Randomness Guide to London - Differences between Version 20 and Version 8 of Mall Tavern, W8 4RU

Version 20 Version 8
== Line 2 == == Line 2 ==
It changed hands in spring 2010, and is now run by the people behind [[Stag, NW3 2QU|the Stag]] in [[Locale Hampstead|Hampstead]] and the Regent in [[Locale Kensal Green|Kensal Green]]. For information on its previous incarnation, see [http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/restaurants/restaurant-182432-details/The+Mall+Tavern/restaurantReview.do Evening Standard review from 2007] or [http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/2997595296/ Kake's comments on Flickr].
It changed hands in spring 2010, and is now run by the people behind [[Stag, NW3 2QU|the Stag]] in [[Locale Hampstead|Hampstead]] and the Regent in [[Locale Kensal Green|Kensal Green]]. The menu has changed from European to British, and their website says they now have real ale. We haven't been since the change, but [http://www.doshermanos.co.uk/2010/05/mall-tavern-i-am-fugitive-from-chain.html Dos Hermanos have].
== Line 4 == == Line 4 ==
The interior is divided into two parts, and as with the old incarnation the front room seems more aimed towards drinkers, while the tables in the back room are laid with glasses and cutlery. Three handpumps for real ale have been installed on the bar, and they now serve British food rather than the pan-European menu previously available.
The comments below predate the change of management.
== Line 6 == == Line 6 ==
[[Kake]] and [[Ewan]] visited on a Wednesday early evening in November 2011. There were a few other customers, but plenty of free tables. Music was playing, not too loud and fairly blues-based in style. The lighting was quite low, too low really for comfortable reading, even though a couple of customers were attempting to read newspapers.
<div class="old_info">
It's roughly divided into two parts;
the front room seems more aimed towards drinkers, while the tables in the back room are laid with wine glasses and cutlery.
== Line 8 == == Line 9 ==
Three real ales were on: Otter Bitter (&pound;3.60/pint), Sambrooks Wandle, and Sharp's Doom Bar. They also have a fairly substantial wine list, from which [[Kake]] (a relatively clueless wine-selector) managed to choose a very enjoyable glass of white. Tap water was happily provided, and came in a carafe.
[[Kake]] visited on a Thursday evening in October 2008. There was only one other customer when I arrived around 5:30pm, but the place filled up while I was there to the point where the front room was entirely full by 6:30pm (though most of this was due to one large group).
== Line 10 == == Line 11 ==
Food is served from noon-10pm every day, according to their website as of late 2011. It's available in both areas of the building; in the front bit you order and pay at the bar. [[Kake]] tried the mushroom and chestnut pate (&pound;5.50). This was pretty good, with clear care taken over preparation and presentation. The pate itself had a nice loose texture and plenty of flavour. It was topped with microgreens and marinated mushrooms (possibly shimeji), and served with a buttery puff pastry semicircle which looked good but was sadly too easily shattered to be of much use in eating the pate. However, some very thin and crisp toasted bread (rye?) was supplied on the side, in a generous enough portion that I only managed half of it.
Although the ambience is reasonably gastropub-like, it's more of a bar than a pub in that I knew the moment I walked in that I'd be drinking wine here. No handpumps, and I didn't even bother asking if they had any interesting beer in bottles. However, they do have a fair selection of wine by the glass.
== Line 12 == == Line 13 ==
[[Kake]]'s verdict: I quite liked this place before the change of management, and I still like it now. I would happily pop in for a drink and a snack if I was passing, and would even make a special journey (though given the lighting issue I'd prefer to visit in the daytime).
The main menu is served noon-3pm and 7pm-11pm Mon-Fri, 11am-4pm and 7pm-11pm Sat, and noon-4pm and 7pm-10:30pm Sun; but bar food is served all day.
== Line 15 ==
I was a little too early for the main dinner menu, but there were various bar snacks available. I had the antipasti platter (&pound;8) <small>[http://flickr.com/photos/kake_pugh/2997595296/ photo]</small>. This was generally pretty good; I liked the inclusion of a grilled aubergine slice, the meats were good quality, the accompanying bread was both fresh and freshly-sliced, and the semi-dried tomatoes were very sweet and tasty, and (like the pickled red onions) seemed to have been made on the premises rather than bought in. My only criticism would be a slight over-vinegariness, both in the general balance and specifically in the olives (which again I suspect were marinaded in-house).

On the strength of this visit, I'd like to come back and try the main menu, and I'd also happily pop in again for a glass of wine if I was passing and needed a sit-down.

A sign spotted in October 2008 advertised brunch every Saturday between 11am and 4pm and every Sunday between noon and 4pm, including eggs Benedict, French toast, omelette Arnold Bennett, steak and eggs, buttermilk pancakes, English breakfast, fruit salad, plenty of newspapers, Illy coffee, and "the best Bloody Mary in Notting Hill".
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Accessibility: One step up to get in, and the ladies' is up a flight of stairs.

== Line 15 == == Line 25 ==
* [http://www.andyhayler.com/show_restaurant.asp?id=841 Andy Hayler's review]
* [http://www.tehbus.com/2013/04/
the-mall-tavern-quirky-classic.html A Rather Unusual Chinaman review]
* [http:
//blog.city-eating.com/2010/04/the-mall-tavern-quirks-crackling-in-notting-hill-gate.html City Eating review]
*
[http://www.doshermanos.co.uk/2010/05/mall-tavern-i-am-fugitive-from-chain.html Dos Hermanos review]
*
[http://gastronomyblog.com/2012/07/10/the-mall-tavern-london/ gas.tron.o.my review]
* [http://gourmettraveller.wordpress.com/2010/04/20/mall-tavern-2/ Gourmet Traveller review]
*
[http://www.greatlittleplace.com/reviews/the-mall-tavern/ Great Little Place review]
* [http://www.kaveyeats.com/2011/04/jesse-dunford-wood-nutter-genius-at.html Kavey Eats review]
* [http://roastedsundays.wordpress.
com/2010/05/25/sunday-roast-review-the-mall-tavern/ Roasted Sundays review]
* [https://tamarindandthyme.wordpress.com/2012/07/10/sunday
-lunch-at-the-mall-tavern/ Tamarind And Thyme review]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20160810115635/http://thirtyoneseventyfive.com/london-gastropub-review-the-mall-tavern-
in-notting-hill/ thirtyoneseventyfive review]
* [http://www.wharf.co.uk/2012/02/food-review-the-mall-tavern.html Wharf review]
* [http://roastedsundays.wordpress.com/the-mall-tavern-910/ Roasted Sundays review] (new incarnation)
* [http://gourmettraveller.wordpress.com/2010/04/20/mall-tavern-2/ Gourmet Traveller review] (new incarnation)
* [http://blog.city-eating.com/2010/04/the-mall-tavern-quirks-crackling-in-notting-hill-gate.html City Eating review] (new incarnation)
* [http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/restaurants/restaurant-182432-details/The+Mall+Tavern/restaurantReview.do Fay Maschler's review in the Evening Standard] (old incarnation)
== Line 28 == == Line 30 ==
<div class="last_verified">Last visited by [[Kake]] and [[Ewan]], November 2011.</div>
<div class="last_verified">Last visited by [[Kake]], 30 October 2008.</div>
== Line 30 == == Line 32 ==
category='British Food,Pub Food,Pubs'
category='British Food,Food Served Evenings,Food Served Lunchtimes,Pubs'
== Line 32 == == Line 34 ==
fax='themalltavern'
formatted_website_text=' class="external">themalltavern.com'
host='81.187.166.218'
fax=''
formatted_website_text='http://www.themallta...'
host='213.165.225.132'

Gastropub in Notting Hill.

It changed hands in spring 2010, and is now run by the people behind the Stag in Hampstead and the Regent in Kensal Green. The menu has changed from European to British, and their website says they now have real ale. We haven't been since the change, but Dos Hermanos have.

The comments below predate the change of management.

It's roughly divided into two parts; the front room seems more aimed towards drinkers, while the tables in the back room are laid with wine glasses and cutlery.

Kake visited on a Thursday evening in October 2008. There was only one other customer when I arrived around 5:30pm, but the place filled up while I was there to the point where the front room was entirely full by 6:30pm (though most of this was due to one large group).

Although the ambience is reasonably gastropub-like, it's more of a bar than a pub in that I knew the moment I walked in that I'd be drinking wine here. No handpumps, and I didn't even bother asking if they had any interesting beer in bottles. However, they do have a fair selection of wine by the glass.

The main menu is served noon-3pm and 7pm-11pm Mon-Fri, 11am-4pm and 7pm-11pm Sat, and noon-4pm and 7pm-10:30pm Sun; but bar food is served all day.

I was a little too early for the main dinner menu, but there were various bar snacks available. I had the antipasti platter (£8) photo. This was generally pretty good; I liked the inclusion of a grilled aubergine slice, the meats were good quality, the accompanying bread was both fresh and freshly-sliced, and the semi-dried tomatoes were very sweet and tasty, and (like the pickled red onions) seemed to have been made on the premises rather than bought in. My only criticism would be a slight over-vinegariness, both in the general balance and specifically in the olives (which again I suspect were marinaded in-house).

On the strength of this visit, I'd like to come back and try the main menu, and I'd also happily pop in again for a glass of wine if I was passing and needed a sit-down.

A sign spotted in October 2008 advertised brunch every Saturday between 11am and 4pm and every Sunday between noon and 4pm, including eggs Benedict, French toast, omelette Arnold Bennett, steak and eggs, buttermilk pancakes, English breakfast, fruit salad, plenty of newspapers, Illy coffee, and "the best Bloody Mary in Notting Hill".

Accessibility: One step up to get in, and the ladies' is up a flight of stairs.

See also:

Last visited by Kake, 30 October 2008.

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