Builders Arms — Restaurant in London

New Barnet is a dreary place with very few nice places to eat and certainly nowhere to find a decent coffee either. The only options are horrible pizza / chicken diner type places and wetherspoons nearby.

The reason I go to the Builders Arms so often is because of the AMAZING food. Its like a secret delight tucked into a dreary pocket of Barnet. They have a team of real bona-fide Thai cooks who make divine, real Thai food and every dish is only 5 pounds. Delicious curries, stir fries and Pad Thai dishes and only for a fiver. Great value. Even prawns and beef for that price. Far better quality compared than any other restaurant or pub fare in the area.

The staff and owners of the pub are super friendly.

The only small negatives are that its not easy to find and is really hidden behind Wetherspoons, and also, the decor is very 'pubby'. Some days I just want to read my kindle and eat a lovely meal and its not too comfortable. The wetherspoons nearby have gotten this right (but nothing else) by offering soft and comfy furnishings which dont feel wooden and beer soaked. Id come in there more often if they could also make a decent coffee but I guess they are making their money from the booze

But the Thai food is outstanding - and Im transported to...

As a pub it's a great place to go to. The owners have made it really lovely and homely. The low rating is because of their £10.95 Sunday roast, it's like they were advertising it but not prepared. 3 of us ate here. The food arrived, it looked lovely, the plate was piping hot but the food luke warm to going cold, my guest wolfed theirs down cos they were starved, I asked the staff if they'd blast mine in the microwave, 10mins later my food came back, but still the veg was luke warm, like they had forgotten and left it sitting. We had to wait for cutlery for a couple of minutes. I think if they're serving food, it should be piping hot, with cutlery at the same time or before. For £10.95 each plus drinks , my guest said it was an experience but not again thanks. So as a local I was disappointed, especially that my guest didn't enjoy it. I would definitely change this review to a 5 star if I eat here again and it's a better experience. Great pub but not the £10.95 Sunday...

I was working in New Barnet for a few days and found this lovely little town pub tucked behind the Wetherspoons. Don't go in the Spoons! Go around the corner, the Builder's is 20 metres down the road. Excellent Greene King beers, reasonably priced for London, super front bar and a clever use of the outside space which was good for a summer afternoon, but also has gas burners and lights for evenings and somewhere called a Fun House, which all looks most fun indeed. Staff very friendly, so too the clientele. A very good find in a London 'village' not often explored. Very good. I may be back at the end of my...