The Stag, Belsize Park — Restaurant in London

The Stag has always been one of my favourite pubs, and living in the area for a long time, I’ve been going for over 12 years. My last experience, however, not as good as previous ones.

It’s likely this is due to the many issues affecting hospitality at the moment and I’m not happy leaving this review, but I feel the experience did not meet the standards I’ve come to expect over the years, both in terms of food and drinks, and of service and I hope this will help improve things.

The burger recipe has recently changed, as it has done a few times over the years, and this was my first time having one in some time. Sadly the quality of the patty didn’t seem to be of a comparable level to previous versions. The cheeseburger was fairly average in flavour and presentation, but the chips were still cold inside and I couldn’t eat them. My partner did not wish to spoil the afternoon by sending back the chips and he chose to eat them nonetheless. We could only assume they were undercooked and dripping in oil because the kitchen was just getting “warmed up” as we were there at a time in between lunch and dinner, but I would expect a higher not a lesser degree of attention to detail during quiet times. The patty was also smaller and more average than previously, and the chips hardly filled the container they came in, but this is somehow understandable with the issues affecting hospitality.

Another thing that impacted our experience was the service we received. There was nothing really wrong and person who brought our food and sat us at our table was lovely, friendly, chatty and very upbeat, however the experience felt a tad uncomfortable. The server tried a harder than most when encouraging us to order certain drinks, food or extras which did not feel right for what was a casual mid-week late afternoon visit rather than a full on drinking session or dining experience. I also don’t think they understood our body language or the fact we just didn’t wish to be interrupted all the time either. We didn’t stay for another drink after the first one as, although the place was nearly empty and the garden lovely, the atmosphere didn’t feel relaxed. I was eventually relieved when a few more people started arriving, as we could have a bit of quiet time to ourselves, but by then I was already set on leaving.

Sadly, now the Stag is table service only, I’m rather uncomfortable at the idea of not being able to sit down and have a quiet conversation with other people without someone checking in on me every five minutes and I feel rather put off from returning again.

I’m not sure whether this was part of a new way of running the place or whether the person who served us was new and just needed a little bit of training into working in a pub or gastro pub. I hope this is something that can be improved, as the Stag used to be one of my favourite pubs and undoubtedly it has the best pub garden in North London.

Hopefully the Stag will go back to being a fantastic pub with great music and excellent food, as my latest experience felt closer to a visit to an average chain restaurant than going...

If you're searching for the perfect Sunday roast in London, look no further than The Stag in Belsize Park. This charming pub has consistently delivered an exceptional experience, earning its place as my absolute favourite spot for a weekend feast. From the warm, inviting atmosphere to the impeccable service and, most importantly, the mouthwatering food, The Stag truly excels.

Recently, I booked a heated pagoda in their lovely garden for a birthday celebration with friends. Despite a last-minute change in our group size, the staff were incredibly accommodating and understanding throughout the booking process. We were blessed with a beautiful, sunny day, and the patio heaters ensured we remained comfortably warm in the slight chill.

Ordering drinks was a breeze thanks to the convenient app/QR code system, and the staff were exceptionally attentive, efficiently handling our multiple rounds of drinks orders. As for the main event, the Sunday roast, it was nothing short of spectacular. Our group opted for a variety of choices:

Roast Beef: Tender, succulent slices of perfectly cooked beef, rich in flavour and melt-in-your-mouth texture. Crispy Pork Belly: A delightful combination of crispy crackling and moist, flavourful pork, a true testament to the chef's skill. Roast Chicken: Juicy and perfectly seasoned, providing a comforting and classic roast option. Each plate was generously laden with all the traditional trimmings, including perfectly roasted potatoes, seasonal vegetables, and the undeniable star of the show: the colossal Yorkshire puddings. These golden, airy delights were served with copious amounts of rich, savoury gravy, poured from a gravy boat, allowing us to indulge to our heart's content.

My partner and I opted for the sharing platter for two, a truly immense feast featuring all three meat options. The sheer amount of food was astonishing, and the quality was consistently outstanding. Each meat was cooked to perfection, moist and packed with flavour.

The service was consistently friendly and efficient, adding to the relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere. As it was my birthday, my partner brought a cake, which the restaurant staff graciously allowed us to serve. Otherwise, we would have undoubtedly indulged in their amazing sticky toffee pudding, a personal favourite.

To top it all off, our delightful northern waiter surprised me with a complimentary glass of prosecco, a thoughtful gesture that made my birthday even more special.

The Stag in Belsize Park offers a truly exceptional Sunday roast experience. The consistent quality of the food, the warm and welcoming service, and the charming atmosphere make it a must-visit for anyone seeking the perfect Sunday lunch. We'll be...

My mum and I tried to find seating for a late lunch at The Stag around 3:30PM today, and were told by the hostess to come back around 4PM – they were no longer taking reservations, she said, even though we requested to make one. It looked busy, but not heaving. However, as someone who worked in hospitality as a waitress for several years, I have a lot of understanding for the London Sunday roast/good weather rush of people. For this reason, I was patient with the hostess’ brusque and generally “fed-up” attitude – Sundays can be rough at any popular pub. I should also note that I worked at The Stag as a waitress many years ago, so I'm familiar with its popularity, especially on a Sunday.

However, after we passed by the front windows about 15min later, my mum – who is visiting from California, and was excited to see where I once worked – noticed a lot of empty seating inside, so she went to check on the off chance that we could now be seated. I waited outside. Two minutes later, she exited The Stag in distress, told me that the same hostess told her to “come back around 5pm”, even though the floor was now relatively empty. What upset her the most was the hostess’ dismissive attitude, and lack of any courtesy or explanation. My mum, who worked as a kitchen manager for over 20 years, said: “She treated me like I am an idiot. Why? All I asked is whether there was now a table ready.” She also pointed out that two men, who had been waiting, were seated immediately. (Whether they did have an advance reservation, I’m unaware.)

In addition to this standard complaint of poor customer service, it’s important to highlight some specifics: my mother is a small, older Filipina woman; the hostess was a blonde, white young woman. The men who were seated in front of her were two white men with a baby. Most of the customers at The Stag this afternoon were white – I wasn’t able to observe the makeup of the bar staff. What motivated me to comment on what my mother has perceived as an example of racism is another guest review from just two weeks before – see below.

In the end, we went to The Garden Gate, another of my Hampstead pub favourites, and enjoyed a delicious roast. The staff were lovely, and while the pub was heaving, a young host kindly and promptly found a...