The House (Islington)

I am Quite surprised by all these bad cmments. Mabye people only bother to write a review if they have had a bad experience. I have to disagree with all these comments my boyfriend and I were recommended to eat at the house by some friends who live nearby its their local hang out. It has such a lovely atmosphere we ordered fresh crab spaghettini to start and carpaccio and the sirloin chop to share it was £38 but it was for 2 and it was worth every penny it was a delicious peice of meat. The staff were very friendly and the ambience was perfect with the candles lit and dim lighting. I think by far its the best gastro pub in islington we usually eat at fredericks down camden passage but i think we willeat more often at this hidden gem
Comment on this reader review

Bella
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Monday, June 22, 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
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
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
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
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
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Friday, February 20, 2009

My partner and I went here for a Sunday meal yesterday and although looking jam-packed and quite buzzy, they managed to SQUEEZE us in by the door to the kitchen. The staff on the whole were friendly enough and offered (then forgot) to move us once a less hectic table became available.

The food however was pretty good, lovely Partridge for me and Sea Bass for the missus. As was the wine, a hearty Montepulciano from Argentina. Definitely worth the trip for the meal, especially on a day when your boiler is burst and the house is freezing - making being next to the kitchen not all bad...

A slight gripe with the staff at the end when we paid in cash (credit crunch, credit crunch) and it took twenty minutes, and two requests to get our change back. When we finally did, I asked if there had been a problem, to which the surly Eastern European lass said "No we just had to count all your change" - two notes and £1.83 (not in coppers thank you!) - were they using an abacus to run the tills???
Comment on this reader review

James
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 6
Monday, December 15, 2008

Completely agree with the other reviews... although the ambiance is lovely and the menu looks great on paper, it's insanely overpriced for what you get. Flavours are a bit muddled, and presentation is lax. Great place for a bottle of wine with friends... leave the food.
Comment on this reader review

The Queen Crab - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 0
Thursday, September 04, 2008

I really don't get this place, or the good reviews. I went for dinner there last night & it was my third ever visit. The venue and ambience are fine, but the food is overpriced and not particularly good.

For starter I had the Salt and Pepper Squid which was £7.50. For that I got two tiny pieces of squid on top of some diced roasted red pepper. It tasted ok, but I was blown away by the price they charged for such a tiny portion. It was more akin to an amuse bouche. Total rip off.

For main two of us had shepherds pie - which again was passable, although my colleague found hers too salty. My other friend had a goats cheese ravioli, which was so salty, it was unpleasant to eat. No one asked us if everything was ok & when we complained at the end, the waitress didn't seem to care & it still appeared on the bill.

We had to chase the order of a glass of white wine, ask for cutlery - overall definitely not worth paying 12.5% service charge. I definitely won't bother going back. A disappointing experience.
Comment on this reader review

QZ - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 1
Thursday, August 21, 2008

Popped into The House for an ipromptu Sunday lunch. Found the decor and ambience more than satisfactory. However, sadly it was all down hill from there! As we were seated we were informed that there were only 2 portions of the duck. Hence, our decision to order it immediately. However, 15 minutes later the waier casually announced we were too late, we politel accepted this fact and ordered some wine. Having Having ordered a 2004 we had expected a 2005, yet the waier beezily brought over and opened a 2005. After being question about is selection - he brazenly told us they were out of 2004 - without a hint of apology. Diasppointing service spoiled an othwerise decent meal.

As with so many places in London - poor service from staff who seem to be oblivious to the fact they are in the "service"industry.

Additionally, the service charge is sneakily tacked on to the bil. I wouldn't mind paying - if only I were to receive it....

To conclude, I will not return, but give it a chance, you never know...
Comment on this reader review

Marcus
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 4
Friday, January 25, 2008