Unfortunately it was colourless sludge. Sunday's lamb was grey - the kind of grey that you see in early TV adaptations of Dickens' novels, when they were filmed in black and white. The pork belly was cooked okay, but served with a mass of Borlottti beans in a thick clingy sauce with no real flavour, and a side of salsa verde that did nothing for any flavours apart from be very tart and vinegary.

Given that this place is the grand-daddy of gastro-pubbery, this is a huge let down on a heritage of culinary interest and diversity. If this is where the movement came from, it is a miracle it evolved.

The coffee is good, and the guy behind the bar was great. But the food still sucks.

by njfdavies, 25 Mar 2008

Went there for lunch and saw a bad-tempered man bullying the staff - I presume he was the boss. Quickly made other arrangements and I suggest you do too.

by matt.w, 21 Mar 2008

The Eagle is one of Clerkenwell's most famous eateries, with accolades such as 'the original gastro pub' and so forth. I've been there many times and have had mixed experiences. Sometimes the food is unbelievably amazing, other times average. The space is dark and cramped and the second-hand, 'grunge' style of interior design desperately dated. In some ways The Eagle is neither a good restaurant nor a pub. It's a sort of bar type of an environment, with unusual open kitchen and very good food - confusing, some would say...

I would recommend that they invest a few pounds on a modest 'upgrade', which might return them to their glory days when The Eagle really was an original and fantastic place to go and have some good food with half decent wine or beer.

by varvas, 01 Mar 2008

Have been to The Eagle twice and was really impressed both times - excellent food and drink, good vibe. Would highly recommend.

by KeithKingsX, 23 Feb 2008

A difficult one to rate. The food was good and the style of the place is pubby and relaxed. Unfortunately the same can't be said of the staff, who are rude and arrogant. Shame really, it spoilt our evening and really makes me hesitate to recommend.

by chow, 04 Dec 2007

The service was extremely slow but the food was delicious. Friendly staff, lovely atmosphere, attractive pub. Would totally recommend! Had the steak sandwich, which was sooo tasty!

by catetyann, 09 Nov 2007

Went there last night for a few drinks with some mates. Atmosphere was fun and relaxed. Didn’t have any food but it looked fantastic, as did the chef!

by Honey Bee, 09 Nov 2007

Awful food. Waited an hour for a steak sandwich which was tough. Overcrowded, tatty, badly run, crockery and cutlery looked like it had come from a charity shop, non-matching tables and school chairs. A horrid experience. Would not recommend.

by rebels, 08 Nov 2007

Have lunched here occasionally for many years. Always excellent food (today had partridge with couscous, tomato, pinenuts and parsley - delicious, unusual and simple). Atmosphere is relaxed, with excellent service and wines.

by harburg, 24 Sep 2007

Been twice this year now and was blown away each time by food, atmosphere and service.

by DeeBeeGee, 07 Sep 2007

What a disappointment! Perhaps this pub was great some years ago but now the food is rubbish, ordinary lager selection with a tatty selection of second hand rickety furniture.

Bar staff took ages to take our order. Pasta was undercooked. Bream was nearly tasteless. Soups were OK.

Do not go here. Go spend your money somewhere worthwhile.

by wobin, 19 Jun 2006

Terrible food (chicken tasted of metal, even the chef agreed) and surly staff who actually had a go at me for complaining. Worst meal I have had in Clerkenwell, ever.

by Anonymous, 30 May 2006

The staff and management were friendly and polite. A must visit.

by grumbles, 09 Mar 2006

Under-cooked salmon, rude staff, rude management. Not impressed.

by si monkey, 10 Jan 2006

without a doubt the best gastropub in London - for a great combo of the right atmosphere and great food.

by Anonymous, 17 Dec 2005

Wow what a find. 1st time we went it was persons, one local to London, one from Hertfordshire and one from Australia. Food was GREAT, had Bream and Belly of Pork

all dishes cooked to perfection.

by Hilli, 24 Oct 2005

Wow, the best place ever and the food was tasty.

by Tarek, 21 Sep 2005

I've been going to The Eagle for over 5 years. The food is the best, bar none.

by Anonymous, 07 Sep 2005

Went there twice and loved it both times.

by Anonymous, 17 Jun 2005

The Eagle

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