Friend's New Pub North London — Review by Eating With Tod
London, United Kingdom — British Pub
A newly opened North London pub showcasing a chef's year of recipe development with handmade menu items. The roast dinner is exceptional, featuring perfectly cooked pork belly, silky gravy, and fluffy roast potatoes, while the burger and wings specials offer great value with homemade sauces.
What was great: Handmade croissants filled with cacio pepe arancini, exceptional roast dinner with crispy pork belly and juicy meat, thick dark gravy, perfectly cooked roast potatoes with beef dripping, cauliflower cheese, fresh burgers and wings with homemade sauces
What could improve: Nothing mentioned
The Dishes
The menu demonstrates impressive craftsmanship across every item. The croissants are entirely handmade and filled with a cacio pepe arancini that delivers both salty and creamy notes in perfect balance. The roast dinner is the standout, presented with such quality it could hang in the Tate Modern. The pork belly showcases a crispy, golden skin while maintaining incredibly juicy meat inside. The accompanying gravy is thick, dark, and richly flavored - genuinely impressive enough to satisfy even northerners known for their roast dinner standards. The roast potatoes, cooked in beef dripping, achieve that ideal balance of fluffy interior and golden exterior. The cauliflower cheese requires no explanation - it's simply excellent. The Thursday burger special features quality aged beef, smoked bacon, mustard mayo, pickles, and shredded lettuce with a remarkable crust. The wings are freshly battered with entirely homemade sauces, and Wednesday specials offer wings for just 1.50 pounds.
The Experience
This is a struggling new establishment that opened with genuine passion and dedication. The owner invested a full year into recipe development and personally handmakes every single item on the menu. The atmosphere clearly reflects this care and attention to detail.
Value and Pricing
The pricing is remarkably reasonable for the quality offered. Main courses start from 20 pounds, with the burger, chips, and beer Thursday special at 16.50 pounds, and wings available for just 1.50 pounds on Wednesdays. These prices offer exceptional value for the handmade, quality-focused preparation.
Notable Moments
Just listen to the pork belly. The skin's crispy, but the meat's so juicy. The gravy, it's thick. It's dark. Even a northerner would be happy.
The reviewer visited at the request of a friend struggling to attract customers despite obvious culinary talent and dedication.
The Verdict
This North London pub deserves far more attention than it's currently receiving. It's a gem run by a genuinely talented chef who cares about every element on the plate. Ideal for anyone seeking traditional British pub food executed at an exceptionally high standard with handmade attention to detail.