The Drapers Arms — Restaurant in London

The portion sizes at this establishment are noticeably smaller than one might anticipate, particularly when factoring in the prices listed on the menu, which tend to lean toward the upper end of the dining spectrum. As you peruse the extensive menu, brimming with a variety of enticing dishes—each one seemingly promising a culinary adventure—the anticipation builds with every choice you consider. However, when your selected dish finally arrives at the table, the sight of a plate that appears scant in quantity can be quite disheartening. With the premium prices comes a natural expectation for a more generous serving, and the stark contrast between the cost and the portion size can create a lingering sense of disappointment that unfortunately overshadows the overall meal experience.

Yet, it is crucial to shine a light on the exceptional quality of service provided by the staff, which truly sets this establishment apart from its peers. From the moment you walk through the inviting entrance, each member of the team exudes warmth and friendliness, creating an enveloping atmosphere that instantly makes you feel at home. Their attentiveness is impressive; they frequently check in with guests, ensuring that every need is met with a genuine smile. Whether it’s promptly refilling your drink, offering insightful recommendations, or addressing special dietary requests, their dedication to your comfort elevates the overall dining experience significantly, helping to ease some of the discomfort regarding portion sizes.

Furthermore, the staff's ability to engage with diners adds a personal touch that makes you feel valued and appreciated. The conversations are not merely transactional; they are genuine and heartfelt. The staff remembers repeat customers' favorite dishes and offers sincere compliments, showcasing impressive attention to detail. This level of hospitality transforms what could have been a lackluster dining experience into one that is truly enjoyable.

Ultimately, while the food itself may leave something to be desired regarding quantity, the outstanding hospitality provided by the team compensates for this deficit in numerous ways. The staff’s unwavering commitment to fostering a welcoming environment elevates your visit, clearly demonstrating that this establishment values its patrons immensely. The harmonious blend of delightful service and high-quality culinary offerings creates a unique dining experience that is well worth partaking in, even if the plates may not always be as full as one might hope. It’s an experience that reminds diners that sometimes, the heart of a meal lies as much in the company and care as it does in the...

This USED to be my FAVOURITE ‘gastro' pub.

The Drapers Arms has clearly gone down hill. I’d not been for almost a year, but prior to that and having lived in Islington for a number of years, I was a regular.

I’d booked the upstairs area months ago for a party of 14 to celebrate a special occasion (mum’s 70 birthday). The nightmare started on arrival – despite phoning on several occasions to confirm we had the upstairs area (which is much quieter and more appropriate for a bunch of 70 year olds, plus a couple of kids), we were told a 'large group' had turned up at the last minute and we had been moved to the pub area, downstairs. It was so loud, we couldn’t hear ourselves speak and completely inappropriate to seat kids. Following our main course, we were finally moved upstairs to eat dessert after the 'large group' of guests had moved on. The barmaid said she'd offer us champagne as compensation for what was clearly a mistake on their part. However what turned up was one bottle of prosecco, which was served to a few guests, but ran out before everyone could enjoy their ‘compensation.’ Unfortunately, this just compounded the feeling of resentment and dissatisfaction with the service. At that stage, at least we gave up being annoyed and found the whole situation rather comical. In addition to the seating issue and poor judgement re offering a single bottle to 14 guests, the food was mediocre (two mains were sent back) and our waiter was rude and disinterested - when I asked him to assist with moving drinks from downstairs to upstairs, he told us he was too busy. He also lacked the ability to answer some basic questions about the menu.

I never usually write these reviews, as I think it is unfair if you haven’t given the establishment the chance to remedy their mistakes. However, I voiced my concerns to the manager (Henry) at the same time as requesting the bill. I was handed the £400+ bill (incl service) as well as a Drapers Arms business card and asked to email ‘henry@…’ if I wanted to to complain.

What’s sad is that I told a number of my guests that we were going to one of my favourite pubs, commonly referred to as the 'best gastro pub in London'....

We pre-booked a table for 7 people at Drapers Arms for Saturday 5th February 2022 to eat for 7pm We arrived between 4pm and 5pm for pre -dinner drinks. We were told by a member of staff about 6pm that we would have to move from our table as it was reserved. We told the member of staff, we had booked dinner for 7pm so he said that was OK to stay at the table. Around 7pm we were all asked to go upstairs to our table. We all went upstairs to see a table for 25 people set up. We told staff that was not our table, so we all had to go back downstairs to the bar. We were then given a table by the entrance door and on the bend of the bar. The table had bench seating on one side which moved left and right when any individual moved. We mentioned this to staff and then was given chairs. The entrance door was opening regularly, with a cold blast of wind coming in each time. There were quite a few people coming in with dogs and this meant the person sitting at end chair, nearest to door had to move to allow the dog and owner to get past and there were also people at the bar enjoying a drink. I ordered beef onglet medium. When the meal arrived there was a pool of blood from the beef on the plate. I asked for the beef to be cooked a bit more. The staff then had a problem with a drunk in the premises, which involved all the staff trying to usher this 1 person out (including the chef came down from the kitchen) and some staff were outside talking and waiting for the police to come. Most of my group had finished their meals or just left them and I had to ask where my dinner was . My 2nd beef onglet eventually came and it was even more rare than the 1st so I left the meal. The rest of the party were not impressed with their food either. We discreetly asked to speak to staff and we were not charged for the meal. Just wanted to relay this incident for others to choose whether to eat there or not. None of the 7 in our party will be returning. It felt like we were not expected - even though this booking was made at least 2 weeks prior to attending. It felt like the staff were inexperienced in running a bar/restaurant or dealing...