Randomness Guide to London Menu

Rather nice traditional locals' pub on the Isle of Dogs.

Unusually, it has a total of three bars, all with separate entrances; a saloon bar, a public bar, and a tiny snug. Kake has only visited the saloon bar (and peeped into the snug); the saloon bar is relatively small and has a cosy feel, while the snug is very small and cute and peaceful. The ladies' is shared between the saloon bar and the snug; don't know if the snug has access to a gents'. An anonymous visitor (Sep 2007) tells us that the public bar is bigger than the saloon bar, and has Sky TV and a dartboard. They have a few tables and chairs out on the pavement that are well-patronised by smokers in good weather. There's a sunny conservatory off the saloon bar, with dragon trees and white-painted patio-style decorative metal chairs and tables. Our anonymous visitor says there's also a heated beer garden.

Kake has visited twice now. My first visit was on a Friday afternoon in September 2007, I sat in the saloon bar; there were several locals already in there, having nice civilised conversations over a pint. One of them even had a little chat with me while his friend was in the gents'. Service was friendly too. Horseracing was being shown on a flatscreen at one end, but the sound was off. Music was unobtrusive and not uninteresting: K T Tunstall, Oasis, etc.

According to an anonymous visitor (Feb 2008), the management of the George changed between my first and second visits. When I came back in June 2008, the food menu remained unchanged, but the beer range had improved from the Ruddles available on my first visit to four options: Landlord (£3/pint), Deuchars IPA, Young's Bitter, and London Pride (£3/pint). There was a slight problem with my pint of Landlord; there was quite a bit of debris at the bottom, which I didn't notice until I'd almost finished it, since it tasted fine. I took the remaining inch of beer back to the bar and they were very apologetic and gave me my next pint (of Pride) half price. No music this time; the flatscreen was showing football with the sound on. There were several other customers, who seemed to be regulars, both men and women; mostly locals but one chap in a suit.

Food is served, I think all day (an anonymous visitor in September 2007 told us noon-8pm, but this might have changed with the change of management). Main courses are between £5.25 (tagliatelli with roasted Mediterranean vegetables in a creamy tomato sauce) and £10 (sirloin steak with chips or jacket potato, mushrooms, grilled tomato, and salad; £1 extra if you want roquefort topping). Veggie options are the aforementioned pasta, plus spring onion and mature cheddar omelette made with free range eggs and served with hand cut chips and salad (£6), plus ploughmans with mature cheddar and stilton (£6). They also do filled jacket potatoes (£4.25-£4.50) and hot sandwiches.

Accessibility: the whole pub is on one level, but I forgot to check whether there are steps up to get in.

See also:

• Full Pint review