The Artisan of Clerkenwell

4 Reviews on “The Artisan of Clerkenwell”

• Alice Gee

  Fantastic gastropub with simple well executed food and great value. Some of the best chips I have eaten in London. We attended the soft relaunch following refurbishment. It’s 50% off food until August 26, 2016 if you print out the voucher on their facebook page. The place looks very handsome with leather booths and dark wooden farmhouse style tables. Music was a little too loud for the dining room. I wonder if they don’t have separate volume controls for the restaurant and the pub.My companion had Cajun fish and chips. The sweet potato chips were just amazing. Very crunchy, slightly caramelized flavor that contrasted beautifully with the zingy lime mayo served with them.. The mayo had been made with plenty of zest and citrus juice. The battered fish was lovely and light and didn’t taste oily. There were some garnishes of pickles and re-fried beans.My main of pork ribs was enormous. I ended up taking half of the meat home. Ribs were very tender and falling off the bone, though for my taste there was too much of the sweet BBQ sauce slathered on them. Again some of the best fries I have ever had. Thin, very crunchy and seasoned with cayenne and paprika. There was half a cob of corn that had been charred on the grill. It didn’t have that distinctly chewy texture of corn cooked entirely on the grill. The corn had been parboiled, and then blackened a little over flames but it was very pleasant. There was also some undressed watercress and coleslaw that was crunchy and fresh but otherwise indifferent.I would be really happy come back and pay full price. Do be warned about ordering wine here. If you ask for a bottle of the house red, they don’t bring the cheapest bottle (a 19.50 Tempranillo) but the Malbec which is halfway down the list at 23.50.

  November 24, 2016, 3:01 am

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• Roxane Bch

  I haven’t eaten there, just had a drink afterwork with friends. But the purpose of my visit was the venue itself, which had attracted my attention for several weeks. Nestled in the heart of Clerckenwell, near popular The Mdern Pantry in St John Square, I ensure that The Artisan is worth the detour as well. A very nice vintage deco – not that original as we find it a lot in London now, it is true – with comfortable armchairs and a fun babyfoot standing in the main room convey a cosy and relaxed atmosphere.Read more reviews here: http://trendyguide.wordpress.com/ trendyguide.wordpress.com

  July 11, 2013, 12:21 pm

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• Fatema

  I have been here several times with work colleagues for lunch. The menu is great and they always have unique truly British specials. They also have great vegetarian options. The wait staff are nice and the space isn’t usually crowded. Also, it’s quite big so good for large partys. They have an upstairs which has more of a lounge feel so it’s a nice change of scenery.

  July 10, 2013, 3:17 am

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• Bob Goldfish

  Tries hard. Looks pretty. Falls short. Oh dear.The chunky chips were lumps big enough to be roast potatoes (it’s not a chip if you only slice the potato in half once!), the vegetable Wellington was huge lumps of mushroom sandwiched between rock-hard/soggy pastry and the chocolate brownie was a dry, unflavoured lump, worse than a Gregg’s cupcake.Definite lack of finesse, overabundance of lumps.Still if you like trendy places you’ll like this. It has an old bike hung from the ceiling and serves ‘british tapas’ on slate tiles. The loos have a padded bench and the atmosphere’s good. I wanted to like it – maybe we had the chef’s apprentice or something that night…

  January 13, 2013, 7:08 am

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