Anchor & Hope

I've eaten dinner here three times in the past month and each time it's been fantastic. Really good starters and mains and excellent desserts.

Two of the times I was with quite a few people and we had their joint of meat to share, the first time beef, the second time lamb. Both were excellent.

Great prices too for what you're getting. Portions are very filling, just one thing to bear in mind if you're planning on having three courses.

It can get very busy and due to the no-booking policy you might have to wait for a while. Due to the popularity of the place they can run out of certain dishes. My advice is go early, around 6pm, put your name down and then enjoy a drink or two at the bar.

Yes it can get noisy so don't go through for a romantic meal. If Nigel Slater ran a restaurant, this is the food he would be serving.

I've eaten at several Michelin starred restaurants in London but for the quality, simply and delicious food the Anchor & Hope offers this is now one of my favourite places in London to eat.
Comment on this reader review

Patrick
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Went on a monday night at 7pm and it was already pretty packed. A group of 5, we were told that we would have to wait an hour and a half for a table, which was annoying, but then the waitress said that a table in the non-restaurant bit would leave in 10mins so we could have that one. So basically impressed with how good she was and how much the staff in general care. I reckon coming as a pair or maybe a three would be fine most of the time, as there were always a few seats dotted around, you just have to be flexible.

We then chose to wait 50mins for the lamb shoulder, and it was worth it. This place is apparently famous for it's slow-cooked meats and you can tell, as it was perfectly tender and tasted delicious. The potatos that came with it were also great, though we should have had some beans or something as well.

With a few bottles of wine and some good desserts, we paid £40 which was pretty good comsidering. I'll definitely be going back.
Comment on this reader review

Stephen H - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Dinner on Saturday night.

Atmosphere:

quite nice , a bit posh , but half of the peolple eating there didn't loo that posh.

Food:

lamb was nice , the pork head reminded me of those chicken nuggets you get for £1.99, heavy and deep deep fried.

Service:

forget it.... every 20 minutes they run out of a dish, even the chocolate ice cream.

I noticed the last one one hour before the waitres did.

We ask for a lemonade 3 times and after half an hour we finally received it , few minutes after our bill.

Anyway it is just a pub.!!!!!
Comment on this reader review

Francesco Lentini
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 6
Monday, September 03, 2007

The delicious food, fine beer and lively atmosphere rightly pulls in the crowds. The only problem is getting a table and the staff can be too busy to help out. What is needed is some type of queuing system and some clarity about what you are supposed to do to get a table.
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Sunday, August 05, 2007

Get there early for a table - otherwise buy a couple of bottles of wine and enjoy a 2 hour wait. Staff come alive when you engage them in talking about the food and wine. Agree with other reviews that this is one of the top gastropubs in London..
Comment on this reader review

Duncan
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, August 01, 2007

Had my birthday at the Anchor and Hope on a Tuesday night.

THere were 8 of us...and although we had to wait until 10pm before a table (it is really busy and you cannot book) it was worth every minute. The food is superb. Fresh, beautifully prepared and well portioned.

Fantastic!

The atmosphere is great too...

And although it gets HECTICALLY busy the staff still manage to muster up a smile!
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, July 25, 2007

I was hoping this pub lived up to all the good reviews and it certainly did. It really does leave other gastropubs in the shade.

The service was friendly and efficient and the food superb. Well seasoned, well proportioned, tasty and lots of fresh ingredients. My rabbit and tomato jus was very good and my wife's lop-eared pork truly excellent.

It was a pleasure eating in such a friendly, relaxed atmosphere and we will certainly return - sooner rather than later.
Comment on this reader review

Matthew
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Sunday, July 15, 2007

Had Saturday lunch here on the weekend. It really has gone downhill since it opened.

Food was very very average. Disappointing.

Entrees were passable but forgettable.

Wolf fish and (dried out/chewy) mussels main course had a crab sauce (swimming in a puddle of watery substance) which I can only compare to dirty dish water (and I think that would have tasted better). Pork with tonnato sauce - a cold dish of slices of pork with a cream sauce was a bit odd and not very pleasant. The cream sauce killing the taste of (what was possibly) tasty pork.

After dinner coffee was burnt.

On a positive note: Desert - chocolate cake and peack cake were fabulous. Beer and wine was affordable and good.
Comment on this reader review

Nadine
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 6
Monday, July 09, 2007

Ate the best dish I've had all year here recently. Came in fairly late so had to wait a considerable time for a table, but, as always it was worth it. We had suckling kid breast, fennel and white beans for two and a portion of asparagus. Absolutely cracking. Friendly service from the busy staff and very good value.
Comment on this reader review

Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Saturday, June 30, 2007

just got home from 66 Queen Street... the sister restaurant of Anchor & Hope... and what can i say except fantastic fantastic fantastic... it's what we have been waiting for...

it's got a great atmosphere... friendly, relaxed and well cooked food you simply must enjoy... ...

this place is packed every evening but somehow the staff all seem to have a genuine smile... oh and did i mention one very gorgeous owner???
Comment on this reader review

matilda
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, June 07, 2007