The Albion

I dined with my girlfriend on Tuesday evening. We arrived early and were offered the option to have a drink in the garden, although the rain was imminent. The outdoor space is lovely and beautifully decorated.

When we moved inside the courteous Manager briefed us on the daily specials and suggested some options from the wine list. The service was attentive yet not intrusive.

I had the special shepherd's pie, that was done with real chunks of lamb meat and no mince and offered with delicious minted peas. My girlfriend had a delicious sea Bream, simply cooked but flavourful.

The atmosphere was happy and relaxed, we noticed a couple of large drinking parties and several dining tables spread out in the building.

Definitely worth going back.
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David Web
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Thursday, August 07, 2008

All i can say is its "amazing."... went with friends for a sunny evening dinner, and just let say everyone left happy.. we had the whole roast suckling pig... it was by no means cheap.. but worth every penny.

The garden is a peaceful retreat from the harsh city life with a very relaxed atmosphere,

The Manager was great, the staff were full of life and we all just want to say "thanks" for making it a special day
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Emily
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, July 31, 2008

Nice interior but overpriced and, if you don't look like the the usual, upper class, Islington crowd, expect to be served last and the service to be minimal. They even had the nerve to charge gratuity on my bill! Never again!!!
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TK
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 1
Monday, July 28, 2008

I have had a few disappointing experiences recently and not sure if I will be going back . The problem is that at weekends the place is heaving and I think they are probably taking too many bookings. A few weeks ago we waited ages for our table, ages to give our order and ages for the meal to arrive. The food is generally very good , but by the time it arrives the goodwill was fading fast. This sort of thing can be ok if the management or waiters are polite or helpful but this lot were aggressively indifferent, which is such a shame. The place was excellent when it reopened after its refurbishment and has a lot going for it , but it needs better management now.
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Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 2
Monday, June 16, 2008

Very disappointed.

My husband and I ate dinner here on a Sunday bank holiday evening, after joining friends for their engagement party in the pub garden.

We were starving, having arrived expecting a garden barbecue that apparently had been cancelled. Things started to go wrong when we were told they were no longer serving food in the garden, as it would be closing in "10 minutes." An hour and a half later, the garden was still roaring with drinkers.

The next warning bell should have gone off when I saw the haddock fishcake described in singular on the menu, rather than the normal two you would get with a main, but I thought little of it and assumed there would be chips or some sort of potato involved on the plate.

Instead, a meagre fishcake arrived, with just a few sad leaves of mesclun for garnish, and a tiny dollop of sauce.

I immediately asked to order a plate of chips and was told the kitchen was closed and it wasn't possible. We begged for a crust of bread or any other little thing to help flesh out the meal and were told: iimpossible.

This seemed very unaccomodating, as the restaurant was still full at this point, and the chef couldn't have got far. Hot puddings were still coming out of the kitchen, and the Albion serves breakfasts, so how could there not even be a bit of bread about?

I protested to the waiter that one smallish fishcake was hardly a main - at £12 no less - and he immediately blamed my husband for having ordered it, saying he thought we had just wanted snacks. But it wasn't meant to be a snack, it was clearly a main course on the menu!!

My husband meanwhile had a nice bit of pork and new potatoes. The serving was again on the smallish side, but adequate.

We were forced to order hot chocolate puddings to quell our hunger. Fortunately they were very nice and the best bit about the meal.

This is a place where you simply must order a starter and a main, though it's not cheap by any means considering you are in a pub.
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Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 1
Thursday, June 05, 2008

I have been to this place about half a dozen times over the last year. The first time before it was refurbished - it used to look a bit like a slug n lettuce but you knew it had potential. Now it's been refurbed the decor inside is not overly fancy - it's simple and sympathetic to a building that must be 150 years+. However, if you saw the garden before and after then you will understand how wicked the re-design really is. The garden is huge and just beautiful.

Recently the service has been much improved.

The menu is English - proper english, gastropub in style and really really good food.
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Mary - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Thursday, November 01, 2007

Loved it.

Great place too take people for Sunday lunch. Great garden for the summers

Slightly expensive but worth it. The shoulder of lamb was great with the meat falling off the bone.

Good atmosphere, attentive staff, good drinks selection.

Well worth a look.
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NICK
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, October 23, 2007

I went to the Albion last Sunday lunch. Luckily the weather was good and my reservation guaranteed me a table outside. It was busy but not overpacked and the atmosphere was really nice. A mixture of families, trendy couples and groups of young locals.

The service was attentive, the menu had a large selection of classic British comfort food and 2 fantastic sharing roasts, a whole shoulder of lamb for up to 4 people and a massive rib of beef for 3. The barbacue was set up in the garden and I could see my meal being prepared under my eye. A joy!

For the portions you get it's honestly priced.
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Daniel Zwaag
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, September 26, 2007

We went to the Albion for Sunday lunch on a nice sunny afternoon (not many of those around at the moment!). We hadn't booked but had no trouble getting a table (although we were quite early) and the garden furniture was nice and solid proper wood tables/chairs rather than the flimsy stuff some pubs offer which is a nightmare to sit on for long.

The food was very tasty and well executed and the staff were friendly. There was a nice selection of interesting twists on the more trad pub grub (e.g. slow roast belly of pork) and everyone had difficulty deciding on what to have as it all looked great. There were also some interesting side dishes (e.g. pea shoot salad).

My main gripes are that it is really expensive for what it is - £10 for the cheapest main which was a fishcake with poached egg and about 4 teaspoons of spinach and around £14 for most of the others. Given they are serving up the cheaper cuts (e.g. pork belly) and they are charging for sides as well I think £8-10 would be about right. However, given its location and trendy Islington clientele they can cleclearly get away with this .. there was a queue for tables when we left.
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Nevynevster
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 2
Monday, July 23, 2007