The Hound — Restaurant in London

We planned a Sunday roast lunch at The Hound in Chiswick to host a visiting friend from abroad. Drawn in by glowing recommendations on social media, we even made the hour-long journey across London to try it. Unfortunately, the overall experience was underwhelming, and we left disappointed. With so many better pubs offering tastier roasts at fairer prices, The Hound is not a place we can recommend.

Drinks: The drinks were undoubtedly the best part of our visit. They were thoughtfully prepared and complemented the meal well.

Starters: Salt Cod Croquettes (£7.5): This dish included three croquettes, which were just okay. The cod didn’t taste particularly fresh, and the croquettes were dry, though the sauce added some moisture. Overall, this dish was quite forgettable. ‘Pigs in Blankets’ Scotch Egg (£10): The scotch egg, however, was excellent. The crispy batter, well-seasoned sausage meat, and sweet Cumberland sauce created a perfect balance of textures and flavours.

Main Course – Sunday Sharer Board (£36.5 per person): The Sunday Sharer Board promised an assortment of meats—Native Rump of Beef, Slow Roasted Pork Belly, and Shoulder of Lamb—served alongside classic roast trimmings. Unfortunately, this was where the experience truly faltered. Portion Size:
For £36.5 per person, the portion sizes were shockingly small. We received just three thin slices of beef rump, a small plate of lamb shoulder, and one-and-a-half pieces of pork belly to share. While the platter came with sides, Yorkshire puddings, and sauces, the meagre servings of the main proteins felt stingy and disappointing for the price point. Taste: Pork Belly: This was the best of the meats, with crispy skin and tender meat. The burnt apple sauce added a nice depth of flavour. Beef Rump: Served medium rare, but it was tough and bland. Even with the gravy, it lacked flavour and felt uninspired. Lamb Shoulder: This was the most disappointing. It was under-seasoned, lacking the bold, gamey flavour one would expect from lamb shoulder, which made it feel dull and unremarkable. Sides:
The sides were the saving grace of the main course. The roasted potatoes were perfectly cooked—crispy on the outside and fluffy inside. The carrots and cabbage were also well-prepared and flavourful, providing some much-needed enjoyment amidst the otherwise lacklustre board.

Ambience: The pub itself is beautiful, with charming decor and a cozy atmosphere. It’s clear that a lot of effort has gone into creating a visually appealing and inviting space.

Final Thoughts: For a place so highly recommended on social media, The Hound fell far short of expectations. The small portions, inconsistent flavours, and high prices made the visit disappointing, especially since we had traveled far and booked in advance. The Scotch egg and sides were highlights, but the main event—the roast—failed to deliver.

It’s a reminder that social media buzz doesn’t always live up to reality. Sadly, this was a case of food that looked better than it tasted. While the decor is lovely and the drinks are enjoyable, there are far better places in London to enjoy a proper Sunday roast at a much...

This was our second visit. We went on a Saturday evening as an anniversary celebration gift while our family looked after the kids.

Unfortunately, it was a terrible compared to our first visit, and we won’t be rushing back.

The service was awful. We were seated but not offered menus, and had to wave down a member of staff and ask for them.

When we finally received the menus, there was no explanation of the specials (we didnt even relaise they had them until spotting the board after the meal).

We then had to wave someone down again just to place our order.

Upon ordering our mains, we were told that our first choices were sold out.

We ordered starters and asked if they could return in a few minutes to take our main course order once we had chosen alternatives. Nobody came back!

Our starters arrived, and we told the staff we were ready to order mains. They said they would send someone over—unsurprisingly, they didn’t.

After finishing our starters, we sat there staring at empty plates, still waiting for someone to take our main course order. Eventually, my wife went up to the bar/till to order directly, only to be told, “You’re very lucky—the kitchen is just about to close.”

When we finally got our mains (I ordered the hot dog), the sauce it came with was nearly inedible due to how salty it was. Not wanting to make a fuss, we ate it sans sauce.

Oh, and we also ordered wine with our starters—they forgot that too. We also had to chase it down...

Nobody offered us desserts, and when we were finished, nobody came to bring the bill. We had to walk up to the bar to pay ourselves.

We told the manager that the experience had been very poor, and he apologised. We paid the bill and left.

If you’re looking for good food in a pub setting, you’re much better off going to The Swan. If you're after an upmarket dining experience, it’s worth stumping up a little extra for La Trompette.

At The Hound’s price point, I expect much better than just nice décor. Basic service (which they charge for!) would be nice and whilst the starters are nice I don't think the mains are worth the prices...

This place is just awful. Second time here in three months. Never ever again!

Service is surly and rude... e.g. stand by the bar and watch as you're completely and utterly ignored in a reasonably quiet bar by bar-staff while they play around doing little. They don't acknowledge your presence with the basic "I'll be right with you in a sec", and instead make you feel like you're in THEIR way. When they finally feel like it, they look at you without smiling or any pleasantness whatsoever, only to then get the order entirely wrong despite you having to shout it across to them, as they fail to come closer to hear you over the background noise. Who supervises these people, cause they sure aren't doing their job.

Then I went and sat with who I was with, sitting in the front pub section, only to check the receipt was wrong. So over to barman I went, who looks me up and down and says "you should have asked for a bottle not a glass if that's what you wanted". No apology for getting it wrong, but when I said "shouldn't you charge me for a bottle then" , as they were about to forget, they then thanked my honesty by charging me too much. (Re-sat down, I couldn't be bothered going back to them again, but come on, jeez!)

Then the food came, oh dear, £24 each for the most disgusting slop calling itself lasagna you've ever seen. Covered in what can only be described as florescent orange coloured tomato sauce, looking straight from a microwave meal packet; completely unappetising. Low and behold, after getting home, we were both sick half the night trying to sleep vomiting the stuff up. As a local, NEVER again.

Oh, and their wine prices are an absolute ripoff too. Even in Chiswick, £65 for a bottle of plain Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, for example, when others nearby charge a more appropriate £40 for it, is just one example of many frankly stupid wine pricing decisions.

Why bother being in business if this is the standard...