Paddy’s Yard — Restaurant in London

A Disappointing Fusion of Irish & Caribbean Cuisine

I had high hopes for Paddy’s Yard, excited by the promise of a fusion between Irish and Caribbean flavors. As an Irish person, I was looking forward to experiencing a menu that blended the best of both cultures. Unfortunately, my visit with a group of friends—including two fellow chefs—was nothing short of disappointing.

The issues started early when our mains arrived before our starters, setting the tone for an evening of disorganization. When the starters finally did come out, they were underwhelming. The saltfish fritters lacked seasoning and barely tasted of saltfish, which was a letdown considering their strong Caribbean roots. The honey jerk wings, which I ordered with high expectations, were dry and coated in what tasted like plain jerk seasoning—there was no depth of flavor, no sweetness from the honey, just an overwhelming dryness. The mac and cheese balls were perhaps the biggest disappointment; instead of being creamy and indulgent, they had the texture of a roux and were completely bland.

For the mains, two of us ordered the curry goat, which did have some flavor, but was loaded with bones, making it a struggle to eat. Everything else on the plate was lacking, with no balance or seasoning to bring it together. The Yorkshire pudding—an unusual but interesting addition—was unfortunately dense and more like bread rather than the light, airy texture it should have had. The Irish Roast Beef Sunday roast was the only dish in our group that received any praise, as one friend actually enjoyed it. However, that was the sole highlight in an otherwise disappointing meal.

On top of the food being subpar, the service was chaotic. Some of our drinks arrived late—two even came with the mains rather than before. That being said, the servers themselves were friendly and apologetic, which softened the blow slightly, but it didn’t make up for the poor experience.

It’s a real shame because the concept of blending Irish and Caribbean flavors is fantastic, but the execution at Paddy’s Yard was far from it. Between the lackluster food and disorganized service, I wouldn’t return. If they can refine their recipes, improve their flavors, and sort out their service flow, there might be potential, but as it stands, I can’t...

I recently visited Paddy’s Yard in Brixton and really loved the concept of blending Caribbean and Irish influences it’s unique and full of potential! The staff were incredibly attentive, friendly, and genuinely contributed to a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

One highlight for me was having Red Stripe on tap, a great touch. I went on a Sunday and tried the sharing roast, where you can pick three meats. We opted for beef, jerk chicken, and pork. The beef was a bit dry and overcooked for my palate, though I understand that well-done meat is often preferred in Caribbean cooking. The jerk chicken wasn’t cooked enough in my portion, but the others at my table had well-cooked pieces, so it might have been an anomaly. The pork was the standout juicy with crispy crackling.

Sides like the Yorkshire puddings and potatoes were tasty, but the rice and peas lacked flavour and colour, though the jollof rice was nice. For starters, we had the saltfish fritters, which were enjoyable, and the mac and cheese balls, which I felt could have been creamier and cheesier. The potato element added an Irish twist, but the accompanying sauce could have been more flavourful.

Overall, the concept is fantastic, and with a few tweaks in execution, the food could truly shine. That said, the staff and vibe made the experience worthwhile, and I’d definitely return to try more dishes and soak in...

I would like to preface this review by saying I have no complaints about service, all of the team that served us were attentive and considerate.

However, after having this establishment recommended, our experience certainly fell flat in comparison to our expectations. We ordered the beef and lamb roasts, both meats were quite overcooked and incredibly tough, the gravy was watery however flavoursome and the yorkshire puddings were disappointing to say the least. As for desserts, the sticky toffee pudding that we received was both tepid and hard and the ice cream that was served alongside tasted cheap and artificial.

In addition to all of this, throughout our entire visit we were subject to a loud banging sound coming from a heavy door when staff entered and exited the kitchen area; this was impossible to ignore and very disruptive to our experience and I don't think it would be that difficult to make some adjustments to stop the door from making so much noise.

As much as the staff were kind and caring, it couldn't do much to salvage our experience considering all the other negative aspects at play at Paddy's Yard. We won't...