The Gatehouse — Restaurant in London

Selective/Possibly racist treatment or just really bad welcome manners. Came today with our dog , 280124 around or just after 2pm to ask for a table of two. You can check cctv for the couple with the white fluffy dog. Burly gentleman with the plaid/checkered shirt and thinning hair received us. Asked us if we had a reservation to which we said no. Then he very bluntly said sorry and silent mouthed the words “we’re very full” while exaggerating each word. I thought this was really weird and the body language didn’t seem right and honestly this came across as subtle racism to me but I assumed the pub was full so we left . Shortly after though another couple came in with a dog and were seated . I came to ask how did they get a table. Same guy told us they are sitting in the outside garden. I also asked again about later table times . I then asked to go see the garden area first to then see over 10 tables free. At this point I just walked out. Neither the later times nor the garden seating was mentioned to us when we came in but it was to the couple who came after us. You can be the judge of how it made us feel. Unwelcome and questioning if this was a racial incident singling us out. It’s 2024 this should not be happening. We had our company Xmas dinner at your pub . It would be extremely hard to return or put in a good word now after this. Not only do you make the pub look bad but the British culture and the Highgate area as well. This is not what Britain or British pub culture is supposed to be. Shame.

EDIT : Response from David on this review citing that they refuse customers for volume reasons and to provide a good experience. I have no way to reply back but they haven’t even read that someone after us was seated mins later who didn’t have a booking. Thats what felt wrong on top of the blunt welcome. That’s one way to respond to make the reviewer look bad just goes to show your attitude. It doesn’t take a lot to smile and welcome someone and send them away with options. This was more like bluntly exiting people then seating someone else shortly after. You literally have a board outside advertising your roast to get people to come in. I don’t want to come in and be insulted. I was offered an outside table after I asked why someone else got a table, what happened to your customer volume then??? Thanks for the amazing experience through your doors. Rest assured neither me nor anyone I know nor is my workplace ever stepping into this pub. You may contact me if you want to...

Terrible experience and we walked out. My husband is gluten free. The website menus said to ask about any dietary requirements when there and I put a note in our online booking to say he is gluten free (not coeliac but more than a bite of bread and he'll projectile vomiting all night). When we asked our waiter for a gluten free menu he said to check the website and seemed annoyed at the question. I didn't want to get my phone out and said I'd checked it earlier and it wasn't on there. He then went off and got a man in all black (sweaty and a bit dirty so I assumed was the chef or worked in the kitchen) who appeared very stressed and annoyed at our request. He had a folder with him, sat down at our table without asking if it was ok, took one of our menus (again without asking) and proceeded to go through it with a red pen against the folder, crossing out anything with gluten in. He did this with no conversation and sighing repeatedly. When I tried to make conversation he ignored me and when I said I was surprised they didn't have the GF options to hand he said quite aggresivly 'We never get asked. In fact I've only been asked twice in the last year.' He then got up and left, leaving us with the menu he'd written on. My husband, and all of us, were made to feel like second class citizens and that we were causing SO much trouble. As a result we got up and left and went down the road to the Red Lion and Sun who were absolutely lovely, have GF printed on the menu when the dish is GF and had a smile and warm welcome for all. Thoroughly recommend the Red Lion and Sun and would avoid the Gatehouse...

Booked late lunch there 3pm on a Sunday. On arrival the staff went through the Covid formalities which were carried out efficiently. The main bar are seemed airy and clean and the bar was well stocked including a couple of real ales. We were taken to out table in the back outdoor area which was really quite nice. The menu was not extensive but that was fine. The waiter appeared promptly to take drinks orders. We also ordered the food at the same time. The waiter was able to advise us that according to his computer tablet there were only 5 chicken dishes left. No problem we wanted three lamb and one chicken. So far so good. About 20 minutes later the head waiter came and told us that the chef thought the lamb too fatty to serve so could we choose something else. Why with the computer system was the lamb still available when we ordered and why so long to tell us of the problem? OK so we the switched the lamb for beef. After about 30 minutes the food came. The beef was very undercooked, fatty and covered in gravy. Not really very good. Gravy should have been at the diner's discretion. It was more of a "school dinner" than gastro pub fair! The dessert, toffee pudding was fine as was the portion of ice cream. This place needs to work on its food. The location is good the dining area is fine, service is good although a little slow: they were pretty busy. The bar looks a good place just...