Bars & Pubs

Despite many gastro rivals in Clerkenwell, the Peasant is by no means a poor choice. The cosy bar area has bright red walls, a lovely old mosaic floor, illustrated tiles, pretty pink flower arrangements and burnished leather sofas. The range of draught beers is similarly inviting, with the Peasants own lager, Cruz Campo, Bombardier and the little-seen Crouch Vales Brewers Gold. Upstairs is a smartish restaurant, but we ate in the bar, tempted by the range of sharing platters and tapas featuring everything from edamame and oysters to lomo iberico. Steak sandwich with rocket and tomatoes on a Portuguese roll was let down by average fries. Organic salmon came in cartoccio (a bag) with leeks, herbs and chilli an Italian dish with all the tongue-tingling qualities of an Asian recipe. Desserts, however, were poorly executed. Baked peach was lost in a chewy hunk of puff pastry billed as millefeuille, though the vanilla ice-cream on the side was lovely. Ice-cream would also have made a much better partner for the saggy chocolate and almond fondant than its praline-flavoured goo. Staff were friendly; though they repeatedly asked for our food order while we were having a drink, we cant fault their efficiency.

Time Out Eating & Drinking Guide 2008