Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
in the mood to talk (rather than at a table, where you're allowed a bit of privacy). The pub
is the next best thing to having relatives in town. Cheers!
P
ub Grub
Pub grub gets better each year. It's London's best indoor eating value. For
£
6-10, you'll get
a basic budget hot lunch or dinner in friendly surroundings. (For something more refined,
try a gastropub, which serves higher-quality meals for
£
12-18.) The
Good Pub Guide
is
an excellent resource (
www.thegoodpubguide.co.uk
)
. Pubs that are attached to restaurants,
advertise their food, and are crowded with locals are more likely to have fresh food and a
chef—and less likely to be the kind of pub that sells only lousy microwaved snacks.
Pubs generally serve traditional dishes, such as fish-and-chips, vegetables, “bangers
and mash” (sausages and mashed potatoes), roast beef with Yorkshire pudding (batter-
baked in the oven), and assorted meat pies, such as steak-and-kidney pie or shepherd's
pie (stewed lamb topped with mashed potatoes). Sunday afternoons at most pubs are re-
served for a traditional favorite, “Sunday Roast,” usually roast beef, pork, or lamb served
with vegetables. Side dishes include salads (sometimes even a nice self-serve salad bar),
vegetables, and—invariably—“chips” (French fries). “Crisps” are potato chips. A “jacket
potato” (baked potato stuffed with fillings of your choice) can almost be a meal in itself.
A “ploughman's lunch” is a “traditional English meal” of bread, cheese, and sweet pickles
that nearly every tourist tries...once. These days, you'll likely find more Italian pasta, cur-
ried dishes, and quiche on the menu than traditional fare.
Meals are usually served 12:00-14:00 and 18:00-20:00—generally not throughout the
day. Since they make more money selling beer, many pubs stop serving meals early in the
evening. There's often no table service. Order at the bar, then take a seat and they'll bring
the food when it's ready (or sometimes you pick it up at the bar). Pay at the bar (some-
times when you order, sometimes after you eat). Don't tip unless it's a place with full table
service. Servings are hearty, service is quick, and you'll rarely spend more than
£
10. (If
you're on a tight budget, consider sharing a meal—note the size of portions around you
before ordering.) A beer or cider adds another couple of pounds. (Free tap water is always
available.)
