Lady Ottoline

Gastropubs

Restaurants

11A Northington Street

Expensive

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Time Out says

Mon Sep 24 2012

Full tables on a weekday evening are testimony to this buzzy gastropub’s success since reopening in late 2011. Under the same owners as Shoreditch’s Princess, the Victorian former boozer has been similarly renovated with an intelligent blend of smartness and old-pubbiness. The new name evokes Bloomsbury Groupie Lady Ottoline Morrell, and her famously large nose looks down from several photos.

You can eat in the fairly noisy bar, or a snug upstairs dining room. Main menus are somewhat pricier than the gastropub norm, but more ambitious, with imaginative Mod-British combinations that on our visit would have been excellent if not for a few misses. In a salad of rare roast sirloin, pickles and wensleydale, the meat and cheese were great, but were presented in an overwhelming pile of rocket; to follow, wild mushroom and summer bean tart with chargrilled fennel made for a lovely seasonal vegetarian choice, but was again heavily over-rocketed. Another main, slow-roasted pork belly, was juicy and tender, served with delicious braised cheek and roast carrots.

Wines and beers are well chosen and well priced; service was friendly if rather ditzy. Skip the rocket addiction and this will be one to watch.

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Address:
Lady Ottoline 11A Northington Street
London
WC1N 2JF

Phone:
020 7831 0008
Website:
www.theladyottoline.com
Opening hours:
Open noon-11.30pm Mon-Sat; noon-10pm Sun. Lunch served noon-3.30pm, dinner served 6.30-10pm Mon-Sat. Meals served noon-8pm Sun
Transport:
Tube: Russell Square or Chancery Lane tube
Price:
Main courses £9.95-£18.50. Set lunch (Mon-Fri) £15 2 courses, £19 3 courses. Meal for two with wine and service: around £80
Map
1. Lady Ottoline
  - 11A Northington Street
    London
    WC1N 2JF
  - 020 7831 0008
  - www.theladyottoline.com
  - 51.522037,-0.114737

Occasions:
Drinks. Wine buffs

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Comments & ratings

(9 ratings)

Amazing bloody mary's, lovely food, appalling service. The poor waiters were run ragged with dodgy management clearly to blame. Woe after woe - whether it be the various bottles of red out of stock (is that what it took them 20 minutes a time to try to find them?!) or the failure to take our food order after 30 mins?! When we complained to the manager he shrugged us off nonchalantly and told us 'you've had a drink, hence I will not discuss this with you'. Rude and disrespectful. Such a pity as the food was lovely and the waitress we had was a delight. Sort it out Lady Ottoline, maybe your cruddy management is why it was nigh on empty on a Sunday lunch!

Rose Sun Dec 16 2012
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I'm not a foodie, so I'm unused to food putting me into a mood, but after a lousy start to date night, I wasn't in high spirits when arriving at Lady Ottoline. But after the superb food and service and charming atmosphere, I couldn't help but leave content and glowing. The Caesar salad is outrageously good- thick bacon, tender chicken, a poached egg atop and homemade-tasting dressing. It was packed with perfect textures and flavour - not a wimp's salad! My partner said his angus burger was the best he'd tasted and I even cheated on my vegetarianism without regret. This place is one of those little havens that you're proud of yourself for finding- it feels like a hidden gem. Let's hope it stays that way and keeps its unpretentious and charming atmosphere.

Hawaiian Swede Wed Aug 1 2012
Rated as: 5/5
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Went here for a friends birthday and it was great. Had a large table in the pub for Sunday lunch and we were looked after so well. The roast I had was fantastic and the service was friendly and attentive. Can totally recommend.

Jade Tue Apr 17 2012
Rated as: 5/5
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Went here last Sunday, great service and the food was amazing.We will be back

David Bird Wed Apr 11 2012
Rated as: 5/5
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I liked everything about this restaurant (I got a table in the pub area). The food was excellent and the staff was so warm and helpful. They especially were great to let me try several different wines (and ultimately suggesting a moderately priced Nero d'avola) that complemented my meal perfectly. Great experience and even though I am in London for work for only one more week I am definitely going back before I head home to the states.

John Fri Mar 23 2012
Rated as: 5/5
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Went here for dinner last night and it was great. Staff where friendly and attentive and the food was delicious. We had salmon and partridge to start and lamb rump and sausage casserole for main. Can highly recommend all of them. Will definitely be coming back.

Stuart Sat Jan 21 2012
Rated as: 5/5
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Sadly it's going downhill after a great start. 5 visits to the Lady O since opening, my first 2 visits in nov were fantastic, albeit small portions. At the 3rd, we left after waiting an hour without food. Staff were v aplogetic. At the 4th, the food was average. the 5th yesterday was terrible – pork belly arrived 90% fat, white & wobbly, barely browned on the top – surely it should have been cooked slowly to render down? A replacement dish of venison casserole was more like a venison soup with just 2 drizzled small pieces of meat in it. The decor & service are great, but food that's now worse than brewery gastropub chain? I hope they replace the chef, otherwise I doubt they'll last long.

Nick j Sat Jan 21 2012
Rated as: 1/5
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Beautiful experience, great staff, great food in an elegant setting. Went there New Years Eve, based on recommendation from Time Out and other sites. Travelling from US, they made every effort to get in touch with us when there were questions about the reservation, making sure our NYE plans were kept. All in all a fantastic experience for us.

Giorgos Fri Jan 6 2012
Rated as: 5/5
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