Harden's says
Originally established in 1790, this pub has been central to the Clerkenwell community for generations - and was once especially popular with folk from the Observer offices nearby. Recently restored, it now boasts a menu from chef-restaurateur Henry Harris, of Racine fame.
Harden's survey result
Summary
The attractively converted garden room and beautiful upstairs dining room are highlights at this fine old pub (dating from 1790) in Clerkenwell. It hit foodie fame a couple of years ago under well-known chef, Henry Harris: since then the verdict on its gastroboozer fare has been: “variable, but still capable of hitting some top notes”.
Summary
“Lovely”, converted 1790 pub in a “quiet street in Farringdon” – with an “unexpectedly beautiful dining room upstairs” and a “garden out the back” – that makes the perfect setting for its menu of “classic” dishes. But marks have dropped sharply amid grumbles of “inconsistency” following the departure of highly rated Henry Harris, the ex-Racine chef who launched The Coach as chef-director of Harcourt Inns.
Summary
“Downstairs is more noisy”, with a “buzzy” bar at the front, “lovely, glazed-sided restaurant” and a “small terrace garden that’s lovely on a sunny day”; upstairs is more elegant and leisurely at this Clerkenwell three-year-old. Harcourt Inns were credited in the last survey with creating a real “neighbourhood asset” with its opening – let’s hope its “very competent”, “high-class pub-food” survives the departure of chef-director Henry Harris in October 2020.
Summary
Under chef-director, ex-Racine chef Henry Harris, Harcourt Inns have created a real “neighbourhood asset” with this year-old venture in Clerkenwell, winning a steady stream of satisfied reports of its “very competent”, “high-class pub-food”: “an interesting menu with unusual items” of a gutsy Gallic nature. “Downstairs is more noisy”, with a “buzzy” bar at the front, “lovely, glazed-sided restaurant” and a “small terrace garden that’s lovely on a sunny day”; upstairs is more elegant and leisurely.
For 32 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
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Restaurant details
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £23.50 |
| Filter Coffee | £0.00 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £3.50 |
| Service | 12.50% |
26-28 Ray Street, London, EC1R 3DJ
Opening hours
| Monday | 12 pm‑11 pm |
| Tuesday | 12 pm‑11 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑11 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑11 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑11 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑11 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑4 pm |
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