Anchor & Hope

I go to this fairly regulary and have raved about it in the past, although recently (in the last year) standards have definitely slipped a bit. I dont know if they have changed the chef, but the food is definitely not hitting its previous heights.

Had a couple of disappointing meals where the standard of ingredients and cooking could definitely have been improved. On one visit, I had a very odd tasting crab soup to start, followed by rabbit, which was not up to much, and as I had an excellent rabbit in the tate modern cafe a couple weeks earlier, I had a good frame of reference to make a comparison.

These disappointments led me to consider the A&H "on probation", and on the most recent visit I did have a very good rib of beef - but given the price, it should of been good!

The A&H is not off the hook yet though, so come on guys, pull your finger out!
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Ed
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Friday, June 27, 2008

I cant believe the reviews below! I am a regular now to this amazing place, frequenting it at least twice a month. Yes sometimes the service could be a little quicker, and the wait can be annoying, but the food is always amazing! I have introduced my friends to this place and everyone adores it, especially the set sunday lunch! I take my parents everytime they are in london.
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, June 13, 2008

Went for a meal with friends and was very disappointed. Had to wait for an hour for food. Had to ask the waiter why the food was taking so long - on second time asking he told us that one of the dishes had been dropped on the floor and they were recooking it. Fair enough.

When the meals came to the table, it was clear that the other dishes had been sat around for the fifteen minutes or so it took to recook the dropped meal. My pie was lukewarm and the pastry was sodden with the gravy it had sat in for 15 minutes.

Attempts to discuss with the head waitress were met with "I will come and talk to you in a minute - we are very busy". She never came, and I will not be returning.

A shame, because the starter of pickled herring was excellent.
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Colster73
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 1
Wednesday, April 09, 2008

After a break of about a year, I returned to the Anchor and Hope for their set, no choice, £30 Sunday lunch. It was, frankly, a disaster. The starter was a garlic soup which tasted as though raw garlic had simpy been boiled in unsalted water and roughly blended, being both harsh and flavourless at the same time. The main was a slice of beef rib, two boiled potatos and a wedge of greens, all cold and all unseasoned. The manager did take money off the bill after I complained but continued to insist that this was great food...the implication being I suppose that I just didn't 'get it'. Actually, I appreciate unfussy, ingredients driven food, however if you offer no choice on the menu, and if the food is so paired down (sparse even) the execution of the dishes must be near perfect, not indifferent or worse. On the question of value for money, set lunch at Marcus Wareing's 2 star Petrus is the same price; need I say more?
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rob
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Had a nice meal here a couple of months ago. Went again with friends last night and, I am sad to say, it was very disappointing. Put name down at 7.30, shown to table at 9.50. We accepted all this with good spirit, it did seem particularly busy.

Having placed our order for a Chicken Pithivier, Roast Middlewhite, Faggot and a Rabbit for 2, we spent the next 50 minutes watching the kitchen staff plod around preparing our, and a few other tables' meals. There were no more than 4 orders on the pass so the lack of urgency was rather annoying. When the food finally arrived it was stone cold. We pointed this out to our server and were told that the Pithivier was supposed to be like that. Absolute nonsense, a Pithiver should be served warm at best! As for the rest of the food, how anyone can think that the plates on which the food is served should be warmer than the food itself is completely beyond me! The Manager did apologise and gave us a complimentary bottle of wine - a nice gesture which, sadly, did not compensate for a sub-standard dining experience.

The food here is tasty and well thoght out. Where the Anchor and Hope fails to deliver is in its execution of the food and, to some degree, its customer service.
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Al
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 5
Sunday, March 02, 2008

I had a terrible experience at the Anchor and Hope last night. Having put our name on the waiting list at 6.30pm we were told at 7.40pm that it would be within the hour that we would be seated. So I returned to the bar at 8.30pm and asked politely if we could have an estimate of when we might get a table. The blond woman in charge of bookings started to scream at me that we had already asked twice, and it was going to make no difference to whether we got seated. And that I should just stop hastling her. As I moved off in offence she continued to scream at me across the bar getting louder and louder as I walked away. Quite frankly the food would have to be made of gold to make me want to put up with that kind of rudeness. She was horrible. I won't be going anywhere near that place again.
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Charlotte Nutt
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, February 06, 2008

A rather abrupt word of warning to those of you who don't like the idea of waiting, like faffy over-attentive table service and pristeen plates of vertically constructed food on white linen: don't even bother, you won't like here.

Probably my sixth visit and just as good as ever - the staples don't change here amongst the daily changing menu because they're just damn good. Crab on toast, beetroot watercress and horseradish salad, shoulder for lamb for 5 with dauphinoise potatoes, rib of beef with big chips. Good, hearty portions of spectacularly well cooked food served by overly busy (it can be difficult to get their attention at times) and yet light-hearted and knowledgeable staff who are always happy to recommend something off the menu.

6 of us ate - 4 starters, the lamb for 5 and a cassoulet for 2 for main and even a couple of desserts washed down with 3 bottles of wine for about £35 each.

Pound for pound London's best eating experience if you don't go in for fussy dining.
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Richard, SE3
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Thursday, January 24, 2008

I've eaten here ten times or so and honestly believe that there is nowhere around that can compete with it at what it does. It certainly isn't the place to go if you want a quiet meal with efficient waiting times. Rather, it is great to go with a group of friends for a lively evening. You can expect to sit in the bar for an hour or so (on average) but the drinks are reasonably priced and atmosphere convivial. The food itself feels is sublime and portions excellent. Only criticism regards a limited choice of beers at the bar.
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Friday, January 18, 2008

For all the people complaining that they don't take bookings. They do on Sundays - so if you want to be assured of a table at the time you want then book for a Sunday and have a long lunch.
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Patrick Cain
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Sunday, December 09, 2007

Fantastic Atmosphere surpassed only by the food. Save room for a dessert.

Very reasonable Wine List. Like all decent Egalitarian restaurants get there early to secure a table.
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rubble - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, November 29, 2007