I've not commented on this, and I should have done, but since my praise about the Blackheath Standard it's gone through several new managers and most definitely entered a bit of a slump when it comes to the quality of the food.
A number of my friends have now given up on eating there and this lead me to return to the Princess Alice. A couple of years ago it used to be a part of the Brewers Fayre chain but then it closed down, it's been reopened by Crown Carveries for a while now but I hadn't been back there until recently.
Aside from a handful of other dishes all they really do is roast dinners, which was exactly what we were after. On a Sunday a roast dinner was about £6.50, in the week I think it was about half the price. For the money we had a choice of beef, turkey or gammon and as many vegetables as you can handle.
Was it any good? Yes it was, better than the last few roasts I've had at the Standard. True enough I have had better but this was good solid food and everyone was happy.
We all had desserts too which also pleased us all.
If there is a downside it's the location (opposite Belmarsh Prison) and that some of the other clientele seemed to be suffering from the "I can't tell my child to sit down and behave in a public restaurant" disease that seems to afflict so many people there days.
Still all things told for the large family group of us, including children, that went it was a good option and I think we'll be returning there.
Princess Alice
2a Battery Road
Thamesmead
London
SE28 0JS
Tel: 0208 3177847
PS: Oh and as for the Blackheath Standard they have recently brought in a new menu and the manager's said that things will improve so I should check it out...
Showing posts with label Pubs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pubs. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
The Royal Standard, Blackheath
I don't often comment about pubs, that's not because I don't go to them but just because I either drink away from the area or find a pub and stick to it.
Anyway I've been to the Royal Standard in Blackheath a few times now and I'm quite taken with it. It used to seem a bit grotty to me but recently it's undergone a bit of an overhaul and some nice seats, tables and a new menu has come in.
Between my friends and I we've had a few of the meals and in particular we can recommend the Sausages & Mash (which comes in a big Yorkshire pudding) and the Thai Curry (though the prawn cracker is comes with is a touch on the bizarre side). Basically it all seems to be good solid pub fare.
There's a few ales & bitter, including Speckled Hen and Spitfire, on tap too which considering I'm not a big lager fan is a good thing to find.
Looking back I think I've visited it at a variety of times and never found it too crowded.
So a thumbs up from me anyway, and that about sums up the Royal Standard.
Anyway I've been to the Royal Standard in Blackheath a few times now and I'm quite taken with it. It used to seem a bit grotty to me but recently it's undergone a bit of an overhaul and some nice seats, tables and a new menu has come in.
Between my friends and I we've had a few of the meals and in particular we can recommend the Sausages & Mash (which comes in a big Yorkshire pudding) and the Thai Curry (though the prawn cracker is comes with is a touch on the bizarre side). Basically it all seems to be good solid pub fare.
There's a few ales & bitter, including Speckled Hen and Spitfire, on tap too which considering I'm not a big lager fan is a good thing to find.
Looking back I think I've visited it at a variety of times and never found it too crowded.
So a thumbs up from me anyway, and that about sums up the Royal Standard.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Bar 38 @ West India Quay
After the Museum in Docklands, see previous entry, we were hungry and went looking for food. Bar 38 just down the quay was the place selected and in we trotted. I've been to Bar 38 for drinks a few times and in my opinion it's a trendy bar that's a tad overpriced and overbusy. This was the weekend though and the area's much quieter so in we went.
In "gastro pubs" I'm often never quite sure how it works, do you wait to be seated? Should you order at the bar? We went in and grabbed a table and then I had to hunt down a member of staff to find out how the food worked. It turns out you do order from your table rather than the bar. Once that had been sorted out, and I must admit I was a tad impatient and anxious as to what I was meant to be doing so maybe someone would have come over soon enough.
Sausage and Mash and Steak and Ale pie were ordered and arrived promptly enough.
I was keen on the Sausage and Mash, always a favourite of mine in a nice pub. A bit lacking on the gravy but the sausages were very nice with a generous portion of Mash.
The Pie didn't seem to be quite as good. It had only one decent sized chunk of steak in it which I happened to nab when I was offered a taster, the rest were much smaller and therefore in an inverse proportion to my guilt. Once again there wasn't quite enough gravy but it was admitted that what there was was very nice indeed. The Broccoli that came with it were done just right in my opinion, the orderer considering it an evil vegetable and not wanting it, cooked by crunchy.
So the food was on the good side of things.
I had some beers, which were fine. However my companion ordered a Woo Woo cocktail and was rather let down. It tasted a bit watered down, lacking in colour as well as flavour. A shame as she was looking forward to it.
It was rather pricey, the drinks especially, but all told it wasn't at all bad.
Oh and they've got almost unisex loos, a shared hand washing area with ladies and gents on different sides, still confusing when you first walk in and are desperate not to go the wrong way....
In "gastro pubs" I'm often never quite sure how it works, do you wait to be seated? Should you order at the bar? We went in and grabbed a table and then I had to hunt down a member of staff to find out how the food worked. It turns out you do order from your table rather than the bar. Once that had been sorted out, and I must admit I was a tad impatient and anxious as to what I was meant to be doing so maybe someone would have come over soon enough.
Sausage and Mash and Steak and Ale pie were ordered and arrived promptly enough.
I was keen on the Sausage and Mash, always a favourite of mine in a nice pub. A bit lacking on the gravy but the sausages were very nice with a generous portion of Mash.
The Pie didn't seem to be quite as good. It had only one decent sized chunk of steak in it which I happened to nab when I was offered a taster, the rest were much smaller and therefore in an inverse proportion to my guilt. Once again there wasn't quite enough gravy but it was admitted that what there was was very nice indeed. The Broccoli that came with it were done just right in my opinion, the orderer considering it an evil vegetable and not wanting it, cooked by crunchy.
So the food was on the good side of things.
I had some beers, which were fine. However my companion ordered a Woo Woo cocktail and was rather let down. It tasted a bit watered down, lacking in colour as well as flavour. A shame as she was looking forward to it.
It was rather pricey, the drinks especially, but all told it wasn't at all bad.
Oh and they've got almost unisex loos, a shared hand washing area with ladies and gents on different sides, still confusing when you first walk in and are desperate not to go the wrong way....
Thursday, October 19, 2006
The Antigallican
The Antigallican's finally reopened for days other than match days. It's been being refurbished for a few months now and has a sporadically open over the last few weeks. In all honesty it might have been opened for a little while and I've only just noticed it. However on Saturday there was a sign outside saying that it was open 12 to 12, I had some friends coming around that evening so I gave it a go.
So what did I think?
Well it's actually rather nice, the colour scheme reminded me of my living room so it all felt quite homey. There's a fair number of sofa's scattered around and they had nightlights lit all around. The owner's have been to Ikea more than once though, some of the furnishings look very familiar.
There was a downside though, it was dead quiet, I think there was only another two or three people in there. They were also playing some music channel that was up way too loud, it went even louder during the frequent ad breaks. Not pleasant.
After Saturday the chance came up again to revisit it with someone else. I went back when they were showing a football match and it was actually reasonably busy which was nice to see. He quite liked it too, I'm sure we'll return soon.
The big question I've got though is will it survive? They've gone for a quite an "up market" feel (or maybe it's just me that's very low market). It's in a bit of an odd place stuck between Charlton Village itself and the wilderness of the Yuppie Village. I guess in the end though they just need to pull in enough punters in the lull between match days when they're as full as a little egg. Fingers crossed.
Oh and get some nice guest ales on tap if you'd be so kind.
That and turn the music down.
Good luck though!
So what did I think?
Well it's actually rather nice, the colour scheme reminded me of my living room so it all felt quite homey. There's a fair number of sofa's scattered around and they had nightlights lit all around. The owner's have been to Ikea more than once though, some of the furnishings look very familiar.
There was a downside though, it was dead quiet, I think there was only another two or three people in there. They were also playing some music channel that was up way too loud, it went even louder during the frequent ad breaks. Not pleasant.
After Saturday the chance came up again to revisit it with someone else. I went back when they were showing a football match and it was actually reasonably busy which was nice to see. He quite liked it too, I'm sure we'll return soon.
The big question I've got though is will it survive? They've gone for a quite an "up market" feel (or maybe it's just me that's very low market). It's in a bit of an odd place stuck between Charlton Village itself and the wilderness of the Yuppie Village. I guess in the end though they just need to pull in enough punters in the lull between match days when they're as full as a little egg. Fingers crossed.
Oh and get some nice guest ales on tap if you'd be so kind.
That and turn the music down.
Good luck though!
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