The Bear — Restaurant in London

We were really to excited to try the Bear as we had experienced the chefs food a number of times while they were at Naughty Piglets. We went for Sunday roast to celebrate my boyfriend’s birthday.

We had the burrata, cod roes and beetroot salad to start which were delicious. But the roasts were way below average - both the beef and the porchetta were not just rare but almost still moo-ing/squealing. Preference should have been asked if serving so rare. There was no Yorkshire pudding!!!! There was no roast potatoes but they served skin on fried potatoes which were bland and didn’t offer the absorbency a roast potato would provide with gravy. We were also served a savoy cabbage which was just a soggy mess and lacking flavour except for the two outside leaves. The French beans were delightful though. So a very hit and miss food experience.

Apart from the food the venue set up was weird. With tables crowding into one third of the bar and the rest of the bar empty. I hope this is all teething problems of a new venue and they can get resolved.

We tried providing feedback directly to the restaurant through Instagram as we would like to see a new venue succeed. But heard...

Once a Victorian gin palace, The Bear is now a temple of roasts, real ales and other good things.

The pub retains its beautiful original horseshoe bar, in is a wood haven through peppered with the odd classic map or sign from yesteryear. It’s got the overall sense of a traditional English pub, with a twist. Outside there is a little ‘secret’ garden for when the weather’s less grizzly. Speaking of which, that’s where the pub’s name comes from – it’s named after one of the owners’ dads, himself nicknamed ‘Grizzly’. Not a man to get caught bunking off school by, clearly.

The Bear prides itself on its food, with good reason; it’s not your average pub grub. It’s top notch English and French, with fresh ingredients and all that jazz. The roast comes particularly recommended. And, being a free house, you'll find a mighty range of booze. There’s also a function room at the back for slightly larger groups. A roast function – what a Sunday.

They also keep things moving with plenty on for the local community - live music, exhibitions, a quiz every Tuesday, even martial arts and swing dancing classes upstairs...

Thanks for the tip off: Sarah Moss and...

Over all the obvious dining institutions London has to offer, this is time after time my top recommendation. Walk through the doors to this unassuming pub and you'll see a DJ playing and people having a great time over good pints. You certainly won't be expecting the dinner that sits around the corner, though.

Through a small opening sits a 14-seater counter dining experience, serviced by the same bar and atmosphere, but secluded enough to feel mature and refined. The walls are covered in raw plaster and lit by candles, allowing the stainless steel, state of the art looking kitchen to take centre stage.

Although (very lovely) servers supply your drinks, it's the chefs who curate the entire experience, from taking your order to explaining your dishes. We were served by Aaron, and his ability to host was exceeded only by his talents in cooking. Genuinely incredible food, genuinely incredible hospitality. Well priced and well full when you leave. This is a gushy review but I really think it's warranted....