Latest reviews for Bars & Pubs in Lisson Grove, London, United Kingdom

The Engineer - Well Engineered by chrisp

chrisp — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 11:16:03 +0000

Review by chrisp

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7722 0950

Website: http://www.the-engineer.com

Tags: gastro pub, lively, good value

As should be perfectly apparent to any readers of my reviews, I am no photographer. It's pushing the limits of my meagre ability just taking an in-focus shot of an immobile plate of food three feet from my face, so whilst for many people a trip to London Zoo would provide a bounty of photogenic opportunity, the best I could manage was a slightly blurry shot of a group of lazy lemurs, barely recognisable behind thick chicken wire. I do possess other skills, however - not least the ability to sniff out a gastropub within half a mile, and so as the queue for the zoo stretched halfway down Albert Road at 1:30 on Saturday afternoon, I suggested we have lunch first and give the crowds a chance to dissipate.

The Engineer is a handsome, rather eclectically decorated pub in the handsome, eclectic neighbourhood of Primrose Hill. Staff were cheery and slightly hippified, in keeping with the area, and the menu followed suit, containing a variety of standard gastropub ingredients (chicken breast, cod, lamb) served with some less-than-standard sides (harissa, bok choi and mash, barley and grape salad). It was tempting stuff, and our rickety little corner table was beginning to feel very much like home as I sipped on a pint of Hook Norton ale and gazed out over the well-heeled crowd.

It being only lunchtime, and mindful of the looming Â£15 zoo entrance fee (that place goes up by Â£5 every year, I swear), we had one course each. As you can see, my lamb fillet was nothing if not a pretty plate of food, coloured by pomegranete seeds and flecks of chilli, and the meat itself was rich and tasty with nicely roasted potatoes. But the barley and grape salad was, as you might have already decided, perhaps just a little into 'weird' territory. Not quite enough to stop me wolfing down the whole lot, obviously, but nothing I would go out of my way to recreate at home or order again somewhere else. I need dishes like this though occasionally, just to be reassured that some people are brave enough to try new flavour combinations, otherwise you'd just end up being offered the same stuff everywhere. So well done The Engineer - your barley and grape salad is wrong, but don't stop trying.

We did eventually make it to the zoo, and despite the price rise it's still one of my favourite ways of spending a sunny afternoon. In summer they have a hugely overpriced BBQ set up near the penguins, serving many of the animals you're paying to go and see roasted inside a sesame seed bun. It's a slightly surreal experience, and one guaranteed to set your moral compass spinning, so I would recommend following your own gastro radar some place else if you're need of sustenance. There's no shortage of options, and I can thoroughly recommend the Engineer at the very least.As should be perfectly apparent to any readers of my reviews, I am no photographer. It's pushing the limits of my meagre ability just taking an in-focus shot of an immobile plate of food three feet from my face, so whilst for many people a trip to London Zoo would provide a bounty of photogenic opportunity, the best I could manage was a slightly blurry shot of a group of lazy lemurs, barely recognisable behind thick chicken wire. I do possess other skills, however - not least the ability to sniff out a gastropub within half a mile, and so as the queue for the zoo stretched halfway down Albert Road at 1:30 on Saturday afternoon, I suggested we have lunch first and give the crowds a chance to dissipate.

The Engineer is a handsome, rather eclectically decorated pub in the handsome, eclectic neighbourhood of Primrose Hill. Staff were cheery and slightly hippified, in keeping with the area, and the menu followed suit, containing a variety of standard gastropub ingredients (chicken breast, cod, lamb) served with some less-than-standard sides (harissa, bok choi and mash, barley and grape salad). It was tempting stuff, and our rickety little corner table was beginning to feel very much like home as I sipped on a pint of Hook Norton ale and gazed out over the well-heeled crowd.

It being only lunchtime, and mindful of the looming Â£15 zoo entrance fee (that place goes up by Â£5 every year, I swear), we had one course each. As you can see, my lamb fillet was nothing if not a pretty plate of food, coloured by pomegranete seeds and flecks of chilli, and the meat itself was rich and tasty with nicely roasted potatoes. But the barley and grape salad was, as you might have already decided, perhaps just a little into 'weird' territory. Not quite enough to stop me wolfing down the whole lot, obviously, but nothing I would go out of my way to recreate at home or order again somewhere else. I need dishes like this though occasionally, just to be reassured that some people are brave enough to try new flavour combinations, otherwise you'd just end up being offered the same stuff everywhere. So well done The Engineer - your barley and grape salad is wrong, but don't stop trying.

We did eventually make it to the zoo, and despite the price rise it's still one of my favourite ways of spending a sunny afternoon. In summer they have a hugely overpriced BBQ set up near the penguins, serving many of the animals you're paying to go and see roasted inside a sesame seed bun. It's a slightly surreal experience, and one guaranteed to set your moral compass spinning, so I would recommend following your own gastro radar some place else if you're need of sustenance. There's no shortage of options, and I can thoroughly recommend the Engineer at the very least.

The Globe Tavern - convenient pub by lenalouise

lenalouise — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:47:51 +0000

Review by lenalouise

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 7935 6368

Tags: relaxed, friendly, food

Situated right by Baker St tube, I'd say the Globe attracts more customers for being in a convenient location than for anything else. They have a typical pub menu with old favourites such as fish and chips. They also have seats out front for sunny days.Situated right by Baker St tube, I'd say the Globe attracts more customers for being in a convenient location than for anything else. They have a typical pub menu with old favourites such as fish and chips. They also have seats out front for sunny days.

The Chapel - Disappointing, but we'll give it a second chance by Browners

Browners — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 17:32:44 +0000

Review by Browners

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 7402 9220

Tags: relaxed, friendly, food

Just a quick review of The Chapel pub near Edgeware Road Tube Station...

It's a well run pub with an exciting food menu featuring some modern pub classics like rib eye steak, fish cakes and grilled chicken. This is bolstered by some more unusual offerings such as grilled ostrich with a mango, ginger and chili dressing. The most startling side of the menu however, is the lack of both burgers and chips... a very good thing indeed! Even though I did have an insatiable desire to wolf down a cheese burger and chips on a slow Friday afternoon!

Oi and I had the grilled ostrich which was beautifully rare. Unfortunately, the meat was tough and fibrous. Not the tender piece of meat we were expecting. It was chewy and disappointing as a piece of meat. A real shame because the rest of the dish was fabulous. We probably should have played safe with the rib eye!

I watched the two, young and energetic chefs at work. The quality of their presentation and flavour combinations were very impressive. I suspect that they were just let down by the quality of their meat. We'll give them a second chance at some point soon to try the rest of their menu out. But another blunder and we won't return. There are loads of other places in the area to go to instead.Just a quick review of The Chapel pub near Edgeware Road Tube Station...

It's a well run pub with an exciting food menu featuring some modern pub classics like rib eye steak, fish cakes and grilled chicken. This is bolstered by some more unusual offerings such as grilled ostrich with a mango, ginger and chili dressing. The most startling side of the menu however, is the lack of both burgers and chips... a very good thing indeed! Even though I did have an insatiable desire to wolf down a cheese burger and chips on a slow Friday afternoon!

Oi and I had the grilled ostrich which was beautifully rare. Unfortunately, the meat was tough and fibrous. Not the tender piece of meat we were expecting. It was chewy and disappointing as a piece of meat. A real shame because the rest of the dish was fabulous. We probably should have played safe with the rib eye!

I watched the two, young and energetic chefs at work. The quality of their presentation and flavour combinations were very impressive. I suspect that they were just let down by the quality of their meat. We'll give them a second chance at some point soon to try the rest of their menu out. But another blunder and we won't return. There are loads of other places in the area to go to instead.

Windsor Castle - decent food by emco

emco — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 02:40:40 +0000

Review by emco

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7723 9262

Tags: food, different pub food, thai

I've eaten here over 10 times in the last 2 months. The food is not haute cuisine, but it is nice for a pub and you get value for money. I especially like that they serve more than just the normal pub menu.

I've eaten here over 10 times in the last 2 months. The food is not haute cuisine, but it is nice for a pub and you get value for money. I especially like that they serve more than just the normal pub menu.

The Lansdowne - Lansdowne by gilka

gilka — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 00:24:47 +0000

Review by gilka

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7483 0409

Tags: food, smoking, expensive

Visited on 25/07/07.
We were expecting some gastro food here... Timeout critic choice you know... Our friends who live nearby said the food is great...
I ordered the duck salad. I was not enlightened at all... It was a salad with some beans, lettuce, plums and duck...
The plums, which were supposed to be the Ükick' ,actually didn't fit with the over salty duck.
My friend had a pizza with anchovies ,capers and egg.
On the first bite, this appeared to be a nice looking pizza but then we consulted with out Italian authorities:
'A good example of Napolitana pizza but the dough is too thin...'
'you can get a similar pizza at Zizzi for £3 less...' (the price was £9 which is pricy for what you get...)
The olived we ordered from the bar were juicy and amazing!
The staff were nice and responsive! We might give this place a second chance but we were indifferent for the culinary experience this time...Visited on 25/07/07.
We were expecting some gastro food here... Timeout critic choice you know... Our friends who live nearby said the food is great...
I ordered the duck salad. I was not enlightened at all... It was a salad with some beans, lettuce, plums and duck...
The plums, which were supposed to be the Ükick' ,actually didn't fit with the over salty duck.
My friend had a pizza with anchovies ,capers and egg.
On the first bite, this appeared to be a nice looking pizza but then we consulted with out Italian authorities:
'A good example of Napolitana pizza but the dough is too thin...'
'you can get a similar pizza at Zizzi for £3 less...' (the price was £9 which is pricy for what you get...)
The olived we ordered from the bar were juicy and amazing!
The staff were nice and responsive! We might give this place a second chance but we were indifferent for the culinary experience this time...

Bar Tok - Tik Tok Not by sokratis

sokratis — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 10:02:07 +0000

Review by sokratis

Rating: 3.00

Tags: mature, cheesy music, toilet

And now for instalment 4. Bar Tok seems like a nice bar usually. It's got a late license for Friday, but I would not recommend it after 1am. If you're into 40+ year old women, cheesy music and crowded atmosphere go if not, don't.

That's how it was when I went there. During normal time it seems like a pretty nice bar, so I'm willing to give it a second chance and update this review. Or if anyone has another view please stick it in here.
And now for instalment 4. Bar Tok seems like a nice bar usually. It's got a late license for Friday, but I would not recommend it after 1am. If you're into 40+ year old women, cheesy music and crowded atmosphere go if not, don't.

That's how it was when I went there. During normal time it seems like a pretty nice bar, so I'm willing to give it a second chance and update this review. Or if anyone has another view please stick it in here.