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The Charles Lamb
16 Elia St, London, N1 8DE
Reviews for The Charles Lamb
0 found this helpful
DO NOT GO HERE. Upon visiting the pub to ask what time they served lunch we were very rudely told they weren't open yet. We managed to find out that, as they don't take bookings, we should arrive early as the pub itself is quite small. So we arrived in good time (midday) on the day in question, to find no-one else there until half an hour later, not all of whom were eating. We ordered our lunches, one of the group requesting the lamb to be cooked through as she was pregnant. The waiter curtly responded that the lamb comes medium/rare and that therefore our friend did not then have the right to complain if it was overdone. We then were told that the mushroom tart was not in fact a tart but mushrooms on toast, and the new potatoes with the mackerel would be replaced by toast also. One of the group asked if he could have a potato side dish, to be told abruptly "no" as they don't do sides. So we finished our meals (admittedly a mistake) and then decided we would politely ask if our bill could be reduced as half the menu was replaced with toast. The staff were not only extrememly rude in their response but tried to charge us for an extra main, presumably not expecting us to actually check our bill. Like I say, DO NOT COME HERE.
1 found this helpful
I brought a visitor from Belgium here for Sunday roast as she wanted a traditional English meal. The Charles Lamb didn't disappoint - the roast beef was perfectly cooked (nice and rare in the middle), and the Yorkshire puddings were the best I've had (I normally don't bother with them as they fill me up with nothing, but this time I didn't leave a scrap!).
Service was friendly and quick, Mancho the dog was cute.
The pub doesn't take bookings. We arrived just after they opened at midday and had no trouble getting a table. In fact the place was virtually empty so atmosphere was a little weak - if you arrive around 1pm, you shouldn't have to wait long for a table, and there'll be others in the pub to create its homely feel.
Definitely worth a visit for a roast.
2 found this helpful
Breton cider, Tom Oliver's 3 4 Perry, Ricard, an airy, charming interior, friendly bar staff, even the dog didn't bother me (and I can't stand dogs!) I didn't try the food but it looked good. We were there for the Bastile Day event so maybe that's not the best day to judge it as Trusted Places had drawn its own crowd to some extent. I want to go back on an ordinary evening and see what it's like then.
8 found this helpful
I really don't want to write this glowing review because The Charles Lamb is not that big a pub and I want it all to myself. It is by far the best pub I know in London.
The pub is extremely well-maintained and decorated in an understated yet eclectic manner, complete with the odd, aged map and signs asking patrons not to feed Mascha - the well-behaved pub dog.
A free house, the Charles Lamb serves a wide range of beers, including fruit beers, white beers and organic beers, plus cider and perry. All are very well kept. As a jaded lager drinker I'm usually not too worried about these things but this pub must have some of the best cleaned pipes around. There is also a good selection of intelligently priced wines.
Food is excellent. Bar snacks include homemade sausage rolls, pasties and Scotch eggs. More substantial fare is offered on the daily-changing menu which offers a good selection of clean-tasting and hearty modern-British/European dishes. The prices are reasonable for Islington too.
As others have said, this is a truly great pub ... now leave me to it and try and find a great pub of your own.
3 found this helpful
Best pub in Angel - no excuse to go anywhere else, except perhaps the Island Queen. Above-average Sunday roast. Also sell extremely addictive corn-nuts.
3 found this helpful
Love it, lack of dog-ness and militant bartenders included.
On the merit of idoru's review, I went here last night and completely fell in love with it.
It's a true neighbourhood bar, set away from the hustle and bustle of Angel. Shockingly I've never been to a bar like this, but I am not English and do not have a "local" or a pub around the corner from the house I grew up in, so to speak. But after being here last night, I wish I lived within walking distance of this charming little pub.
The picnic tables outside are wonderful and surprisingly enough there is a rather intimate atmosphere to the outdoor seating. We were asked a number of times to finish our drinks inside due to the "noise" - even though there were only 2 of us and we were speaking rather quietly. But to be fair, it is a neighbourhood bar and I don't want the owners getting into trouble with the council for noise violations!
The menu is utterly mouth-watering, but unfortunately we arrived too late (9 pm = last orders for food) so we had to content ourselves with a bar snack, which was lovely; a vegetable tart.
Exceptional selection of beer and a nice little wine list, the prices are extremely reasonable, and the menu looks delicious... the only thing that was missing was the resident dog, but one of the staff kindly brought the dog over after her nap so that I could say hello to her. She's absolutely adorable and really friendly.
There were fresh lilies (!!!!) in the bathrooms, which were spotless, and although this was a incongruous sight (considering it's a pub), the baby stroller stored in the bathroom was quite nice to chance upon as it signifies a children-friendly and family-run establishment.
Truly a great pub, probably the best I've been to yet.
3 found this helpful
this place is genius! arrive early to guarantee space at the table though. the food is excellent and yes the staffordshire bull terrier is adorable
1 found this helpful
If this is the place that does Thai food it's very nice but my pint of IPA was a bit off.
7 found this helpful
This is my favourite pub in Angel and it's 2 minutes walk from my work. Established in 1839, it remains true to it's original form but includes signs on the wall asking you not to feed Mascha, the friendly little staffordshire bull terrier, who meanders though the tables with a colourful scarf round her neck (she even has her own myspace page)
A little background knowledge: The pub changed it's name in 2005 in honour of the early essayist who lived round the corner, he was best know for his Essays of Elia' (the road the pub is on and his pen name).
It's a free house with wi-fi and serves great ales and beers on draft. Plus yummy ciders, perrys and international beers by the bottle, (my favourite, Breton cider is served here!) The food is above average gastopub (runner up for best gastropub by Timeout 06) for below average prices.
There's plenty of outside seating, though the road outside is so quiet people often stand on it's side and sit on the footpath catching the last of the sun. There‘s pretty planter boxes with potted colour in the window (this is what drew me n the first time), making this quite possibly the cutest pub in Angel, this is added to by the petite wooden dining room on the right when you walk in.
I'd have to say my pick of the mains we tried was the cottage pie followed by the fish pie then my Lamb merguez sausages with puy lentils and crème fraîche (my love affair with lentils continues). The kitchen is open 6 till 9 for supper and they do a Sunday roast from 1-6, though I haven't tried it.
The wine list in a mix of old and new world and it's served by the glass, carafe and bottle. They hold a wine club and a supper club so check the website for details. This place is definitely worth a trip this weekend then I'd have to suggest a casual walk on the Regents canal.
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