Sunday roast in London

Hi Erica: I am going back to London in a few weeks and I will let you know where I went to eat. I went last year to London and loved Souk Medina which is a Moroccan restaurant in Neal's Yard. I also went to the Counting House Pub which is in the city of London and I enjoyed that. I also enjoyed the cafeteria for lunch in St Martin's in the Crypt. When I went to Kensington Palace to see Princess Diana's clothes I had lunch at the Orangery and very much liked that.

I made a reservation to go to Scoff & Banter for tea and hopefully that will be nice. I would love to go to Claridges for tea but it is a bit pricey and I am going alone and would rather go with someone to have tea there. But Scoff & Banter on Oxford street looks nice and most of the reviews were good.

Dinner at the Victorian Pub near Paddington Station was also good as was The Hereford Arms (pub need reservations on a Sat nite) at 127 Gloucester Road. Bumpkin restarant was also very good.

I hope this helps.

I am most curious where people recommend a Sunday roast as I will be in London on a Sunday and want a roast dinner at a pub.

"I am most curious where people recommend a Sunday roast as I will be in London on a Sunday and want a roast dinner at a pub."

Are you aware that a roast dinner is usually eaten early afternoon rather than in the evening, which follows the traditional meal times of breakfast, dinner and tea.

Hawksmoor Knightsbridge came highly recommended with many good reviews. Maybe a few locals can chime in about it? We ended up not going as we had other plans for the day.

The problem with a Sunday roast is that it's very hard to replicate out of the home. The meat is best when it's cooked for the required time, rested appropriately and then served, this can't be done with a service lasting several hours and for many people. The other main component is the roast potato which rapidly lose their crispness if not served immediately, a soggy or dry roast potato is a sad affair. I've never had a decent roast dinner outside of a private home and I've given up looking for one.

I'm curious whether JC or others with Sunday roast expertise would consider the Hare and Hounds in Newbury -- with their "Big Bertha" oven -- an acceptable substitute for having it at home?

See https://www.facebook.com/The-Hare-and-Hounds-213891771980711/

I agree with harleydonski. If you wait until dinner time for Sunday roast, the roast will be gone. Last November we had Sunday roast at the Mute Swan by Hampton Court Palacesince that’s where we happened to be.

In the Westminster area, I'd take a look at the Fullers Ale and PIe House. I did not eat a Sunday roast there, but I ate there three times last November while staying in the area and the food was excellent each time, as well as the ales.

https://www.sanctuaryhousehotel.co.uk/-/media/sites/microsites/s/the-sanctuary-house-hotel-_-h006/files/2018/sanctuary-house-sunday-menu.pdf

Sunday roasts are mid afternoon meals. Many pubs have them.

Historically Pubs are social community meeting places. That means they are where families and friends gather. Yes alcohol is served but you'll see babies in prams, grams, children and adults, especially at Sunday Roasts.

Great first time to London experience.

My go to place for Sunday Roast is the Oxford Tavern in Kentish Town.

Found the Tavern about 7 years ago. Was staying off the Prince of Wales Road in my first AirBnb experience. Kentish Town hadn't yet been hit with gentrification as it has now. The thought of a Wahaca about the tube station was far from happening.

https://www.oxfordtavern.co.uk/

Consider visiting the ever popular Camden Lock Market (believe it opens at 10am) that Sunday morning and then meander over to the Oxford Tavern. About a 20 minute stroll. There is also the Grafton Pub which is closer. Had a Sunday roast there last November. Perfectly fine.

I'll let others suggest places for afternoon tea.

Great city. Lots to see and do. Hope you do take the time to watch the Lord Mayor's Parade one of my favorite fun November traditional events to watch. https://rove.me/to/london/the-lord-mayors-show

Pricey but we loved Fortnum and Mason's tea-quiet and peaceful with a pianist. The price doesn't look as bad when you realize that it's your dinner. And one of my requirements-they don't require you to dress up-business casual is fine. We did this on the day we arrived and it was really relaxing.

@ epitd

The type of oven makes no difference to a roast potato (except a steam or microwave obviously). The perfect roast potato is made with either a Maris Piper (my favourite) or a King Edward. My mum, who isn't a great cook always uses plain White potatoes and hers turn out crap. They should be peeled and par boiled for around ten minutes or until a knife pierces easily, you can take them to almost falling apart point but that's a risky technique when it comes to shaking them to fluff up the outside and encourage more crispiness. Finally they should be roasted for about an hour in either beef dripping, duck or goose fat. I prefer goose fat with a bit of added sunflower oil to bring out even more crisp! You cannot replicate this on a large catering scale without having large numbers of potatoes sitting under a heat lamp and turning from great to horrible.

As for the Hare and Hounds their facebook pages has a photo of one of their roast potatoes and it looks just like those horrible ones I've eaten before.

For afternoon tea we enjoyed Brown’s Hotel in Mayfair last year.

https://www.roccofortehotels.com/hotels-and-resorts/browns-hotel/restaurants-and-bars/english-tea-room/

Thanks everyone for all of your responses and suggestions for afternoon tea and Sunday roast. This gives me several places to consider and research. I appreciate the help. Although Sunday roast may be best prepared at home I’d still like to experience it in a good restaurant when I am in London.
Ann, please PM me when you return from London and let me know about the places you enjoyed eating and visiting. Thanks again everyone.
Erica

You could go top of the line by going to Simpson’s on the Strand, next door to the Savoy Hotel. This is a 150 year old restaurant specializing in very traditional British cooking in an beautiful setting. I remember being taken to lunch there by a well off uncle a long time ago..... The roasts are brought to the table on a trolley and are carved to your taste. You have a choice of roast beef with all the trimmings, or roast lamb. They also do steaks, stews etc. Check out the menu (called bill of fare) on their website.

Erica, Glady share my findings while in London with you upon my return. If I don't remember as I will be gone for almost 3 weeks, please send me a PM at the end of September to remind me!