The White Hart, Crystal Palace

This is a great bar- well it started off great, but I would have to agree with previous comments, the bar staff aren't up to much.

18 Dec 2007 23:17

The Honor Oak, Honor Oak

We went to this pub for the first time tonight and really have only very good things to say about it. It is by far the best pub in the whole Forest Hill/Sydenham/Honour Oak Park area. I myself work in catering and know what I am doing!! The guys who run this pub obviously have their heads screwed on.
The decor is great- appealing, trendy and just right for the market they are trying to attract. The service was relaxed but great and very helpful. The place was very clean. The toilets smelt fresh and were clean (a rarity in a pub these days). We both ate. I had Lancashire hot pot with red cabbage. The chef obviously has a clue what he is doing as it was cooked to perfection - I come from near Lancashire and have not had a better Lancashire hotpot up North. My partner had a burger- great Maris Piper chips. Lovely burger pattie (perfectly seasoned and cooked), on a nice bun. It came with a beautifully presented salad garnish. The only criticism is that that burger garnish hjad slightly too much olive oil on it which swam around the plate and soaked the bun. But I am sure that this was just a slight over-sight on the chefs part. I am an "expert" in food, and it is obvious that this is a chef that has been trained in "fine dining" that is now cooking very good pub food - simply prepared, using good ingredients and perfectly executed. All in all, this bar has got it right - The owners and the manager are obviously experienced. Thanks very much guys and keep up the good work...we will be visiting again soon.

21 Nov 2007 21:20