The Junction Tavern

It's difficult to get past the waiting staff at the Junction Tavern.

Whilst the food I've had on the number of occasions I have been there is fair to above average, the service has always been either absent or downright rude.

On my last visit, after being seated, I was moved as, apparently, another diner had specifically requested the table I was at. In a gastropub?

At other times I have had to ask for plates to be cleared and for further service I'd expect as normal, such as the dessert menu and so on.

It's a shame as on most other counts, including the wine list and real ale selection, the Junction Tavern is a winner.
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David - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 4
Wednesday, July 25, 2007

I would agree with the above complimentary comments if it wasn't for the pub's current management. This is a lovely building, with a fine selection of beers and always used to be friendly. The current management clearly do not value the customers. Many of my friends who have been going there for years have left and gone elsewhere for a pint but I have tried to remain loyal. However, it is becoming difficult when the senior staff seem determined to sneer and scourn their way through the evening making the customers and other members of staff very uncomfortable. I hope something is done soon so I can get back to enjoying my local pub again.
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Mike Matthews
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 5
Wednesday, July 25, 2007

The Junction Tavern has been my local for about five years and has always been a well-deserved favourite among North Londoners. The interior is wonderful - cosy and welcoming in winter and offering a great garden and conservatory in summer. The food has improved recently with a change in chef although, like most gastro-pubs in the vicinity it is rather pricey. Reading the other reviews here I felt that I must have a totally different experience with the service, which I have always felt (with one or two exceptions) to be pompous, indifferent and often unfriendly. Furthermore, it is not a place to be at closing time: you will be served a bottle of wine at 11 o'clock and will have been asked to leave three times by 11.10. Seemingly ignorant of the 20 minutes 'drinking up' rule, the staff put chairs on tables as soon as the bell for last orders rings, making the last customers feel rather uncomfortable and unwelcome.

This is really my only complaint, and it will not deter me from my favourite and long-standing local - I just try not to go for a late drink anymore.
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rachel
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Thee Junction Tavern is just so so much better than the Oxford down the road, in terms of service, atmosphere, and the food just can't be compared. The food at the Junction is unusually mouthwateringly delicious.....
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Saturday, June 02, 2007

The menu's very attractive, it's quite a nice bright, naturally-lit atmosphere to go into, and I've had a couple of reasonablly OK lunches here, though I don't personally think the food or service is as good as in the Oxford down the hill in Kentish Town. I found the service in JT quite slow and casual, and the food patchy in quality. The real downer is that (like the Oxford, and so many other places still in Camden and the WE) it's defiantly 'smoking throughout', so tends to attract heavy smokers/drinkers fairly indifferent to what they eat. Each time I've been there someone has been holding a ciggie as a joss-stick in retro-50s fashion, while scanning the paper or mobile-phoning for an hour, only a foot away from my table. ('We're just going to wait for July' said the staff indifferently when I asked about areas/tables for those allergic to smoke.) It's also quite noisy, perhaps an acoustic result of the stripped wooden everything and tables close together.

Maybe the 'boss' was absent each time I've been. I felt it cried out for pro-active leadership. I might try again, but not until after July.
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JohnT
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 5
Thursday, March 15, 2007

A really good option in Tufnell Park - nice service, lovely food and a good atmosphere. Very reasonably priced, though sometimes the portions are too big. For instance, the vegetarian mains are usually accompanied by the world's biggest side serving of rocket that can overwhelm somewhat. But that's a very minor gripe, as it's lovely to have a local like this.
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whipped
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Thursday, October 12, 2006

Had a meal here the other night. It was lovely. Me & my partner sat in the garden then moved into the conservatory which was very 'romantic' with its soft lamps. nice & busy but not rowdy for a Tuesday. Lovely food & great staff. Will definetly go back soon.
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phil
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Thursday, June 29, 2006

I went there with a friend and we had a grand time...my friend and I have this passion for food and suffice to say the steak was impeccably done[rare]. The Rioja tasted exceptionally good. The atmosphere was great together with the reception. The helpings were really huge as well, so i'd say it was good value for money. I'd say Pukka. I hope to visit there again sometime.
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Gina Inu-Umoru
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Enjoyed a really great Sunday lunch here yesterday, the place was heaving, but the staff kept cool. Nice touch about offering the Brouilly chilled, someone on the bar knows what they're doing! An excellent roast beef followed by apple crumble - fancied a snooze by the fire afterwards but the bar was too full. Oh well, next time....
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Ray Stephenson
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Monday, February 13, 2006

What a great pub. Although the front area was booked up on a Sunday night, we were shown to a table in the conservatory which was lovely and romantic and then had great service and a really nice meal, at good value prices. We've just moved in and decided it will now be our local. The table next to us had brought trivial pursuit and were making a night of it. Excellent.
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Kathy
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Monday, January 30, 2006