The Albion

A thoroughly disappointing lunch which started with high expectations. Having had a super Sunday lunch some time ago we booked but this time for Saturday lunch. My wife had Winter Vegetable pie with Stilton and I had Lamb Hotpot. The pie was reasonable apart from a lack of any taste of stilton. The hotpot was a rip-off. £16 for a tiny portion. The waitress said they had had other complaints about the portion size. It tasted fine but how anyone could think that was a main course worth £16 I'll never know. We won't be going back!
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Jon
4 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 0
Saturday, February 23, 2013

Light, relaxing and well inhabited interior and atmosphere seemed appropriate for this evening. Place to relax after intense working day. Organic and sustainable approach to restaurant`s menu. Meat for the steak seemed less fresh with average French fries. Additional salads or better cutlery could make this dish more tasteful.
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ana
6 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 6
Thursday, April 19, 2012

Four of us booked and visited the Albion for lunch on saturday. Upon arrival we were shown to our table and we reviewed the menu. My girlfriend is 9 months pregant and a vegetarian therefore we expected that she would have limited choice. The menu did not contain a dish that she could eat because the two vege dishes contained stilton or goats cheese.

We asked the waitress if the chef could suggest anything or could the cheese be replaced for a cheese that she could eat. She had to to & from from the kitchen a few times and came back suggesting the stilton pie and we had to remind her for the third time that she could not eat this. The manageress then took over and suggested an omelette which is a really sensible suggestion when your pregnant! It seems that it is not possible for the chef to produce anything other than what is on the menu, he could not suggest anything and was not prepared to move on this position which does not inspire me that they care about service or the local pregnant community of which there are many couples expecting in Islington.

Two starters were then placed on the table and we were then informed that the rabit starter was off so a member of our party had to go without with no other choice offered.

My pregnant girlfriend was then offered a glass of wine, twice, when we had told the waitress 4 times that she was pregnant.

I am unsure where they are recruiting their staff but they seem to be completely unqualified for the role in hand from the chef downwards.

This is a real shame because we have been here about 6-8 times since it re-opened and thought it was great, i suggest that they look to train the staff that they have to do the job that the owners wish them to do.
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Steve - View all reviews by this user
1 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 1
Tuesday, February 07, 2012

I visited the Albion last week with my husband. I have eaten there before and had some good food . However on this occasion our steak was the chewiest fattiest most tasteless cut of meat I have ever eaten. Really sad to have been such bad quality of food in a place that should really be serving up decent food. Much better places to visit in north london for good food, so as we say in Australia I shall vote with my feet and not be giving the Albion any more of my hard earned cash.
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lisa - View all reviews by this user
2 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 1
Monday, January 23, 2012

I went to eat at the Albion last night with a party of 10 and was shocked at how poor the service was. Our food took over an hour to come, which was ridiculous as we were all having steaks or burgers. When it did come, it came out in drips and drabs, with staff needing repetitive reminders about what was missing. The food was not cooked to order (steaks were all under done). The staff were rude and confrontational.

It's such as shame, as the Albion has a lot of charm and could be an amazing place if they got their service right. I certainly won't be eating there again considering there are loads of great options nearby.
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Gordon Hewitt
1 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Saturday, September 10, 2011

The food was ok but not exceptional. Desserts seemed the best. The garden is very attractive with a good atmosphere but do not bank on being able to linger there. While staff had been quite attentive at the start of our 3 courses we saw less and less of them until we ordered coffees and were asked to remove ourselves to the pub for the privilege as they wanted our table. If we had been informed of a time limit earlier on we could have made our plans accordingly.

We didn't leave a tip and I doubt we shall be requiring any of their tables in the future
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Mary
5 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 4
Monday, July 26, 2010

Really disappointing food, bland, overcooked, overpriced. Great garden though.
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hj - View all reviews by this user
4 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 3
Monday, June 14, 2010

I feel sorry for the excellent staff. I can't imagine anyone leaving here thinking "Wow, what great food and such good value, too!"

12 quid gets you 3 slices of plain bread, 5 small pickled onions, a handful of watercress, a pinch of pepper, some celery and a small portion of cheese. Oh, and a boiled egg. 12 quid.

Hopefully someone will post on here to let us all know when the chef has been replaced. I won't be going back before then.
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Pottedmeat - View all reviews by this user
5 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 0
Friday, June 04, 2010

I would describe my self as a foody - i love cookery TV, i spend most evenings looking at recipe books and planning the next culinary concoction. Now with this in mind, i am not a food snob, in fact i have been known to enjoy my favorite meals in east London's Turkish kebab houses and the like. But one thing i hate is being ripped off -left right and centre!!

The Albion is a pub designed to fit as many drinkers inside and out, the gardens are huge and the atmosphere and first impressions are great. That's where it ends! The kitchen and the bar, quite frankly CAN NOT keep pace!

We arrived for my friends 30th and were promptly told we had to order off the restricted menu because we were in a group of more than 6. the price of the 3 choices was so variable (£10, £16 and £20)and with the £10 option being a jacket potato we all really felt like we were being forced to take expensive options. the full drinks order never came in completion (jug of pimms- 20 mins - and then the glasses- then the beer). we were told to move inside to a table at 10pm becasue they were closing the garden and were forced to set tables and find enough chairs.

the rich tomato sauce with the Swordfish steak (£16) was in reality a pile of quartered tomatoes in an pretty poor dressing!!

Waiting staff were stressed and unable to keep up with the service and all in all it was the most terribly over priced and disappointing dining experience i have ever had. Dont go to this pub if you are expecting a pleasant and good quality meal. come over to mine and i will get my son to cook something better!
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Andie - east london
2 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 0
Saturday, May 29, 2010