The Malt Shovel — Restaurant in London

I arrived at 11:35 am hoping to get some food as I hadn’t had breakfast was hoping there would be a brunch menu unfortunately I was told by the staff that I cannot order anything until noon because they have a delivery due. I was quite surprised considering this was a Saturday. I found this staff member quite abrupt with a slight bit of attitude as if to say these are our rules and regulations and I have to abide by them which I totally get & understand but the way she delivered the information was not courteous & understanding in any way as I told her I was really quite hungry. (Even hoping she might be able to suggest I could maybe have some olives or something / but she was adamant there’s no way she can put anything through the till and give me anything to at least hold me for a bit of time even suggesting some crisps or something ) We sat outside and I have to say it was such a beautiful view and even the interior of the place was lovely. I had to ask the staff member for the menu despite her knowing I was hungry and wanted to order some food at least at this point, I would have time to decide what I wanted to have. When it came to noon, I went to the bar to order some more drinks and some food. I was happy to see another staff member there who was extremely cheerful and friendly her name I cannot remember but it was something like Tatiana she was so pleasant and friendly. I decided on having the scallop as it looked & sounded lovely on the menu and I love seafood also the staff member said it is popular choice. I also got calamari which she recommended to me - at this point -I was really happy as this staff member seemed really lovely. My friend and I were debating to leave and find somewhere else to eat when we felt that the initial staff member was not so nice with us.

Anyway, I was delivered the food by an elder lady. She was extremely slim but she wasn’t very friendly or happy even though I was grateful for the food and said thank you. She didn’t even want to give any eye contact with me. I found her quite rude the way she just plonked the plate down. I don’t know if she was upset as I asked her for some butter because the ciabatta looks dry and burnt and to pay £12 for a starter you would expect it to look a bit better than it did! I did not even want to ask them to make it again as at this point I felt they looked at me as a burden even though all I asked for was butter and you already know at this point I have been waiting to be able to order something as they told me I was not able to order anything for close to 30 minutesand then having to wait for the orders to come. I am such a happy outgoing person and I eat out regularly at places at least 3- 5 times a week even though I don’t always put reviews up but I have to say I was so disappointed and I hate to leave bad reviews I would even have an understanding if they were busy at this point, but I probably was the first or second order from noon. The food is totally overpriced for the quality, Based on what I received everything should’ve been half the price that it was. I am so sad to write this negative review - but based on two of the staff members I had encounters with I think it’s important that I share my experience, especially as it wasn’t even a busy time. -

The only positives were the young staff member as she was so lovely and helpful even though the calamari tasted like poo and looked poo when I noticed another person that had received calamari, their plate looks better and garnished when I was walking out.

I have had better food at a Wetherspoons and...

The Malt Shovel – A Standout Pub with Heart, Flavor, and Charm

The Malt Shovel is everything a great pub should be — warm, welcoming, and absolutely packed with character. From the moment you step inside, you’re greeted with a cozy atmosphere, friendly smiles, and the comforting aroma of honest, freshly prepared food.

The interior hits all the right notes: exposed brickwork, rustic wooden tables, and just the right level of buzz without ever feeling overcrowded. Whether you’re coming in for a laid-back lunch, a special evening meal, or a quiet pint by the fire, The Malt Shovel feels like the kind of place you instantly want to return to.

The food is outstanding. I went for the steak and cheddar pie, and it was easily one of the best I’ve had — rich, slow-cooked filling in a buttery, flaky pastry, served with creamy mash and proper gravy. My partner chose the pan-fried sea bass with crushed new potatoes and a white wine sauce — light, fresh, and beautifully balanced. They clearly take pride in sourcing quality ingredients and delivering dishes that go beyond standard pub fare.

Drinks-wise, The Malt Shovel doesn’t disappoint. A fantastic selection of cask ales, craft beers, and wines means there’s something for everyone. I was particularly impressed with their rotating guest taps, which included a brilliant pale ale from a local brewery. Their gin and cocktail menu also deserves a nod — creative without being gimmicky.

But what really sets The Malt Shovel apart is the service. The staff are friendly, attentive, and genuinely passionate about what they do. You never feel rushed, and their recommendations feel personal rather than scripted. It’s the kind of hospitality that’s becoming harder to find — and all the more appreciated because of it.

Whether you’re a regular or a first-timer, The Malt Shovel treats you like a welcome guest. It’s a true gem of a pub — the kind that stays with you long after your last sip.

Highly...

Tried the shovel for the first time since it was updated. Things started well, we were shown to our table and our order was taken by a very professional young lady who told us it was her first day serving as she was normally behind the bar. Our starters came and were excellent...

And that's where it started to go wrong. Before we'd finished eating our starters our mains arrived. We pointed out to the young man that they were pretty useless to us at this point seeing as we still had our starters to finish. He took them back to the kitchen and we spoke to the member of staff who took our order who assured us that fresh meals would be cooked for us and brought to the table after a suitable time.

What happened next was surprising, the meals we were given clearly weren't fresh and clearly were the ones brought to our table earlier having sat under warming lights for 15 minutes or so. The bun on my burger was dry and crispy, everything on the plate was hot including the sauce and salad that clearly should have been chilled. The mushy peas on my wife's plate had a thick skin on them, the fish grimly dry and sad looking. Yum yum.

We went and found the member of staff serving us and on being told she looked horrified by what we'd been given apologised and ushered us to the manger. At this point things might have been saved but while she was apologetic and willingly subtracting the cost of our disastrous mains offered nothing more, no drinks on the house, no discount of any kind. Just a request that we give them another chance. Lol.

Sadly I didn't keep a copy of the bill so I'm left with a horrible feeling I actually paid a service charge for the pleasure of having half a meal.

The starters were great, some of the staff are excellent but something is very wrong.

Thanks for replying but you had several chances to make things right while we were in the restaurant. We've no intention of returning, customers...