Bowler Pub and Kitchen, Clerkenwellback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Seemed OK enough. Nice pint of Hobgoblin (�3.60)but no Brakspear Seems to be an oddly common theme.
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Went there last week with a friend and had a really good time. I had a "loaded burger" (cheese and bacon) and it was a proper gastro burger with amazing chips. My friend had Ceasar Salad and she was really happy. NIce and friendly crowd, good mix of music and really nice staff. Really worth going!
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Brakspears off, Fosters an extortionate �3.60.
Food is very reasonably priced, so recovers slightly there, but drink prices seem to keep it empty. They could lower prices and fill the place with the prospect of a relaxed meal as and when - it's charming enough even if a odd space.
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I've been here for lunch a couple of times, drinking wine both time, as the real ale selection is paltry at best. The food is, for the area, very reasonably priced - around �6 - �7 on average for a main course, and it is quite palatable. I've had the burger and the fish cakes, and whilst neither will set the world alight, they are value for money.
The staff have always been friendly, though last time failed to recognise the difference between cider and lager, serving my colleague half a lager in error.
The d�cor is stark, and it is cold in there (at least this time of year - November). Again, lots of hard surfaces. The first time I went in, it was noisy and busy, the second time much less so, but still, the d�cor is charmless, if functional - it does look like they are aiming for the gastropub look, but not quite making it.
Still, an adequate eatery for a lunchtime meal and drink. Not bad.
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I work in the building next to this pub so inevitably end up in there for quite a few lunch times. No idea why anyone has given it a positive review, though it has changed management in the last couple of months and it was a bit better before. It's always cold in there (the gas fire doesn't go on and they don't appear to have any other kind of heating) it's almost always empty, as mentioned earlier has absolutely no soul, and is over priced. The only real ale I've even seen in there is Hobgoblin, which was ok, but normally I end up with lager - San Miguel - which always tastes terrible. If you are lucky enough not to work next door, so you CAN avoid it, then do so. To be fair the food is ok though...
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This place is trying very hard, and good luck to it. Staff were friendly though not entirely on the ball. The big white front dining room does not resemble a pub (even a gastropub), but rather a passably smart restaurant. The deep red pub area in the back benefits from a nice long bar and a gas fire but lacks soul and needs some comfy seating.
Real ale is Brakspears - unusual in London. Special and Bitter appeared to be on, but when I asked for a Special they admitted it was on its last legs - most places wouldn't have bothered and would have served me a dodgy pint. Didn't fancy plain old bitter so went for Guinness which was nice.
Our roasts were very good - but Mr Chad would have to say wot no yorkshires, and a little more gravy would have been nice. At �10 the lamb roast was pricey.
7/10 cos its local and the food was nice but really needs to get a bit of soul and lower the prices. The pub bit was empty when we were there, but as the girlfriend said, if it had been full of the types occupying the dining room it wouldn't have been better...
There are lots of clueless soul destroyers in Clerkenwell living in new builds like the Ziggurat building etc. I suspect this will become a hang out for them and a no go for the rest of us. Why can't they stay in Clapham and Fulham?
anonymous - 3 Apr 2006 08:41 |
first class food and service. good value �6 main course lunch.brakspears beer on hand pump attractive wine list.has a cosy feel for a gastro pub which welcomes non diners in the bar area.
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check it out! elegant, stylish, great food, heard of the rocket in acton? not as fantastic but good.
milano - 27 Sep 2005 02:38 |
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