please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
This pub has gone back up in my estimation after catering for one of our party who had a very particular diet. Service was really good, both in bar and restaurant. Vegetarian menu is limited and repetitive (falafels, soup or pasta only on last few visits) otherwise would go there more often. Very good range of beers and wines by the glass though. I have taken friends and family there, who all seem to like it.
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I had lunch here today, for the first time in a few months - I'd forgotten how good the service, food, atmosphere & value was. I'll be back again soon.
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Have eaten here several times now and have yet to have a bad meal. We were there last Wednesday - when by rights we should have been at Wembley - but the food and atmosphere more than made up for it. Special thanks must go to our server Karly for the little wave as we left as well - certainly made my night!.
Would recommend the Union burger but my sons loved their steaks and the strawberry tease ice cream was fantastic. Also watching the flames from the open kitchen really adds to the overall experience
Hope to be back this Wednesday when work rather than leisure sees me in the capital again.
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This is a great place. Friendly and buzzing with GREAT food. Open kithen adds to atmosphere and reassures that they know what they're doing. I just had the best cod laksa. Adds to my previous many excellent steaks and others here. Brilliant value and great service. Hard to fault - becoming a habit :-)
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certainly more a pub for the discerning diner than two fat beer drinking pub ticking idiots however the service was very welcoming and the food looked lush,�6.70for carlsberg and doombar 6/10
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We went there for lunch on a weekday, and had an absolutely brilliant meal. The staff were so friendly, the chef (who you can see preparing the meals freshly as there is no divide between kitchen and restaurant) was lovely and his food was exquisite. We would definitely recommend this pub, and will be going back again soon. A real gem.
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Worst pint (of Doom Bar) in the neighbourhood I'm afraid to report as it was excellent on previous visits.
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We stayed at the Holiday Inn over the road and ate at Smiths of Smithsfields on night one, the Union Tavern on night two and Bertorellis in Covent Garden on night three.
The Union Tavern was thes best meal by a country mile. The guy serving us was really friendly and helpful with the meal. The chef personally spoke to us about our meal, and even chatted to my 8 year old son about his dessert. If only all service in London was the same. Not only was it delicious, it was also the most reasonable.
[The staff at Smiths were neutral and the food was really average, apart from the starter which was inedible and we all left it].
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I recently visited this pub, mainly to eat before a night out. lovely looking pub, with great food and helpful, friendly staff. Only a couple of ales on, but they were good enough. Definitely worth a revisit for the food alone.
I won't rate the pub as yet, as I've only been the once. But do give it a go.
poptv - 26 Jun 2010 15:37 |
Great looking pub and on our visit great looking bar staff too.
Let down by the fact that all but one real ale was off. The beer was OK though.
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On a recent holiday to the UK and Europe I stayed in a hotel close by before and after our touring holiday and I can highly recommend this tavern. The staff and Nick (owner) are friendly and helpful and make you feel very comfortable. The place is rustic and cosy. The food was 5 star and offered a good selection of course to choose from. Excellent value for money. On the last night of our tour a group of sixteen attended and nothing was too much trouble, all meals came on time as did the drinks. We were all very impressed with this pub.
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I used to like this pub. They have improved the beer selection since it changed hands a few years ago.
The staff are a bit up their own arse. Particularly, Australian / kiwi bar lady who is in charge. Service is impersonal, probably because lots of people from hotels and less regulars.
Food good, but prices have gone up.
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I have drank in the pub for years when passing for the odd one or two because of the friendly bar staff who tend to be busy most of time serving diners and drinks but always welcoming.
Saturday I had a Steak and Sunday a traditional lunch that was piled high and presented very nicely and both were excellent. Freshly cooked and delicious!
Ideally situated facing the Holiday Inn with other hotels near by - I'd recomend the Sunday Lunch to someone who wanted to taste some good British grub!
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Having visited this pub on just the one occasion I find it extremely difficult to rate. It has an excellent corner location; but difficult to determine that it was indeed the establishment I was looking for in the absence of a traditional pub sign. However the entrance retained what appeared to be the original �Union Tavern� floor mosaics. A previous reviewer claims a Victorian provenance for the �deco� and �glass features� � but I have to say that although the bar layout looks Victorian the bar back itself doesn�t. The woodwork might be, but the glasswork appears to be modern reproduction. But I could be wrong.
The main part of the establishment forms a well-lit and welcoming reataurant area. I didn�t eat here but the 2-course set menu for �7.90 looks a good bet, and the food the diners were eating certainly seemed worth the money. But the bar area wasn�t particularly inviting � in my view. I found the dark grey/taupe colour of the walls quite depressing. There were two handpumps � the Pride was off; the only other choice was the Greene King IPA of which I had a half for �1.50 (�3.00 a pint?!) which I thought was pretty expensive for, at best, an average beer. So, as a restaurant it looks good, but as a pub it doesn�t score highly with me.
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Of all the bars at Kings Cross, the Union Tavern at Kings Cross's South Eastern flank (strictly speaking already in Islington), is definitely the domineering jewel, and lacks the desperado and drunk atmosphere's of some of the other pubs and bars. Instead you are greeted with striking Victorian deco and glass features, restored and some originally kept in their old shine. This masterful tavern is a true distinguished Kings Cross landmark and a tavern in the truest sense, for it offers good food, beer and wine.
For those still undecided about a local pub, or migrants to whom English pub culture is still a thing to get to get used to, the Union Tavern offers an uncompromising glamorous hang out - and yet it remains true to tradition, with Sunday Roast and all.
This is most certainly evening culture at its best, well worth supporting, and one that shows class and local knowledge. One that makes Kings Cross residents like myself proud to live in this area.
Cheers!
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I like this pub. Friendly staff. Good food; not too pricey, clean toilets. Draught beer used to be a let down (only had Stella) but this may have improved....? Apart from this... very good!
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Excellent food served by friendly and helpful staff. Tried homemade veg soup and liver and onions. The soup WAS homemade and was delicious and the liver and onions was really tasty with a great tasting gravy and perfect portuion size. The menu will suit most tastes and I'll be trying it again.
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Fantastic Pub. Great food at very reasonable prices with friendly bar staff. A real London gem, will definitely be back for more.
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Cracking pub. Great staff, brilliant atmosphere and really outstanding food. Have been a number of times for food and drink, including for the Christmas dinner menu last year - which I will definately be returning for.
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Had been in here a couple of times just for a quick pint but went in the other day for some lunch. Brilliant! �6.95 for 2 courses, loads of choice, all freshly cooked. Excellent value. Couple of pints as well which were Ok. Will definitely go back again.
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Nice cosy pub with friendly staff. Menu does have the air of gastro about it (with rather incosistent punctuation), can't vouch for most of the food but the Sunday roast deal is certainly a bargain and tasty.
The only real down side is the indignity of having one's ears voilently assaulted by such putrid dirge as the James Blunt album played at high volume, on repeat. On repeat. On repeat...
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This is an awful pub. Went there last night. Poor choice of beer, rubbish service and pretentious menu. Is trying to be some Islington gastro pub but is not that or a decent London pub either.
adlon - 21 Jun 2007 17:28 |
Visited the other Tuesday for dinner and the dining room has real old world charm to it. The menu was extensive and reasonably priced (a rareity these days in London!). The hustle and bustle of the open kitchen creates such a wonderful atmosphere where we could hear the 3 chefs speaking French to each other and it came as no suprise that food was excellent. One of the previous reveiwers spoke of the place as a gem very true.
anonymous - 30 May 2007 12:48 |
You have to try it... The food is fantastic and not that expensive. The staff were very helpful and cheerful. Id recommend it to anyone. Cheers to the Union and keep up the good work!
anonymous - 17 Mar 2007 15:08 |
This is one of the hidden gems of London. I normally stop across the road in the Holiday Inn and use this pub for meals. The staff are all friendly and helpful, if you want something adding in or taking away from a meal, you can just ask them - as it is cooked fresh this is not normally a problem.
All food is cooked in house and nothing comes from a freezer, this really is food like momma used to cook!
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Visited for a friends birthday recently....her review is below but I had the most wonderful fillet steak, cooked to perfection with a sublime sauce. I will be back!!
anonymous - 12 Feb 2007 17:04 |
The atmosphere is amazing, the service is BRILLIANT !!! And the food is estonishing. In terms of ratio quality/price it is so far the best restaurant pub I've been to in London. The owner, who looks to be in his early 20s is very welcoming and seriuous but if you engage with him he'll drop one or two jokes and will share is world tour crazy experience. A MUST GO...
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Had my birthday meal and would like to thank all the staff especially Nick and Laura for accomodating such a large group on a busy Saturday night. The food was absolutely fabulous... Ten out ten from me!! Kirsty
anonymous - 23 Jan 2007 13:51 |
Just a quick one to update you on whats has become my local of choice for lunchtimes and after work, the absolutely stunning barmaid from australia has left for a couple of months, however the food is still excellent and the other staff friendly and efficient.
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I work just round the corner and the 2 course lunch menu for �6.90 is an absolute bargain, I visit at least once a week the food is always excellent and the staff friendly.
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Stayed at the Holiday Inn over the road and they recommended the food there. I have to say that this was quite possibly the best dining experience I have had in a pub...I can't recommend the Ribeye and frites more highly!
anonymous - 13 Nov 2006 10:34 |
Used to be an average pub, now under new management and my god has it made a difference! Great food, drink and atmosphere
anonymous - 1 Jun 2006 15:55 |
Went for lunch. Nice pub but food better in the Easton (2 min walk)
anonymous - 26 May 2006 16:13 |
I heard John Snow drinks Budwieser in here.
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I popped in here once to find it dead with no real ales on whatsoever. First impressions last!
anonymous - 12 Feb 2006 18:21 |
I used to live right next to it and it was run by a very serious Frenchman and slack staff. Expensive drinks/food, the atmosphere is ok, but that's about it.
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Great food, good selection of beers, friendly staff and an alround pleasent atmosphere.
Colm - 19 Aug 2003 22:32 |
was not impressed, very chaotic, poor service
anonymous - 14 Jul 2003 21:00 |
The food was excellent.
Paul - 9 Jul 2003 08:07 |
Small and interesting choice of food freshly cooked in full view of diners. Beer was ok, markup on wine very low. Most bottles around �11-14
dorry - 26 Jun 2003 11:10 |
great food, decent beers (but dodgy wines), good service and an all-round great evening.
anonymous - 5 May 2003 17:26 |
fun place, great food, swell beer and lovely staff
Jen - 28 Dec 2002 08:01 |
