How I heard of this place: Initially, I had heard of AGAINN through various positive gastronimical reviews. Later, it was on DC’s list of restaurants in their equivalent of Seattle’s Dine Around. Not long after, I found a LivingSocial deal, and it was on! Type of cuisine: «AGAINN is a contemporary gastropub. We are a place to gather and enjoy traditional pub fare with a modern twist. We pride ourselves in using sustainable seafood, organic meats, and sourcing from select local farms. We offer extensive single-malt Scotch, whisky, and beer selections, as well as fine wines, hand-crafted cocktails, and personal scotch lockers. AGAINN is Gaelic that loosely translates as: «with us» or «at us?“‘Til we meet, AGAINN. Drink Slowly. Eat well. Speak kindly.» Ambiance: 11th Street is in view of every seat set in the black-umbrella-ed outdoor patio as well as those inside the floor-to-high-ceiling tinted windows. While we chose to sit outside and partake of the cooling summer evening air, inside the large glass doors we were greeted by three hosts at a large podium. The small lobby area, with intricately tiled floors in black, with mustard-yellow flowers complement the side wall of black, wrought-iron(it seems) dog head sculptures poking out of black shadow-box-type frames. The interior sleek, spacious and open, leads from restaurant seating with neighboring patrons, to a more intimate, dark seating area at back, as well as private conference table seating for a slightly larger party. Lighting is dim, people speak in soft voices and one really only hears the soft use of eating utensils as diners ooh and aww over their meals. What I ordered: We were pretty hungry, after our 4-miles of walking, cheering and sunbathing at the Gay Pride Parade and needed a full meal. To start, we enjoyed the highly recommended Baked Camembert Cheese($ 17) studded with garlic and rosemary, and served alongside tomato chutney and garlic croutes. While greatly intrigued by the Feta-Watermelon salad, we opted for greens, and went with the Prosciutto Salad($ 18), with plum tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, caramelized red onions and mixed greens tossed in an aged balsamic and olive oil dressing. For our main entrees, my husband opted for the Bangers & Mash($ 18): house-made bangers(sausages) and creamy mash swimming in an onion gravy. He preferred my Fish & Chips($ 18) with beer-battered cod, a side of mushy peas, homemade tartar sauce, ketchup and half a lemon served on a wooden cutting board block. As a sweet treat to finish off our meal, we selected the Banoffee Pie($ 9), reminiscent of my first sampling in London’s Soho: a graham cracker crust, sliced bananas, caramelized condensed milk, topped with freshly whipped cream. This was a little different, having been served in a cold, glass jar and served atop a smaller wooden cutting board. What I loved: My favorite item in our dinner extravaganza was the salad with fresh buffalo mozzarella. The close second being our appetizer: baked Camembert. Following that, the onion gravy, tartar sauce, my crispy fish, the fries and bangers & mash. Why I loved it: Cool interior(though we enjoyed the cool breeze in the umbrella-shaded outdoor patio heat), friendly, knowledgeable staff, and our $ 50 LivingSocial savings! Cost: High($ 17-$ 36 per entrée)
Daniel A.
Évaluation du lieu : 3 Arlington, VA
Summary: Overall, good quality food and an EXPANSIVE beer selection(draft and bottle). I think the price point is too high for what you get and the quality of service. Walked in and found the place rather empty for a Monday night just after Happy Hour. No one was at the host stand but someone arrived within a minute or two. Nice looking place and definitely not a typical English style place. The raw bar in the front was empty… just a bunch of ice which was surprising for 7:30 pm. Not sure if they were out or just didn’t have anything that day. Service: It leaved a lot to be desired. Reminded me of the service you would expect from a chain like Friday’s or Ruby Tuesday. It was our first time, so we tried to get some ideas about popular dishes or specials, but it felt like pulling teeth. I didn’t even notice there was a Charcuterie Board hanging behind me showing the daily choices. Food: The Halibut was pretty good but rather small. The Shepard’s Pie, one of the better ones I’ve had here in DC. Thin and overpriced for the amount you get. The Brussels Sprouts w/bacon… really good but hard to justify the $ 10 price tag. I probably will not return if I am paying since I can find similarly good good for much better prices and service.
Adena B.
Évaluation du lieu : 4 San Francisco, CA
This place caught my eye way back when: when I heard they have Scotch lockers. That’s right, a place to store your Macallan 64 so you don’t have to order the Johnny Walker Black, because that’s for pedestrian common folk who lack taste buds(seriously, that stuff’s gross). Anyway, I suggested we have dinner here for a good friend’s birthday. With standard pub fare, some snazzy meats and seafoods, I wasn’t too impressed with dinner. Really, I was here for the fantastic Scotch selection(if you want burnt pudding, go for Speyside; if you want burnt peat, go for Islay), and the banoffee pie(which was a deconstructed version served in a mason jar; and honestly, pure heaven). Decent service, typical DC prices, and awesome Scotch and pie.
Kelly G.
Évaluation du lieu : 4 Washington, DC
Yes, I visited AGAINN during Unilocal Drinks Week with Samantha G. I had the Little Sister and it was delicious and potent. I was dreaming of none other when I returned in May for a full sit-down dinner with Saint G. Alas, that drink had been taken off the menu by then. {whine} So I settled for the drink of the day or the new thing on the menu which was nothing like my beloved Little Sister. Dam. The name, Grandma Crusta, even caused a totally different reaction. Oh well. It was strong and interesting. But I still wanted my Little Sister. Oh well. It was good enough to wash down the hummus. Tne hummus itself was very tasty. Nice tang. A few delicious, welcomed larger pieces of bean made me think it was made in house not Sabra. I did not like the bread rounds served with it. They were so hard I thought I was going to break a tooth biting it. Moving on. I had the seafood risotto. Saint G. the snapper, and we shared the mason jar of deconstructed banoffee pie for dessert. I loved the risotto. Ooooh, the risotto was done. Not like dried grains of rice barely soaked in broth like some other restaurants serve. There was a great variety of seafood. One scallop. Two shrimp. Three chunks of salmon. And a smattering of bivalves(clams, mussels). It was all good and fresh and hot. And I couldn’t finish it. But there was just this sinking feeling that I hadn’t gotten the best value for my money with that dish. Oh well you live and you learn. By the way, I couldn’t even get a small taste of Saint G.‘s snapper she ate it up so fast. The mason jar of deconstructed banoffee pie was actually my first experience with banoffee pie. The flavors were good. Sweet banana and some caramelish taste. Chocolate. Crust. But wow. Could you actually make it into an actual pie? Oh well, you live and you learn. I liked AGAINN enough I guess. I would return I guess. I would just order something totally different like the food that was delivered to nearby tables.
Alycia J.
Évaluation du lieu : 1 Washington, DC
I seem to be striking out with restaurants the past two weeks. Tonight I attended the $ 80 Scotch tasting that Againn offered through LivingSocial. I expected to attend an event where I would sample a few different brands and varieties of scotch presented by knowledgeable Againn staff. Instead I paid for a two hour sales pitch by Compass Box Whisky Company.( ) Let me quote the deal: «After receiving a welcome cocktail, skilled taste masters will walk you through a rotating selection of five different Scotch whiskies from renowned distillers such as Ardbeg, Lagavulin, Johnnie Walker, and more.» No such thing, a Compass Box representative stood at the front of the room as we went through 7 sips of the Compass Box whiskies. That’s it. ONE brand and no «skilled taste masters» Another quote directly from the deal: «As you quaff, pair your tastings with gastro-grub from eight different food stations, offering raw bar oysters and shrimp, house-made bangers, steak-and-Guinness pie, and the restaurant’s signature banoffee pie, among other items.» Nope. No dice. The oysters were absent, and there were THREE food stations. To top off the night, the«Take-home gift bag» was a dollar store mini gift bag with a single piece of paper inside advertising Compass Box whiskies and NOTHINGELSE. Why would they even kill trees for that? I know that when a single brand sponsors an event, they provide the liquor gratis to the venue. So basically I was charged $ 80 and all Againn provided were a few sliders and sample sized portions of a few menu items. I’ve been scammed and I don’t like it. I’ve already written LivingSocial and I will be calling Againn and LivingSocial during business hours tomorrow to request a full refund for the«LivingSocial Gourmet» deal. Crossing my fingers that the next place I try isn’t a dud. Third time’s the charm right? UPDATE: LivingSocial gave me a refund for the deal. If you attended this event and did not think it was worth any money, please call and complain.
Lauren M.
Évaluation du lieu : 2 Providence, RI
I’ve heard great things, but I wasn’t impressed. We went here to use a LivingSocial around 5 pm after work on a Thursday. The restaurant’s website makes it seem like AGAINN is a cozy, dark-wooded bar with an English pub feel. However, it was much more modern than it seemed and smelled of bleach. We were seated immediately, but our server was not great. The place was nearly empty, yet it took her forever to take our order and bring our check later on in the evening. The alcohol prices were reasonable($ 5-$ 9 for a beer, $ 35 for a flight of scotch) and the selection was quite expensive. AGAINN is incredibly proud of their food, however. We ordered the baked camembert cheese to share, which was about $ 12. The tomato chutney was too sweet and the rosemary overpowered the cheese. Overall, we were not impressed. We might venture back here to try a new beer or bourbon, but overall we were not impressed.
Charles H.
Évaluation du lieu : 4 Arlington, VA
On the first day of Summer 2012 a coworker and I had lunch at Againn. Using , I RSVP’d per the living-social requirement; however, the restaurant was not busy. Kind of pointless to RSVP for lunch, but I was just following the rules. We sat at the bar where the bartender, Nathan, provided excellent service and recommendations. For starters we ordered the corn beef sliders. Although small in quantity(two) the taste was ginormous! Tender and full of flavor as Againn cures the corn beef for 28 days. The side pickles and onions aioli were delicious as well. A few minutes later my fish and chips were delivered and plated on-top of a cutting board. The basket of fries were wrapped in a wax-like paper resembling a newspaper. The fried filet fish was laid on-top of the fries. The friedness had a taste of freshness as there wasn’t any excess oil residue. The result. a crispy and lite fish. There was a side of creamy mashed peas as well. The mashed peas tasted fine but I’m not much of a fan of peas. My coworker ordered the 8oz Bistro Fillet. He seemed to enjoy it. Overall great food, friendly service and fair prices. Yes, I would come here Againn!
Nate H.
Évaluation du lieu : 4 Palm Springs, CA
Love this place! Classy yet great upscale pub food. Check out their new menu. Happy staff, great service. Nice long bar with great cocktail menu.
Albert L.
Évaluation du lieu : 4 Sterling, VA
Finally checked out AGAINN with a friend after deciding to change it up and actually grab food in the city for once. I was actually surprised at how cool the décor and layout was, definitely British and it had that industrial/warehouse feel. Actually, it kind of reminded me of Butler’s Wharf along the Thames in London(more specifically the Chop House). I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s what they were going for. The lighting and seating are well spaced and give it a nice, smokey ambiance. Service was a bit cool, but our waitress was kind enough to help us out with food selections and checking on us. They have a decent selection of beers on tap, though I would have expected more selections from a British gastropub. The food menu was actually very focused and pleasing to read through. I think it’s a great sign about the quality of the restaurant if I can get excited about the food just reading through the menu selections. I ended up going with the beetroot salad and lamb shoulder. The salad was awesome. The pieces of beetroot were a luscious red(it will stain, so be mindful), and it was complimented by the feta and citrus also on the plate. The lamb shoulder was amazing as well — tender and fell apart when I picked at it with my fork. The braised chard underneath was also very flavorful because of the broth. Now, I wasn’t expecting prices to be so high, but after review, I believe they are justified for the area and for the quality that you get. The whole experience is great if you want to try something different from the typical DC fare and stereotypical crowds.
Doug P.
Évaluation du lieu : 4 Los Angeles, CA
I came here recently to use a Groupon deal and try it out. This meal was worth it full price or with a deal. It has a unique look to it– old leather den meets kitchen. The Scotch lockers add a unique look as well(I enjoy scotch and whiskey, but don’t think I will be purchasing a locker for my own bottle anytime soon). The Fish and chips was a very large portion, but the size of the Salmon was HUGE. I really don’t recall the last time I saw a restaurant so generous with their portions. The service was also very freidnly and attentive throughout the meal. In terms of drinks, they make a great Old fashioned. Overall, the quality of the meal was also extremely good. I did not get to try the oysters but plan to go back soon and conquer that oyster bar… I think this is a great addition near the convention center area!
Clifford D.
Évaluation du lieu : 4 Washington, DC
The service at the bar at Againn is excellent. All the bartenders are super friendly and attentive. The happy hour deals are pretty good and I like their selection of draft beer. I enjoyed the food I ordered, although I thought it was overpriced. If the food was cheaper, I’d give it five stars. I really like the atmosphere and design of Againn. I will be back.
Renee H.
Évaluation du lieu : 5 Bristow, VA
LOVE the bar! Our drink artist, Brent, was absolutely the best. He worked his magic with his cocktails and he really knows his drinks. I had no problem ordering more drinks because they were worth every penny! We never got a chance to sit down at the restaurant side to eat but the atmosphere was great. We will keep coming back because of Brent. He made our first experience an unforgettable one!
Nicole L.
Évaluation du lieu : 4 Washington, DC
The restaurant was packed when we walked in luckily I made a reservation prior to going. We were greeted by the friendly manager and the host took us right to the table. The restaurant, a gastropub looked well-made compared to many so called upscale restaurants in DC. The dark wood and tiles that were high quality were also aesthetically pleasing. Due to its casual appearance it’s a tough sell for the food that was supposed to be more upscale. We started off with the Pimm’s Cup and a Scottish ale appropriately named as the Skullsplitter. The Pimm’s Cup was a very refreshing cocktail it was light on the alcohol despite being most noted 1) for the bartenders 2) for specialty cocktails. When the beer arrived at the table, the beer froth had subsided it ended up looking like a half-poured beer. At this point it would be the responsibility of the waiter to ensure quality control of the beer but that didn’t happen. For $ 9 a glass I expected a nicely poured beer. The beer had a punch and slightly bitter ending due to the hop. The breads were freshly baked and slight warm that was definitely a plus! We ordered the black pudding and beet salad for appetizers. For entrees, we had the Scottish salmon and braised veal. Homemade black pudding with apple purée, pickled sunchokes, petite cress: pan fried to a nice crisp on the outside the flavor was great! It was definitely taking everyday food to another level. Beet salad with navel orange, pickled fennel, ricotta salata, spiced walnuts, honey dressing: a very balanced salad. I particularly loved the ricotta salada that was shaved all over the plate it had a mild creamy texture that went with the citrus and beets on the plate. The slight nutty flavors from the spiced walnuts completed the dish. Pan-seared Scottish Salmon with roasted beets, marble potatoes, horseradish: the almost white color of the fish was a contrast to the usual salmon it also tasted more like a white fish than a salmon, slightly firmer and less fatty flavors. Braised veal breast with whole grain mustard spaetzle, red wine braised torpedo onions: the cube of a veal slowly braised it was fork tender the meat shredded easily. The fried spaetzle and slightly sweet onions combined really well with the tender meat. It was well-seasoned and quite harmonious. Sticky toffee pudding with toffee sauce, stout ice cream: the most lovely dessert outside of chocolate or fruity desserts for me. I explained to my bf who was not familiar with toffee that it was caramelized sugar with addition of butter or sometimes flour. The stout ice cream tasted like a creamy bailey’s together with the slightly warm and soaked bread this dessert was just perfect. The toffee sauce gave subtle smokey and deep flavors. The focal point of the dessert? Well it was the dessert itself not the typical sickening sugary desserts that I loathed. Again it was a balanced dessert with just the right portion. Overall, I really enjoyed the dinner at Againn. I found the food to be of high quality and well-balanced. The price point was definitely higher than the restaurant looked. It’s a tough sell for a gastropub especially here in the US where people don’t eat the same type of pub food like in England. Though it had the appeal of a casual pub, it was surprisingly a gourmet delight. I would definitely go back especially if they have Sunday roast but they are closed on Sundays.
Mike G.
Évaluation du lieu : 4 Camp Lejeune, NC
I can’t say enough about this pub and their staff. I planned a get together for a bachelor party and we started our night here. I wanted to plan a scotch tasting and dinner, but had a hard time finding a place that did both. Romeo, the general manager, personally helped me pick the tasting flights and was present during the tasting to tell us about the origins and taste profiles of the different scotches. His knowledge was impressive and added a nice touch to the night. A call only four days ahead secured us the private table in their tap room(not exactly a private room, but separate from the bar). It was perfect for our group of eight. It even had a flat screen so we could watch the SEC championship. In reading some of the reviews, I was concerned about the noise level, this was not an issue(on a Saturday night no less). Following the tasting we dove right in to appetizers and dinner, all of which were amazing. The entire group was impressed with everything from start to finish. If there was one downside, be prepared to drop a little coin. However, the quality matches the price. I highly recommend the Mussels and the Hanger Steak. Great location, great service, great food… I highly recommend Againn and can’t thank them enough for helping to make a great start to our night.
Sarah S.
Évaluation du lieu : 4 Sonoma, CA
Decided to visit Againn for dinner with a couple of friends. I had interest in visiting for a while, always liking the look of the restaurant when walking by and finding the menu decent. We made an Open Table res and were seated a the table of our choice(I’m a table snob) quickly. Staff was friendly and welcoming. They have a small wet bar at the entrance(very small) and a larger bar, which was filled with«DC business types»(we’d say«yuppies» if this was the 1980s) the bar was nice, but, the scene at it wasn’t my scene. We sat near the wine cellar; through it you can see the kitchen. The menu was nice; just the right size with still lots of interesting options. One person at the table ordered a Pimm’s Cup and the others glasses of wine. The wine is poured at the table and they allow you to try the wine before you accept a full class. The food was delicious, one of the best meals I have had in DC in quite sometime. All seasonal, and despite it being a rather«small» appearing menu, the options are overwhelming — so many delicious things, so hard to decide. I had steak frites — an old favorite — and it was wonderful. Friends had pork(I don’t remember what) and a fish dish, both very happy. Overall, the meal was great, and the experience was enjoyable. The waitstaff did seem overwhelmed and we had to wait quite sometime for our check, but our waiter was very friendly. Looking forward to visiting again!
Ryan Z.
Évaluation du lieu : 4 Washington, DC
If you haven’t been to Againn recently, you might want to make a return trip. While the restaurant has retained it’s Gaelic name, the menu has taken a new direction. While there are still a few dishes inspired by the British Isles, the menu has been substantially diversified to represent a pub that, as per the manager, «just takes its food very seriously.» Oddly, the menus are presented on office clipboards and printed on copy paper. While I miss some of the updated British classics, everything I recently sampled was very strong. The veal breast was nicely braised and served on a bed of mustardy spaetzle and onions. The hanger steak was buttery and served with thick-cut fries(still called«chips» on the menu) and nicely balanced by a small watercress salad. Againn has a raw bar, and while the oysters were fresh, they were a bit small for the price and I was not a fan of the brine. The staple banoffee pie is a perfect dessert that’s not too sweet or heavy. Service was friendly and attentive. While I do miss many of their British-inspired dishes, Againn is a strong restaurant that I will come back to.
Rachel A.
Évaluation du lieu : 3 Washington, DC
Well, that was the most awkward dinner service I’ve had in recent history. I think our waiter might have been new because immediately after we sat down and had menus in hand he started asking us «would you like a bottle of wine? What would you like to drink?» etc. I mean really, give us a second to look things over! Everything he said was spoken like it was a question, and he didn’t seem to know what was on the menu because he had to look over my shoulder to clarify what I was ordering. Oh, and a bus boy spilled a carafe of water on my friend and we were barely offered an apology. But anyways, the food was actually quite good. The pints of prawns with bloody mary sauce was a great starter. The sauce was like a cocktail sauce but almost with a hint of bbq sauce. I know good fish &chips because I lived in London, and the fish here was average(a little soggy?), the mushy peas were cold, but the chips(fries for you Americans) were very very tasty and crisp. I also tried my friend’s hanger steak which was really tender and flavorful. I can’t vouch for the veal at our table but it looked delicious. For dessert we split the banoffee pie and I thought was great. BUT. It came in a jar which made it hard to split and it was also«deconstructed» which is one of those food trends that needs to die. Overall, I enjoyed the food but I think the service would prevent me from coming back.
Trisha H.
Évaluation du lieu : 4 Washington, DC
We went here for a special occasion. The location is good, the food was great, the service was also great. My biggest complaint was the noise. It was very loud, and that killed the ambiance. We had the carrot ginger soup, marinated olives and shrimp and grits for apps. The shrimp and grits were excellent — I would definitely recommend them. For my entrée I got the North Carolina Black Grouper. It was delicious. My friend got the chorizo stuffed chicken which was also delicious. I would definitely recommend either of those two items. The only place where the food was a minor let down was dessert. We ordered the salted caramel and chocolate bar. It was okay. Nothing spectacular. I think there were too many flavors involved. I also think the malted milk ice cream was a bit overboard. Besides that, we had a great time and were really pleased with the food.
Marivic L.
Évaluation du lieu : 3 Washington, DC
Finally, a place that was surprisingly good in all aspects — atmosphere, service, and food. The crowd was the typical young professional DC peeps. A few people were dressed casually, but it seemed that, for most, this was the beginning of a more dressed-up night out. I liked the mix and I like that I’m always somewhere in the middle. It’s still a pub, after all. Againn’s website describes itself as a modern gastropub, and the décor definitely fits. From some people’s reviews, I expected a more stuffy atmosphere, and stuffier host(s) and servers. This was not true at all. The hostess and server were casual, friendly, and helpful. I ordered a Pippa’s Punch because it just made me laugh. The description is: fresh muddled watermelon, vodka, domaine de canton, lemon juice, lemongrass, angostura bitters. It was really tasty and light — exactly what I needed on a kind of warm day. The complimentary bread was standard, but I appreciated the warm butter. You guys know cold butter is a pet peeve of mine. It’s all about the details here, from the lovely water bottles to the adorable salt and pepper containers that I wanted to take home with me. The touches are inexpensive, but they let you know that thought was put into the place. As some of you uh-mazing Unilocalers suggested, we got an order of the BRUSSELSSPROUTSANDBACON, which we decided to eat as an appetizer. The hubs was on the fence, since he’s not a huge brussels sprouts fan, but let me tell you, he was a fan after tasting this side. They were cooked perfectly and the mix with the diced, thicker bacon was perfect — so perfect, in fact, that the hubs got another order. I got the PORKBELLYANDCRACKLIN’S. Yeah, I know, MORE pork belly? Well, the cracklin’s were SO good. If you don’t like crispy pork skin, don’t talk to me. J/K.maybe. The pork belly was cooked well and had a nice flavor, a nice broth, braised cabbage(I heart cabbage) and was atop white grits. I have to say, I love me some grits, but I guess I’m not used to white ones. They were my least fave part of the dish. The hubs got the HANGERSTEAK. I stole some of his«chips» which were obviously homemade. They were crisp enough and thick enough to have a true potato taste. I also took a couple bites of the steak and it was good, but I liked my dish better. Since we liked everything so much, we kept on eating. Onto dessert. We decided to split a STICKYTOFFEEPUDDING topped with STOUTICECREAM. I didn’t get any sticky toffee pudding from a «real» pub during our last vacation, so I was happy to get some here. The pudding part had a good texture and was sweet enough, without being overpowering. The stout flavor was definitely in the ice cream, but they took care to make sure it wasn’t overpowering as well, since stout can have a pretty strong taste. The hubs also ordered a COOLEYCOFFEE which is: irish whiskey, coffee, brown sugar, vanilla cream. Be forewarned, this coffee tasted more like a straight up drank. Yes, I meant to write that with an ‘A’. I took a couple sips and was done. I think I was getting dizzy. So, there you have it. We’re both fans and were very happy with our dinner tonight. Cool points for the sustainable and local food. We’ll be back.
Stef S.
Évaluation du lieu : 3 New York, NY
I would definitely come here again if I could afford it to try the other things. I like my British food :) The orange butternut squash soup was tasty. The orange flavors added a nice kick. Not something I would order again… I could have done without the extra olive oil added on top and it wasn’t all that satisfying all in all. I also wish it was served warmer. The salmon salad was tasty. The salmon was perfectly cooked, but again the flavors on this salad were nothing spectacular. Overall a wonderful place but it’s out of my price range for what it’s worth. Edit — Excellent cocktails(but at $ 12 a pop they ain’t cheap). HORRIBLESERVICE.
Sara M.
Évaluation du lieu : 5 Berwyn Heights, MD
The first time we tried to dine at Againn, it was so packed that I had to wait 5 minutes just to get up to the podium to inquire about the ridiculous wait for a table. The next time, I snagged a reservation the night before… and I’m glad I did. This place is happening! The menu features an interesting assortment of food — gastropub entrees, salad, charcuterie, and more traditional pub fare. My dining companion and I split a few different things, so we’d get to try more. For starters, we got the corned beef tongue and the brawn. The waiter came back to tell us that the chef was very impressed by our unusual selection — not many people order either of those, let alone both. We appreciate weird meats, so this was nothing unusual for us! The tongue was fabulous. All of the flavor of corned beef brisket, but with the silky smooth texture of tongue. Nothing gross there. The brawn is definitely more adventurous, because it’s a mélange of pig parts and aspic. We liked it, but I can imagine it would be a matter of taste(and strong stomachs). The entrees were equally delicious. The pork belly featured a number of different elements, each nicely balanced in flavor and texture. The roasted lamb was also lovely, very delicate and surrounded with a sea of perfectly seasoned lentils. I couldn’t decide which was my favorite, I will just have to order both again. Because we’d bravely eaten weird meat appetizers, the chef sent out a dessert on the house, and we got to try the banoffee pie. I have to say… I wasn’t that impressed, especially compared to the rest of this amazing meal. The elements were all served in a wide-mouth jar, and it was a little hard to get a spoonful out with everything together. So you get mouthfuls of a couple of things, like a bunch of graham crumbs with whipped cream. Or a single piece of banana with a bit of toffee clinging to it. Each element was tasty, but I wanted to be able to enjoy it together. I’d return in a heartbeat and just get another starter instead of dessert — I hear the tripe is also excellent. The atmosphere is lovely(though a bit loud), and our service was impeccable. Our waiter, Scott, was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, and provided service that made me wish I could have left him a winning lotto ticket or something. Great experience and excellent food!