The Atlas

Janey D   15-03-2006

If this pub was short-listed for a pub of the year award, it's obviously gone down in quality since it didn't win. I have been meaning to try this place after the first time I went there about three years ago, I can't really seem to remember much about it, but everyone has been banging on about it being so good. So, when my friend and I were looking for somewhere to have lunch on Sunday, I immediately thought of this place. When we walked in, the place was quite vibey, full of people eating and drinking. It was about one o'clock so we hadn't quite beat the crowds, but soon after we walked in the garden became full too. They have this nifty cover thingy which comes down over the garden when it's windy, cold and rainy, and pulls back when the sun comes out. We got one of the last table in the gardens after ordering our food and drinks at the bar."And we waited. And waited. The waitress scurried back and forth with platefuls of food to other tables, while we waited. After 45 minutes I flagged her down and said, "can we have some bread, we have ordered food, but we're quite hungry." She looked at me like I had just committed a crime against humanity. "You'll have to wait until there is some hot enough." Fine, I thought. "Ten minutes later, we were still waiting. I decided to ask her about the food. She looked blank when I repeated our order, a chicken and a sausages. Off she went. Sure enough, five minutes later she came back apologetically saying they didn't have the order. So we re-ordered, and waited another twenty minutes. When the food eventually did come it was pretty average. Uneventful chicken with potatoes, and slightly burnt sausages with slimey polenta, both piled high with rocket, as it seemed every other dish coming out of the kitchen was. Edible, but certainly not food I would expect from a "short listed pub of the year" menu. "In fact, the glass of red wine I ordered with the sausages was also unmemorable and bland also. After another beer we decided to go for a walk, and ordered our bill at the bar. The barman said "that'll be �28 please" without showing me the bill. I hate that. "Could I see the bill please?" I asked. Sure enough. Wrong bill. He gave me another one for considerably less that was still not our bill, but looked cheaper than what our one should have been - �18. So, naturally I said - "yes that's it" thinking we should have been given a complimentary drink anyway for the stuff-up on the table. I then saw him ringing the bill that wasn't ours onto a credit card that wasn't mine. At this stage I probably would have let him had my credit card not being held hostage behind the bar. I corrected him, then he changed his mind again about the bill. "That's not yours," he said, "This is," presenting me with yet another bill. Yes, that was our food on that bill, but our drinks had been failed to be rung through. So I signed off, and left, not leaving a tip. �21 for two meals, two glasses of wine and two beers. A bargain! However, I shan't be returning to this pub. Too much hard work for a Sunday lunch!

Robbie Jackson   15-03-2006

Understandable why this made it to the short list for the Evening Standard Pub of the Year 2002. Good food, good wine list and excellent beer. Friendly bar staff make the atmosphere all very easy going. Attracts a crowd in the 20's/30's who have got fed up with the usual run of places in Fulham, so expect Fleeces and Puffa Jackets. This is a pub worth finding it has that warm local vibe the first time you walk in.

Chris Russell   15-03-2006

This is a real asset to the area.Very reasonable, Excellent foot, Excellent choice of wines and beers, but also good choice of soft drinks including such esoterics ( for London) as Cranberry juice! the Donald's chocolate and almond cake is a must and they are always generous with the cream. One piece is frequently enough for two. The first reviewer had an unlucky experience and I urge them to go back and give it another try. They have a jolly team of Aussies, Kiwis, Brazilians and South Africans working here and I have never found them to be uncourteous. Quite the reverse.The little suntrap is another plus.But don't tell everyone or it will get even busier!!