The Dove Freehouse and Kitchen

Having eaten everything on the menu, I can safely say that there is nothing on the menu which rates higher than average. The Sunday roast should be avoided at all costs as the veg was clearly cooked in a deep fat fryer, the 'roast potatoes' also suffering the same fate and the meat a kind of homogenised grey colour leaving me undecided as to what animal it was sourced.
Comment on this reader review

Nick Weston
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 3
Wednesday, January 23, 2008

What a shame. A fantastic location, pretty and homely main room, and excellent selection of beers are badly let downby food just the wrong side of mediocre and a real attitude problem. The manager is extremely rude and even a bit threatening to customers. Several times I've seen him throwing out parties of people for being too noisy (they weren't), or swearing at dissatisfied patrons at the bar. Word seems to be getting around about the atmosphere and the Dove is less crowded than it used to be. Best wait until it moves into new hands.
Comment on this reader review

Kelsey - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 3
Saturday, January 19, 2008

I have moved to the area about 8 months ago and have now had time to visit many of the local pubs and the Dove wins hands down. It is cosy friendly and yes the crowd is 'cool' and because it gets very busy it is sometimes difficult to get a table. But its worth the wait. The food is 'home style' always generous portions and served by great staff. Prices are high, but where aren't they. Oh yes Witherspoons.

Anyhow give it a go, my experience is that only people who are pissed off write bad reviews - the Doves clearly busy and loyal following speaks for itself.
Comment on this reader review

boty tawdry
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, November 14, 2007

This is one of my locals and I really wish it was better. It's a great setting and the beer is good, but it's really let down by the attitude of the staff which fluctuates between disinterest and downright rudeness.

The food is over-priced and mediocre at best. My moules frites was about half the size you would expect for a tenner - the amount of chips didn't even reach double figures. My partner's Sunday roast was overcooked and looked like it had been slopped up in a prison canteen.

They charge 50p for all card payments - I run a small independent bar and get charged 28p for every card transaction so they are not covering their costs - they are using it as a way to make money. They won't let you leave your card behind the bar and run a tab so you get hit with the 50p charge every time you buy a drink.

The Dove has so much potential and the idea behind it is good, it's just a shame it is being run in this way. It's always busy so they probably feel they don't have to make any effort but I for one won't be returning.
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 2
Monday, October 22, 2007

I have just read the reviews for The Dove.

Having worked there on and off for 5/6 years-the lasat time being over 3 and a half years ago, I disagree with some of your poor comments on the food.

All the food is freshly prepared and is always trying to do something different. i have not been there recently but, I cannot believe that the standard has gone down so much.

As for the beers, It is the best pub in London by a mile...Where else will you get 6,7,8 Belgian draught beers as welll as their extensive range of bottled beers-each one has a special glass...(over a hundred)....i especially reccomend the Rochefort 8, 10 and the different guises of Hoegaarden....

Ignore the crappy reviews and enjoy a great day at the Dove...especially Sundays....

Lincoln
Comment on this reader review

lincoln
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Monday, August 06, 2007

I've read a few of the reviews and agree that The Dove is not as great as it used to be. We had an Easter of eating and went here for the first time in a year to have lunch. The staff behind the bar seemed unaware of what it was they were serving in terms of food or drink nor as friendly as previous times. We were overcharged for the 'posh' fish and chips and when the food arrived it was cold and the fat chips were solid inside and charred outside. To be fair, the guy behind the bar was extremely apologetic when we sent the food back and refunded us without query, but it's just a shame what used to be a great place has gone so downhill. Like I said in my review of The Cat And Mutton, I'll be taking my custom to the Spurstowe - which incidentally isn't listed on here and definitely should be - a gem of a pub, we only recently found after a year of living in Hackney, with friendly bar staff and a menu that changes every week.
Comment on this reader review

Carla
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 5
Friday, April 13, 2007

While I agree that the atmosphere and décor of this pub is fantastic, and the service not too bad, I certainly wont be going back again. Ive eaten twice there now and although the food is ok, it is expensive for what it is (£9 for a small bowl of beef stew that was ok but nothing better than what the stalls outside were selling for half the price), and I cant help but find the ‘Posh fish and Chips’ slightly patronising, because ‘Posh’ does not mean a small portion of over coked fish, under cooked potato wedges and mayonnaise disguising itself as tartar sauce. The foods not really nice enough to call it pretentious, its just a bit rubbish.

Im from East London and really appreciate the regeneration that has gone into this area of London in recent years, there are great places to eat with organic and locally sourced produce, great bars and a fantastic atmosphere where once stood a deeply deprived area. Restaurants like this are just exploiting the people that have moved here in recent years. There are much better places to eat along the same stretch of road, better quality with similar prices, just as trendy and just as nice.
Comment on this reader review

Gemma
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 3
Wednesday, November 29, 2006

The service is pretty shocking in this pub. Food arriving at different times, also not getting orders right. The final person's meal turned up after everyone else had finished and had their plates cleared away. The manager is unbelievably rude and obviously needs to go on a customer service course.

On the plus side the food is nice and it is a nice setting.

But because of the manager, none of my friends nor I will be visiting the Dove again. Well, until there is a change in management.
Comment on this reader review

Darren
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 2
Tuesday, October 10, 2006

lets be honest, anyone who has ever been to the dove knows that the beer is amazing...the food is fantastic....the staff are charming.....the only thing wrong with the dove is the manager, who is constantly and very conspicuously incredibly rude to his staff, who actually always seem to be working hard and not worthy of his constant shouting. The manager is a man who can never be pleased and it would be great to boycott the dove purly because of him, but i can't stay away from the place due to: the other people in there, the beer, the food, and the underated staff (who i feel very sorry for).
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 5
Friday, August 04, 2006

Great beer, not so great food, I'd agree. But the personal comments don't belong in a review - be constructive.
Comment on this reader review

katie
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 6
Friday, July 21, 2006