The Anchor & Hope — Restaurant in London

A pub with an identity crisis. Is it a pub? Is it a restaurant? I realise that the genre is usually described as gastro pubs, but in those their tends to be an informality typically ascribed to the genre of pub.

A table for 8 was booked. At the time of booking the table was from 6.00 - 8.15. Fine. 4 of our guests were delayed due to work. We accepted that they may not be able to eat, but we had a hunger and a thirst and high spirits. This was scuppered by a waitress who was absurdly rude: passive aggressively insisting that the table must be returned by 8.15, several times. Aside from the aggression that'd be fine if it was always shadowed by her asking us if we wanted a drink, or some food. It wasn't. We did.

Turning tables is necessary and the place was busy. But surely the point in having high turnover is to make money. If this is the case then someone might have come to take our order earlier than 45 minutes after we arrived. Half of the on-time arrivals weren't offered a drink. When they were, the order was forgotten. With a thirst for gallons of booze I had merely 1 pint in the 2hrs15mins. I could have happily had 5 and subsequently spent 5 times the amount. This would have been the case for everyone.

We had two serving staff variously, and whilst one was polite, the other (who had a very strange demeanour) really didn't do the place any favours. Her communication with us was jaw droppingly irritable. We came to fear her, like children facing a bitterly strict teacher.

The second group arrived 1.15 late, so had an hour before leaving. We politely asked if there was enough time for them to order and eat. Were told in no uncertain terms - again - that they needed to eat fast. It was as if we were nothing but an irritant, when we were customers willing to spend. In a pub.

My dish was a deeply flavoursome beef shin, with mash. It cost £26. It should have cost £18. Whilst very tasty, it lacked textural awareness, being best described as 100% slop. If I'd made it at home, I'd be OK with it.

That said, everyone who had food, was happy with it, but all agreed the prices were about 40% too high.

I've bored myself writing this.

Should have just said.

Very bad service, overpriced, but good food. I wouldn't bother going out of your way to go here. I'm always on the hunt for a good pub, with good food, this isn't it by half.

We (in my opinion) cruelly (but justifiably) removed the service charge - whereupon our rude member of staff TOLD us we were short, we explained that we had paid exactly the right amount. To which she farted something rude and left. We left in a hurry, fearing another telling off and looking for somewhere that understood the exchange of money for...

I have been thinking long and hard about leaving a low score and not great review for some time because when we have previously eaten with you the food was exceptional. Fabulous quality produce cooked beautifully and presented simply and elegantly and so we returned and the only thing that was still extremely good but not exceptional was the service.

I have read your responses to previous poor reviews, that something should have been said at the time of the meal and any critical feedback given on the day, but actually that is the last thing I wanted to do in front of my guests who I treated to lunch and actually you should know yourself what kind of food you are serving your guests and be your own best critics and ensure everything lives up to ‘your’ standards.

The potted shrimps tasted wooly and lacked butter and flavour, the cucumber salad was limp and overwhelmed with dill cream. The toasted sourdough was the best thing on the plate. Your pork and beef dishes where both lack lustre and the dauphinois were watery and sauce on pork not great. Even the horseradish sauce was lacking. I have made a direct comparison to your dauphinois and roast chicken we ate last time with you!

I was hugely disappointed and paid well for that disappointment so you won’t be surprised that unfortunately I won’t be coming back or recommending you to my friends and family

It gives me no pleasure to leave this review but on the day we ate with you I was sad and I was left hungry and frustrated and slightly aggrieved at a very healthy bill for such a disappointing meal and food that had lost the love the flavour and the passion I once tasted. I hope you get back the magic you once had and of course this is only my (our) opinion and experience but I do hope you take my feedback with the absolute honesty and hope that you can and will continue to strive...

This place is very convenient for pre theatre eats which is just what we were looking for. It may seem like a pub from the outside but inside it's more like a restaurant that couldn't be bothered to change it's 'traditional' interior. Think, lots of of exposed timber and a heavy floor to ceiling curtain acting as a room divider which meant the acoustics led to a fairly lively atmosphere. On entering, you need to wait to be seated and it's table service, which was very friendly and attentive. They asked if we were going to the theatre which always puts me at ease and assures me, everything will be ready and come out in time. However It did take a while for the bill to come and for them to return with the card machine which did not ease the aforementioned anxiety. The menu looked great and between us we had the souffle and the sizzling cumin lamb. Due to the differences in prices we guessed that the lamb might be small, even though it wasn't clear if it was a starter, a main or tapas style. Just in case we decided to order a couple of sides and clarified when they came to take our order that the £15 lamb was indeed a starter. Once they were served, in all honesty, both dishes were similar in size - petite. Thank goodness we did order the sides otherwise we would have left feeling extremely hungry as opposed to peckish. On a taste level the food was good but nothing outstanding. It was good quality but overall just average...