Gastropubs have risen to prominence in London. It seems every borough has an award-winning one these days, so can Fox & Anchor join keep up the high standards set by its peers? Was it any good? Time to find out...
Ideal for:
Local workers looking for a quick bite at lunch
After work drinks
No-frills dining
Ambience & Décor
This narrow-framed, tired-looking pub looked like the Leaky Cauldron from Harry Potter. Stepping through the shabby exterior, it became clear this was nothing gastro about this pub. The interior décor was equally shabby, outdated and stale. The "private" dining room looked like a glorified storage cupboard. Dark dingy, dusty room with a cold draught. The table glasses and plates even looked unwashed. Mentally, I was ready to bolt.
Service
Given the party was hidden away in a spider hole, the staff glided past and ignored us. Our waiter had to be the bearer of bad news as countless items on the menu were not available. The highlight was when he candidly told me the “game” chips are glorified Walkers crisps! At the end, the disinterested waitress who took payment pushed us out the door.
Food
Reservation was at 8pm by which time more than half the menu was no longer served! Eventually cobbled together and order. The starters of Smithfield Market Board (left) was selected. The platter was a brief reprieve for the pub. The selection includes hand-made sausage rolls, hand-raised pork pies, scotch eggs, pigs in blankets and curried mayo. The pigs in blankets and scotch eggs were the best.
It is at this point, the food went the same way as the service, décor and cleanliness. Pheasant should taste like a glorified chicken, moist with some herbs infused in the meat for added flavour. Today's offering was rock solid and bone dry - needed a chainsaw to cut it! I sated some hunger by dipping the "game" chips into bread sauce. Pathetic dish.
Ordered the Snickers chocolate dessert (right) to salvage something from this night. The rock solid nature with a puddle of water at the side suggested bought-in and defrosted. When a pub cannot be bothered to make something that simple, it is beyond redemption. Fox and Anchor should stick to only alcohol as even the Food Standard Agency would condemn the restaurant from top to bottom. Unclean, uninspiring and unbelievable. The worst dining experience ever in London, and is fitting of its F rating.
Photos of Fox & Anchor and more can be found on Instagram here.
Final grade: F
Final comment: Worst dining experience London, and will never return!
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