Tipped

Delicous Gastro Grub

September 16, 2007

I'm always on the hunt for great places to close to home and The House hits the mark. 5 mins walk from Highbury & Islington tube The House doesn't disappoint. It has a relaxed atmosphere, a varied menu and friendly staff. There's a bar area with sofas, cosy indoor tables as well as a fantastic terrace for warm summer's days. It is the sister pub of The Bull at Highgate and is similar in style. I'd recommend both.

This House rocks

September 14, 2007

The House is an unassuming gastropub in the heart of Islington’s charming Canonbury, not far from Upper Street, yet far enough to be one of the few restaurants in the area. The large double front doors are usually always open to their bar patio, but then diners have a more intimate patio to the side along the tree-lined street. Inside, you enter to the semi-circle bar with bar stools and big leather sofas; very inviting and comfortable. In the back towards the open kitchen is the dining room. The ambiance is relaxed and perfect.

I’ve eaten here a half dozen times now and have never been disappointed. The service is attentive, but not over the top and they’re always willing to accommodate special eating needs. The food is some of the best; all fresh, seasonal ingredients, some uniquely prepared, others your old classics, but probably closest to French cuisine. For example, they had oysters on the menu last time I was there as a starter as well as Fois Gras and a seasonal soup. They also offered fillet of beef with béarnaise sauce and hand cut chips or Cajun salmon with avocado salsa and tomato butter or (what I ordered) pan friend sea bass with Jerusalem artichokes on top of a courgette and carrot “linguini” topped with shaved fennel. This is just a few of the wonderful mains on offer. Their menu changes regularly – maybe monthly –to accommodate the seasonality – but everything I’ve had has been scrumptious. And they have the gooey chocolate fondant cake for dessert, yum! Before the smoking ban we used to sit at the bar after our meal with some port and cigars. Even without the cigars, they serve some great wines.

In my eyes, this is a perfect place for a Sunday roast with friends (yes, they do all the trimmings), quiet lunch or romantic dinner. A meal for 2 without wine is around £45.

Tags: Sunday roast, gastropub, French

Welcoming Islington Gastro Pub

August 28, 2007

The House is a real delight. Tucked away from the main Islington drag in leafy Canonbury, it has an inviting terrace for Al Fresco dining should the weather be warm. Inside it's cosy and welcoming with friendly staff and delicious food of the gastro pub variety. Portions are generous and the menu changes often. There's a big wine list to suit all pockets and a small but perfectly formed selection of cocktails. The bar is also a great place to while away an evening or a Saturday afternoon, but you'll no doubt be tempted into the restaurant by the delicious food coming out of the open kitchen. We had so many good times here, that we ended up hiring the place out for our wedding reception in 2006 and it was the perfect setting for the day.