The Dovetail, Clerkenwell

When planning a reunion with old school friends from Brussels who all happen to live over here now, the Dovetail seemed like the perfect choice. I'd been once before and had a great time, but I had forgotten how loud the place gets when it's crowded (the tiled walls I guess), making conversation very shouty and repetitive.

The staff were lovely and very attentive, and we enjoyed the great selection of decent beers.
On the food front however, it felt as if the chef had gone on holiday and put the least capable person in charge. The 'specials' we had - which seemed straightforward enough for anyone to cook well - absolutely disappointed: the cajun chicken was dry and bland and the advertised vegetable 'jambalaya' laughable, the burger - positively humungous at sister pub the Dove and described as such by the staff here too - so tiny my (petite) friend had to order extra chips.
The mussels the rest of us went for tasted absolutely delicious, but I've just checked with the other two and we're all still recovering from the food poisoning we came away with. (We only met for this one meal and then everyone went back to their own part of the country where we all got sick at around the same time, ie the culprit is obvious!)

I work close to the Dove on Broadway Mkt and will keep going there for drinks as I cannot resist Kriek from the tap, but I won't be taking anyone to the Dovetail again.

11 Feb 2008 10:18