Tufnell Park Tavern — Restaurant in London

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WE ALWAYS GIVE 5s AS ALL PUBS ARE DIFFERENT AND GREAT AND SUIT SOMEONE.

CONTEXT - Visit 8th April Was here early evening on a Saturday for a bite to eat and a drink with a mate before goin to a gig up the road (Boston Music Rooms - great venue, highly recommend a visit).

I've walked and/or stumbled past this pub a few times in my time in London, but never on a pub night out. Now I was coming down from the 'shire' (Hertfordshire) it was 'more or less' enroute to the venue from my train stop.

ATMOSPHERE For Saturday, at 5pm ish, i thought it was a bit quiet. But as already mentioned, this place is kind of 'tucked away' between Upper Holloway, Tufnell Park and Highbury & Islington in north London and I would say unless you know it exists, it doesn't get much foot traffic.

This all being said, for what I was looking for it was great, nice an chilled before a gig, able to chat to my mate and get some good grub.

As per the quietness, the people in there were also giving off 'chill vibes'. Whether or not it gets rowdier at night I don't know, but great boozer for chilled chats and drinks with friends.

SERVICE Staff were friendly, kind, and gave off a similar vibe to above. Served my drink and food with calm and a smile. If anything i'd say maybe a bit too quiet in the serving in not much chat, or instruction with my food (got given my pizza, not told where/if cutlery was coming or not and got up only to find them come back a bit later).

STYLE As mentioned, farily certain its had a makeover in the last few years, i may be wrong. There is a 'classy' feel to this place, expecially when you look at the food menu (see below) and maybe its just that it looks clean and no scuffs and i'm used to a bit of rough. That being said, i didn't feel out of place and it is actually VERY nice looking pub, with the ability to get down and dirty i suspect late at night.

TOILET Writing this a few days later i realised i didn't take a picture of the bathroom, but i know i used it. I tend to remember them if their minging, so my brief memory would suggest its clean and 'does the job' that you meed it too.

PRICE £13.50 for a spicy chorizo pizza & £6.40 pint of Mosaic. I mean, the pizza is very good value for money, as it was delicious. The beer...pfftt, maybe a 'tad' pricey, considering where it is ( a bit behind the scenes) and boardering outskirts of London, but also understand current service costs etc, this is actually pretty average. I'm still yet to get my first £7 pint in London, but i know its coming.

FOOD & DRINK As mentioned already, Pizza was brilliant, highly recommend, thin, sloppy and tasty. They also had a very extensive, what I would call 'bistro' style pub food menu to accompany the pizza menu, whith a seperate 'restaurant' style space for those wishing to have a more specific dining experience. The menu looked exciting though and I want to go back with the family to try this. Drink, nothing too exciting in the beer front, they did have both cask and keg, which is always good, as well as what looked like an...

Good food. Understaffed at the bar.

Recently renovated (though I can't see inside any difference from before). Initially brusque and unwelcoming if you are not a regular, the female (manager?) works very hard and (eventually) will soften and show her more friendly side. If, indeed she is the manager.... Perhaps her initial brittleness is the reason she is understaffed?

One cannot (I certainly can't) judge a pub merely on booze and eats. Like any shop or restaurant:- I have to see something that attracts or entices me in. Once "in" I like to feel welcome. Or "potentially welcome" or (at a minimum) "not resented". Being left alone in a library or a shop is quite reasonable. By standing in front of the till or one of the shop staff - I expect that this is sufficient 'hint' that I am interested in service.

Being British, I believe in the orderly formality of the queue. It is, therefore, irritating when several "better known regulars" are seen (and served) by the staff, whilst I, with currency fluttering on display, am ignored for a time.

What is the expression ........? "you only get one opportunity to make a first impression"

Regular renovations to the structure don't change or improve the management attitude toward service.

Despite clean, quite attractive surroundings, good food at reasonable prices.....the staff attitude is the real letdown. But, if you are smart, and you persist then it is possible you will...

This establishment was the worse I have ever experienced. The wiatress was very rude and forgot most of the orders, which meant while others had finish, the other half were just recieving there's. When the waitresses did bring out one of the orders her hands were in contact with the food. When asked to replace she had an attitude. Not once did she see if everything was ok or to check if we needed anything. At around 10:15 pm we were told they were closing, when the official closing time is 11:30pm. I mean it was a Saturday night! When the group were leaving one of the staff shouted out thanks for the service charge. We could not believe our ears after how we were treated. I explained to the gentleman that the waitress forgot orders, was not attentive and had an attitude. His response was my staff were really up set. I explained she was upset because she was told she had put her hands all over the food and had forgot orders. Not one person in the group was rude. So basically they made us leave early by lieing about closing time because the staffs feelings come first. They need to train there staff as the customer should always come first. Terrible place. Much nicer ones in the...