The House

I and my lovely husband had dinner here on Saturday evening, and my god has it improved since my last experience here over Christmas, This was our local a year back and i must say it will be our local again now after the fantastic meal we had.

The Ceviche Menu is a treat and the Trout dish to die for, my Husband had the Rib eye, which he commented on that it was cooked to perfection.

I will now be back to try your Sunday Lunch.
Comment on this reader review

Emma
8 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Thursday, June 03, 2010

We have lived in islington for a few years and somehow have managed to avoid The House but were very excited to try it out this Friday evening. The ambience layout and decor of the place is fantastic but sadly that is where our enjoyable experience ended.

The menu looked promising and well thought out including the sourcing and provenance of the food which is important to us. The reality was that our sea bass ceviche was over powered with green peppercorns and too much grapefruit and little thought had been given to allowing the flavour of the fish to feature in the meal. Our main courses were terrible; the mussels (how can a chef mess up mussels) were flavourless and risotto was not cooked properly and bland.

The bill came to £75 which was an insult given the quality of the cooking. We would never go there again which is a shame.
Comment on this reader review

Philippa white
3 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 0
Monday, May 31, 2010

all thats wrong about some gastropubs. first visit a while back was good enough, sunday was shocking. sat down unattended for 10 mins, asked for bread for the kids 5 times during the meal and instead of the promised fresh-baked stuff, someone must have hightailed it down to londis to get whatever was left on the shelves.

Food quality was sub-standard and prices extortionate (£15 for a pork dish, sides extra). Expertise in describing the provenance, method of capture and cooking style of a dish cannot dress up poor cooking - especially when you can't spell - "Longhorne (sic) beef"? Poor waitress was clearly overstretched to the point of having a running argument with her colleagues. When I showed my annoyance to the guy in charge of service he arrogantly reminded me it was because they were busy (as if that's ever an excuse for incompetence, let alone on mother's day).

The bill arrived and service had timidly been excluded - as if they felt it were best not mentioned. Well at least their corporate masters would have been happy with the takings for the day.
Comment on this reader review

drake ramoray
2 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, March 16, 2010

We eat out a lot and quite simply The House is the most reliable local restaurant (and there are dozens) in tems of food, service and ambience. The staff are informative, the menus wide enough and the cooking is always top level. This is where we go when want a guaranteed good night out.
Comment on this reader review

andrew bernhardt
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, February 09, 2010

Maybe there has been a change in management but my wife and I popped in last Thursday and had a lovely meal. The staff were friendly and attentive and the food was delicious.

We started off by sharing the scallops which was served with a delicious parsnip puree and a crunchy piece of pancetta. Sublime. For our main courses my wife ordered the Shepherd's Pie not usually associated with fine dinning but The House certainly pulled it off. Deep flavors set off with the most tasty potato topping. I had pork with puy lentils with was excellent although would be devine if served with more jus. To finish a yummy crumble with creme anglais.

Highly recommended.
Comment on this reader review

James
7 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Prepare for a big disappointment. Idiotic staff. Pretentious and greatly overpriced food. Such a shame as the place and menu looks good.
Comment on this reader review

BC
4 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 3
Friday, June 19, 2009

We visited here last night for the first time and were profoundly disappointed. I've lived nearby for over a year and had been saving a visit here for a special occasion. Despite the restaurant being only a third full, we were seated (two of us) by a swing door to what must have been the staff quarters.

We shared a starter of scallops with gnocchi which was small but tasty. We ordered the House steak for two. At £38 it wasn't cheap but we thought we'd try it anyway. Bad idea! Firstly, when the waitress came by to leave plates for our main course she asked us to clear our table - HELLO? We're paying £38 for a steak and 12.5% service charge and you want us to clear our own table? The meat itself was stringy, undercooked, unseasoned and bland. The accompanying Dauphinoise potatoes were pungent and overpowering. The presentation also lacked any love.

Despite the restaurant being nearly empty, we were left to pour our own wine and not one member of staff asked us how our meal was, until they came to clear our plates. When we told our waitress that we were disappointed she said she'd tell the chef. Our complaint apparently ended up in the kitchen bin along with the rest of our dinner.

We asked for the 12.5% service charge to be removed as a £9 tip was way over and above what was deserved.

The house is a lovely place to go and sit for a drink, especially in the garden during the summer. However, the food is distinctly average and ridiculously overpriced and the service, just plain bad.
Comment on this reader review

Stephen Lynch
3 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 1
Saturday, April 11, 2009

Booked Sunday lunch. Arrived at agreed time of 3pm. Told rudely to wait or order drink from bar as table was not ready (even though 4 were seen to be available). Ordered drink waited 10 minutes, sat down, had to ask for menu after another 10 minutes, had to ask to order after yet another 10 minutes and told they had run out of everything on the menu including the roast dinners. Walked out in disgust. Do not ever go here.
Comment on this reader review

S
0 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Thursday, April 09, 2009

We have gone to the house many times and were never dissapointed! the menu changes quite often so you will usually not eat the same dish twice. The athmosphere is great and there are two fire places. The food is always good hearty food and well prepared! I would suggest the sheperds pie and the chocolate pave or passion fruit sorbet! sticky toffee pudding was also delicious! It's nice to be able to see the chefs work too! it's a 10 minute walk from Angel tube.
Comment on this reader review

Sarah
8 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Sunday, February 22, 2009

Despite all the bad reviews, we went to House as we live next door. Got a table straight away..no fuss (friday night..all right all right..just a two!), great food, had oysters, scallops (beautiful with gnocchi) and pork belly (fantastic). we ordered a Lebanon wine mixed bizarrely with French Burdeoux (£26 very reasonable and oh so good). For our indulgence we ended our meal with a cheese plate (we ordered 3 cheeses out of 5 for £8, changed our mind on one and ended up getting 4 for the price of 3...reduced size but hey...dont be greedy, at the end of the day, we are sharing one portion!!! and it was enough!!) ordered a glass of port each and, voila! great meal, great vibe.. I have to say, being a waitress myself, I can not help but look at the open kitchen..those boys can deal with stress, they flow graciously around that tiny kitchen without a worry in the world, sharing a smile and a joke with the staff every now and then..

No, it was not cheap, but it was not expensive either. I had a great time out, relaxed and I am definetely coming back.

staff were nice and attentive, dont expect silver service, but good service...thats all you need.
Comment on this reader review

Vanessa
9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Friday, February 20, 2009