The Green Dragon, Barnet

I must have visited a different Green Dragon from the one with some of the bad reviews here. It was a wet and foggy November evening, so there were few diners. The bar looked very welcoming and comfy, but as we were a party of 8, we went into the restaurant section. That was fine and they turned the background music down at our request (and offered to turn it off if we wanted).

We all had the two course 10.90 per head with coffees/teas to follow. The food was very good at the price, actually very good indeed at that price. The menu was strong on meat, just one veggie choice. Food presented very well, good quantity and well cooked. The main failing was over emphasis on meat and an extra veg would have been good.

For the record, my own carnivores choice was starter of black pudding with celeriac, apple, aioli, good salad - very good inded. Main course of substantial and tender ox-tail with red wine sauce and mashed potato. Not everybody's choice of course, but I thought it was excellent for an 11 pound fixed price menu. Other items on menu included roast cod, piri-piri chicken risotto, chargrilled pork.

Acceptable wine at 14 per bottle (not the cheapest on the list). Our total bill for 8 was 136 pounds plus service (including 2 bottles of wine and some beer), which was fine dining at less than Pizza Express prices. Oh the beer, we only tried the London Pride and that was in good condition.

Service was OK, certainly very polite and helpful, although not very knowledgable about what was on the menu ("I'll go and ask the chef", but he did)

I can only guess from the bad reviews that this place has gone through a change of ownership and is short of customers, but our experience was very good indeed. If I lived closer, I'd be a regular. I'll certainly go back to see if the very good experience can be repeated.

23 Nov 2011 09:31