Crown & Greyhound — Restaurant in London

A beautiful and commanding pub in Dulwich Village. However I have a love, hate relationship with “The dog” pub. I'd love to like it but I'm nearly always disappointed. Its biggest selling points are location and it's lovely interior and outside spaces. However in all the time I've been visiting (over 10 years) their service has always been lacking. I've never felt staff have the basic knowledge needed for the service industry nor has it ever had strong and/or visible management. Too many "kids" with no pub experience working behind the bar and on the floor. No energy, few smiles, often scruffy with no product knowledge. They’re mostly busy being unproductive. Yesterday it was painful to watch 3 different staff members clear a dirty, empty, small table one after the other and still leaving it dirty! Not an unusual experience. I normally go here for beers on their craft tap but they’re all to frequently out of stock. They regularly have 2/3 sometimes 4 beers off. On my prior visit 4 beers off with only Meantime available as a pale ale offering. I've never like Meantime so left. With M&B (Mitchell and Butler) buying power their beers but more specifically their food and wine prices are overly expensive verses quality. I was pleasantly surprised to only pay £6.05 of my enjoyable pint of California IPA!? They often charge around the £6.50 mark for beers you'd pay 50p to 80p less for in more beer-focused pubs. This irritates me knowing they pay less for their beers than real independent pubs but often charge more for them. I haven’t seen any focus or move to organic products with none of their wines on the list being organic or biodynamic. I’d suggest leaving most of the lower to mid range wines alone, with only some of the higher end wines being more palatable but needing to pay over £30 for the pleasure is a big ask. Their food offering is dull and the usual bland, bought in pub chain affair, frozen and pre-package with little cooking going on here. Having read their long disclaimer on the menu I have little confidence. M&B's pitch their castle inn pubs as looking and feeling independent but as soon as you open you’re eyes and think of their scale and buying power its not a good offering or good value for money. There are plenty good local pubs all be it a long but worth while walk away making their own food from scratch using better quality products which don’t charge £14.50 for a poor burger or £15 for frozen fish and chips, that serve better wines, beers and have far, far superior service. If you lower your expectations it’s a great place for a pint in the sun. I will continue to drop in for a pint but not much else because quite frankly there isn’t another...

We recently had the pleasure of dining at the Crown & Greyhound restaurant, and we must say, it was an outstanding experience from start to finish, largely thanks to Ashley. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was warm and inviting. The Crown & Greyhound, nestled in the heart of Dulwich, boasts a charming blend of traditional British pub vibes with a modern twist. The decor is both stylish and comfortable, making it the perfect place for a relaxed meal. Ashley was simply phenomenal. Her friendly demeanor and genuine enthusiasm for the menu made us feel right at home. She took the time to explain the specials and offered excellent recommendations, showcasing her extensive knowledge of the dishes. It was evident that she truly cared about our dining experience. Throughout our meal, she checked in on us just the right amount, ensuring we had everything we needed without being intrusive. The food itself was delicious. We enjoyed a variety of dishes, all made with fresh, seasonal ingredients. The flavors were exquisite, and each plate was beautifully presented. The Crown & Greyhound has clearly prioritized quality and provenance in their offerings, which made our meal even more enjoyable. Moreover, the drinks selection was impressive, featuring a range of craft beers, wines, and artisan spirits. Ashley was more than happy to suggest pairings that complemented our meal perfectly. In addition to the fantastic service and food, the outdoor beer garden was a lovely spot to unwind after our meal. It’s a delightful space that adds to the overall charm of the restaurant. In summary, if you're looking for a top-notch dining experience in Dulwich, I highly recommend the Crown & Greyhound. Be sure to ask for Ashley—her exceptional service will undoubtedly enhance your visit! Thank you, Ashley, for making our evening...

Dined here for Sunday roast after hearing good reviews. Booked a table for 6 in advance.

We were sat in table in the back of the restaurant next to a very large party of approx 20 people. It was exceptionally hot in there. We asked the waitress if it would be possible to be moved into another part of the restaurant, of which we could see numerous empty tables. However, we were told it was not possible but that we could ask the host if we really wanted. It seemed quite inappropriate to accept a booking for such a large group in such a small space with other guests there. It might have been more suitable for them to be in a function room.

After being sat for about twenty minutes, still nobody had taken our drinks order. We caught the eye of the waitress, and when we asked if we could order some drinks, she told us that she thought we had already been seen to.

Wines and drinks were brought out as ordered, but the current wine glasses on the table weren’t cleared until we specifically asked. We also asked for tap water which did not come out. In total, we had to ask three times before the tap water came out. When it did finally arrive, the waitress just put it on our table without saying anything or even smiling!

The roast itself. It was okay, I had the beef, which I enjoyed. The potatoes were a cause for concern by all at the table. We all felt that they were unimpressive. Cooked but by no means crispy or flavoursome at all. Gravy and veg was nice.

We asked to look at the desert menu. When the waitress brought us the desert menu, she just silently slid them onto our table. Again, no interaction or even smile. Very bizarre. Did not order desert as we were disheartened by main and service.

I wonder if we just had a bad day on service and food. Either way, I don’t think we...