http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/bar-pub/1q5jp7/the-charles-lamb <b>The Charles Lamb</b><br />London, 16 Elia St, N1 8DE, United Kingdom en http://trustedplaces.com/uploads/placepics/trustedplaces.comaPlacePic['name']}.140.jpg http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/bar-pub/1q5jp7/the-charles-lamb http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/bar-pub/1q5jp7/the-charles-lamb/1o3388
Review by LindaHartley

Rating: 4.00
Tags:
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.]]> Fri, 20 Jul 2007 11:22:35 +0000 /review/uk/london/bar-pub/1q5jp7/the-charles-lamb/1o3388569382805 LindaHartley 51.531938 -0.102054 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/bar-pub/1q5jp7/the-charles-lamb/1e53x8
Review by Unpremeditated

Rating: 5.00
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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.]]> Fri, 06 Jul 2007 22:20:23 +0000 /review/uk/london/bar-pub/1q5jp7/the-charles-lamb/1e53x81568309107 Unpremeditated 51.531938 -0.102054 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/bar-pub/1q5jp7/the-charles-lamb/1e1318
Review by Kaliova

Rating: 5.00
Tags:
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.]]> Thu, 05 Jul 2007 12:27:38 +0000 /review/uk/london/bar-pub/1q5jp7/the-charles-lamb/1e1318591926289 Kaliova 51.531938 -0.102054 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/bar-pub/1q5jp7/the-charles-lamb/1863w8
Review by Sami

Rating: 5.00
Tags:
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.]]> Sun, 24 Jun 2007 12:40:35 +0000 /review/uk/london/bar-pub/1q5jp7/the-charles-lamb/1863w81239310864 Sami 51.531938 -0.102054 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/bar-pub/1q5jp7/the-charles-lamb/1p92k8
Review by Angel_Bury

Rating: 5.00
Tags:
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]]> Mon, 21 May 2007 17:18:50 +0000 /review/uk/london/bar-pub/1q5jp7/the-charles-lamb/1p92k81191634642 Angel_Bury 51.531938 -0.102054 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/bar-pub/1q5jp7/the-charles-lamb/1p02a9
Review by GeoffandSylvia

Rating: 3.00
Tags:
If this is the place that does Thai food it's very nice but my pint of IPA was a bit off.]]> Mon, 21 May 2007 12:03:39 +0000 /review/uk/london/bar-pub/1q5jp7/the-charles-lamb/1p02a9920512404 GeoffandSylvia 51.531938 -0.102054 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/london/bar-pub/1q5jp7/the-charles-lamb/1n62n8
Review by idoru

Rating: 5.00
Tags:
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. Theres 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.

]]> Wed, 16 May 2007 19:14:08 +0000 /review/uk/london/bar-pub/1q5jp7/the-charles-lamb/1n62n8553075990 idoru 51.531938 -0.102054