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Royal Oak

73 Columbia Road, E2 7RG Full details & map

Gastropub: Modern European

Time Out says Rate it

By Time Out Editors Posted: Dec 15 2009

To misquote the late Brian Moore, this is a pub of two halves. Upstairs is a cultured, calm and almost sedate dining room, within which nouveau Eastenders tuck into expensive but impressive Modern European cooking.

Downstairs in the good-looking pub, built around a handsome central bar, the scene is more boisterous, as easily distracted staff deliver pricey wines and ales to an assortment of vintage-clad creatives who keep the hum of conversation going throughout the night.

It's at its best earlier in the week: Fridays and Saturdays can be uncomfortably frantic, and the flower market on the doorstep means Sundays can be a crush.

Keen-eyed sitcom enthusiasts may recognise the Royal Oak from its starring role in Goodnight Sweetheart, although the current owners seem strangely reluctant to advertise the source of the pub's 15 minutes.

Tags: European, Modern European, Groups, Local flavour, Speciality beers, East, Shoreditch, Mid-range, Gastropub, Restaurant, Gastropub

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Royal Oak details

Address

Royal Oak

73 Columbia Road E2 7RG

Transport Hoxton rail or bus 26, 48, 55

Telephone

020 7729 2220

Royal Oak website

Open 5-11pm Mon-Fri; noon-11pm Sat; 11am-10.30pm Sun. Food served Bar 6-10pm Mon-Fri; noon-4pm, 6-10pm Sat; 11am-4pm, 6-9pm Sun Restaurant 7-9pm Tue-Sat; noon-4pm Sun

Credit cards AmEx, MC, V

Facilities

Tables outdoors ( 4, yard ), Babies and children admitted, Babies and children welcome ( high chairs ), Booking advisable ( dining room )

Royal Oak map

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Comments & ratings

By KaHa - Nov 6 2011

I can only agree with Steph. Food was nice - we also had pork belly - but our waitress was super unfriendly, didn't come to our table once without us asking for drinks, the bill or to order.

It is really a shame that the staff is so rubbish - its a nice and cosy
pub otherwise.

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By Steph - Oct 10 2011

My friends and I went to the Royal Oak on sunday and we were treated to the Worst customer service we have ever come across.
After 45minutes we had to ask for someone to take our order as were conscious they wanted the table back after 2 hours, when the food finally arrived after 1hr and 30mins, it was fairly good, although 2 of the pork belly were not cooked correctly- the crispy skin was actually plastic, so chewy that they couldn't eat it, the meat itself was undercooked, we knew they needed the table back in 30mins so didn't complain, just ate the other sides.
At the end of the meal the waitress came over and said "done"? We said yes however just a small criticism - the meat wasn't cooked, she went to get someone else who came over and started ranting about nobody else had complained, (it was early in the day- how much had they served?) she asked why didn't we tell her, I said that nobody had come to ask us how the meal was and we didn't have the time to wait for more food to be cooked- she then proceeded to rant that no other gastopubs ask how the food is (has she ever eaten out before???) I said that she didn't need to be so defensive and we didn't complain sooner as quite frankly what could she of done as we were due to be kicked off soon.
She then ranted about the fact that she had worked there 7 years (7 years too long) and she knew what she was talking about as if we were idiots that know nothing about cooking.
I told her we were merley making a remark and she should not EVER talk to her customers like that, we are doing her a favour and paying her wages by being there.
In the end she walked off, gave us the bill and said "well I've taken the food off anyway"- we didn't care about paying for it- we did however have a problem with paying service charge for the abuse that she gave us, so we didn't pay the service and we walked out.
Horrendous- the management need to stop thinking this pub will run on location alone- the staff are the worst we have ever come across- I will never eat there again!!!