The Jolly Butchers — Restaurant in London

It all went wrong before we'd even arrived. I booked to have a sunday roast here and requested a table away from the door, by the window. The booking was accepted, but when we arrived the table we had requested had just been given away to a group of guys just drinking beers.

On arrival, we waited by the door, until two other parties showed up and were waiting behind us. The waiters repeatedly acknowledged us and said the manager would be over in a minute, while he hung out at the bar on his phone, fully aware of everyone waiting for him.

When he did come over, it wasn't with a smile, or an apology, he just barked for our name, which we gave, he stared at his ipad, barked for it again without looking up, we did, and then he just marched off. We genuinely weren't sure if to follow, it felt really weird and rude, but we decided we'd see where he was going. When he stopped, he pointed at a table pressed up against another table full of people, with only a small pole between us. The restaurant was barely half full, there were plenty of nicer and empty tables about. We requested several others, but he would only offer the one other 2 seater which was at the entrance right by the door. Definitely do not come here if you are just a party of 2, they have crammed the restaurant floor with big tables and won't let you sit on any of them, so you just end up squished and unable to choose a better table. The craziest thing was all the tables we asked to move to remained empty for the entirety of our time there, so obviously they weren't booked or anything. I ordered the roast pork, which was alright. Not the best I've had but not the worst. The meat was not seasoned enough and the yorkshire pudding was dry and felt old, but the gravy was decent as were the roast potatoes. My partner had the lamb, which they repeatedly had to remove from their mouth because it was cold and mostly fat. I also ordered a glass of the chenin blanc, which tasted cheap and borderline off. We left our plates half full and would have complained to a waiter had we been asked how our meal was, but no one came over. In fact, we noticed the waiting staff generally seemed uncomfortable and nervous. I worked as a waiter for many years, and there's just some things you should and shouldn't do. Like you should look your customers in the eyes and look around the room in case people want your attention, which they didn't do. Worse yet, I saw one of the waiters (after speaking to the manager) go over to a table and grab a woman's handbag off a chair and pass it to her without asking if he could touch it, in an attempt to takeaway the chair. It's just so inappropriate to touch other peoples valuables without asking, she looked startled and was the act of someone too nervous and scared to think for themselves.

When our plates were cleared, the waiter just grabbed them, didn't ask how our meal was or assess we hadn't enjoyed it by the fact we'd left so much. We had intended to stay for several drinks and to order desert but after such bad service we decided to cut our losses and leave. Cannot emphasise how bad this whole experience was, the staff seemed unconfident and untrained, the manager didn't care, was abrupt and rude and the food was disappointingly below average. Just...

I would to give this 4/5 stars as the food was amazing but my partner and I had an awful customer service experience with a young staff member at the bar. I will start by saying that every other member of staff in there was actually super nice. But unfortunately you are only as strong as your weakest link.

We’ve all been there right, young and working a bar job or in retail. I always make a point of being super nice and patient with people in service or retail as I did it for a long time. I know it can be. But being this rude to someone is not called for, I don’t take it lightly.

I ordered 1 of every dish on the menu (it was our work social) and there were more of us in our group than dishes on the menu (it turned out to be a great amount of food — which tasted great, the chefs nailed it). After seeing other people eating and the size of their dishes this seemed like a very appropriate thing to do. He made it seem like what I’d asked for was the most ridiculous thing he’d heard — The staff member quick blinked in shock and responded in such an incredibly rude manner. I also ordered probably too much bread and I asked it that was too much, he made some quick remark that if I’d read the menu properly that some dishes come with bread. The way he did it was so rude. After a super awkward and slightly tense exchange we reduced it, I was honestly gob smacked. That’s your job! To help customers with their orders and questions! Why be so rude! I’ve never eaten here before, I don’t know how big your portions are, that why I asked.

I then paid, and he almost snatched the card machine from my hand.

As I said, the other staff were great. The food was great. But if this guy worked for me and it was negatively impacting customers then it would be a pretty clear choice of what to do about it.

Unfortunately never going to...

There’s nothing nicer than a reliable local.

On nights with little to do, I trek the 20 seconds to the Jolly Butchers at a time that is just 30 mins before last call and plop myself on the bench facing towards Stoke Newington High St and do any of the following while sinking the amber: tuck into my book in silence, or practise my Finnish on Duolingo feverishly like my life depends on it, or have a chinwag with the bartenders (they’re incredible, polite and chatty!) and the regulars, or just watch the one-way two-lane arterial that is the hustle and bustle of Stoke Newington.

There’s always great energy here, which part of me believes is because they’ve done away with the fandango of quotidian doo-dahs in what can be a publican’s vain effort for more footfall e.g. tellies for the sport, live music to compete over, themed nights like a quiz night. (Look no further than their menu which is filled to satisfy your curry night!)

Don’t get me wrong, there is space for pubs that strive for the above, but please do get me right that this beer review you’re reading should just be read as white noise, where you twiddle the knobs to hear a clear message while marooned on the street looking for a lash or nightcap: if you want a boozer that’s a boozer, then — HEY — look no further, here’s your saviour!

I hear the Sunday roast is worth doffing...