Goodman’s Field

This is literally our local pub. It's situated right downstairs of our building. It's one of the chain of JD Weatherspoon pubs around, and since they were having their "Fullers Festival" for 10 days only, I decided it was now or never to visit.

Food

Well, it's pub grub, no gastro pubs here. Slokky had the Fish and chips - Battered fillet of cod, with chips, peas and tartare sauce. We got a pretty generous piece of fish, but the batter was kinda limp and the dish tasteless. The chips tastes really healthy but at least they were nice and fat. And peas are peas, even in London. I tried the Cottage pie, chips and peas. This was more successful, but don't expect anything spectacular. Some salty, but at least not dried beef paired with some fake mash. The best thing though, was the vast arrange of sauces they provide for you. Besides your normal tomato and mayonnaise, you also get all different kinds of mustards, salad cream, mint sauce and malt vinegar. Just pour a vast amount of these all over your food, and you'll be set.

I think I am going to develop a beer drinking habit soon, but the Fullers London Pride I tried was not as good as the John Smith's. Better than anything Australia produces, but I don't think this one does London proud.

Rating - 4.5

Atmosphere

Well, the place was really crowded on a Wednesday night. The crowd though, is more of your family hangout than anything else. In face, it's extremely children friendly.

Rating - 1.5

Service

Well, at least the barman knows how to pour a beer. Besides that, it's a pub, so leave or take as you will.

Rating - 2.5

C-factor

We had the two meals for 7.49 deal. On Wednesdays, all pints are 1.89. It used to be cheaper too, but prices here have gone up. I guess for London it's not too bad.

Rating - 0.5

Brownie Points - 9

Info

87–91 Mansell Street
Aldgate
London
E1 8AN
Phone 020 7680 2850

Website

Isis Bar and Lounge

We went looking for pub that was showing the Premier League instead of the rugby on a Sunday afternoon. We expected it to be and easy task, this was London afterall. Little did we know that the CBD is basically dead on a weekend. We walked past several closed pubs, a few showing the rugby, even one showing BBC news (!), and was getting a bit desperate before we stumbled on this quiet little bar situated in a hotel. They had the Premier League on, and that was good enough for us.

It's a bit more pricey than some, but they have made it more like a bar than a pub. I actually don't mind the pubs here, but this "bar" has banquet seating, so I guess that's why they can charge more. Still, there are enough beers on tap to please. I chose something that I'd never tried before, and something that I thought was a bit "English sounding", so that's how I ended up with a glass of John Smith's Extra Smooth, which was actually very smooth, not unlike German beers.

The bar girl was so slow, even though we were the only customers, and took over 10 minutes before our drinks were ready. And the game? Chelsea won 2-1 over Man United. Not that I care. I had my beer and my bar snack (free nuts) to keep me happy.

Info

14 Coopers Row,
Tower Hill,
London,
EC3N 2BQ
Phone 20 7863 3700
Website

Bib Gourmand 2007 - UK

London
Beckenham, Mello
Bloomsbury, The Salt Yard
Blackheath, Chapter Two
Hammersmith, Agni
Shepherd’s Bush, Havelock Tavern
Archway, The Parsee
Clerkenwell, Comptoir Gascon
Islington, Metrogusto
Chelsea, Racine
Kensington, Malabar
Kew, Ma Cuisine
Twickenham, Brula Bistrot
Twickenham, Tangawizi
Twickenham, Ma Cuisine
Southwark, Anchor and Hope
Whitechapel, Cafe Spice Namaste
Battersea, The Butcher & Grill
Southfields, Sarkhel’s
Bayswater & Maida Vale, L’Accento
Mayfair, Via Condotti
St James’s, Al Duca
St James’s, Brasserie Roux

England
Aldeburgh, The Lighthouse.
Alderley Edge, The Wizard
Blackpool, Twelve
Boroughbridge, thediningroom
Bray-on-Thames, Hinds Head
Brighton, The Real Eating Company
Brighton, Terre à Terre
Bromsgrove, Epic
Budleigh Salterton, Gardiners
Burnham Market, The Restaurant
Bury, The Waggon
Cambridge, 22 Chesterton
Canterbury, The Granville
Castle Cary, The Camelot
Guernsey, The Pavilion
Jersey, Village Bistro
Jersey, Green Island
Chipping Campden, Churchill Arms
Cranbrook, Apicius
Danehill, Coach & Horses
Durham, Bistro 21
Exeter, Jack in the Green Inn
Faversham, The Dove
Haddenham, Green Dragon
Hurley, Black Boys Inn
Husthwaite, The Roasted Pepper
Hutton Magna, Oak Tree Inn
Itteringham, Walpole Arms
Kenilworth, Simply Simpsons
Knaresborough, The General Tarleton Inn
Leeds, Anthony’s at Flannels
Leeds, Brasserie Forty Four
Little Wilbraham, The Hole in the Wall
Liverpool, Simply Heathcotes
Loughborough, Lang’s
Lowick, Snooty Fox
Manchester, Café Jem&I
Manchester, Palmiro
Masham, Vennell’s
Melton Mowbray, Red Lion Inn
Mistley, The Mistley Thorn
Newcastle upon Tyne, Amer’s
Norwich, 1Up at the Mad Moose Arms
Norwich, Wildebeest Arms
Oldham, The White Hart Inn
Orford, The Trinity
Oxford, Mole Inn
Padstow, Rick Stein’s Café
Preston, Inside Out
Preston, Winkleigh Square Chop House
Ross-on-Wye, The Lough Pool Inn
Rushlake Green, Stone House
St Albans, Sukiyaki
Saxmundham, The Bell
Sheffield, Artisan
Skipton, Angel Inn
Southport, Warehouse Brasserie
Sowerby Bridge, The Millbank
Speldhurst, George & Dragon
Stamford, Jim’s Yard
Stamford, The Jackson Stops Inn
Stow-on-the Wold, The Old Butchers
Summercourt, Viners
Sutton-on-the-Forest, Rose & Crown
Tetbury, The Gumstool Inn
Tynemout, Sidney’s
Ullingswick, Three Crowns
Wells, The Old Spot
Westfield,The Wild Mushroom
West Malling, The Swan
Whitstable, The Sportsman
Witney, The Navy Oak
Woodbridge, The Captain’s Table
York, J. Bakers

Scotland
Crieff, The Bank
Edinburgh, Atrium
Kilberry (Kintyre), Kilberry Inn
Perth, 63 Tay Street
Sorn, Sorn Inn
Strathyre, Creagan House

Wales
Abergavenny, The Hardwick
Newport, The Chandlery

Northern Ireland
Belfast, Cayenne
Belfast, Deanes Brasserie
Holywood, Fontana

Republic of Ireland
Baltimore, Customs House
Cashel, Café Hans
Dingle, The Chart House
Dublin, Bang Café
Dublin, La Maison des Gourmets
Duncannon, Aldridge Lodge
Durrus, Good Things Café
Kenmare, The Lime Tree
Kilbrittain, Casino House
Kinsale, Fishy Fishy Café