The Anchor & Hope Reviews Summary

Food Quality

Pros:

• "Seriously good gastro pub. Delicious food, great service and gun atmosphere."
• "Top stuff."
• "The food is delicious and very seasonal."
• "Superb food, had the lamb and the rabbit sharing mains in a group and highly recommend the lamb if it is on the menu."
• "Absolutely amazing food and great cocktails (well priced for central london)."
• "Food and service are amazing. I had the veal special and it was mouthwatering."
• "Lovely lovely food… the beef just melted in my mouth."

Cons:

• "The meat was overcooked this time and not juicy at all."
• "Sunday lunch was overwhelmingly average."
• "Rude service and okay food – we had high hopes based on the reviews and from a friend who used to work there."
• "Dishes were a bit simple. Feeling of that there is the potential of really innovative food."
• "The food selection didn't sound particularly appetizing."
• "Ordered the pie for 2 which was nice but no more and I'm told the Venison lasagna was dry."
• "Grouse lasagne was dry and boring, especially for the formidable price."

Service

Pros:

• "The whole experience was enhanced by an impeccable service, informal yet very accurate and knowledgeable."
• "Great service and knowledgeable wait staff who knew their menu very well."
• "Chris, our waiter, was an absolute gentleman who was passionate and knowledgeable about all of the delicious food and was excellent at giving fantastic service."
• "The service was excellent, the right balance of friendly, helpful yet not intrusive."
• "No fuss, very efficient and friendly waiters."
• "Staff are attentive and helpful and the food is excellent."
• "Service was great and prompt."

Cons:

• "The militant maître d' rushed about, stepping on the tails of our coats which hung from our chairs."
• "The way they handled their mistakes was awful."
• "We've been coming here regularly for a while and it's generally great, but this visit the service felt rushed and stressed."
• "However the waiting staff were abysmal. Plates were slammed down with the waitress running off before we could ask for anything."
• "Unfortunately the service was very slow."
• "The bar tenders looked tired and bored."
• "Unfortunately the decor and general appearance of wait staff really let the place down."

Atmosphere

Pros:

• "The anchor and hope made us feel like real adults again!"
• "Lively bustling pub located close to Waterloo Station."
• "Still the gastropub that other gastropubs look up to."
• "This is a real gastro pub, and was one of the first."
• "Lovely relaxed atmosphere, bare scrubbed tables, helpful friendly staff."
• "The ambience is great, feels like home."
• "Really nice atmosphere."

Cons:

• "There was a table of drunk city guys being very loud and obnoxious on the other side of the restaurant."
• "It's dark and cramped inside."
• "Also, it was really loud so we couldn't hear each other."
• "The space was a bit too noisy to have a comfortable conversation without having to nearly shout."
• "It is however the noisiest dining room I’ve ever been in."
• "It was literally a cacophony."
• "Sadly a shadow of its former self."

Value

Pros:

• "I'd like to challenge anyone to find better food for the prices the Hope and anchor charges."
• "Since the pandemic they have started accepting bookings which makes it much less of an operation to get a table than the previous blackboard regime."
• "Pretty decent value."
• "Great food at reasonable prices. Wonderful flavours and a nice varied menu."
• "Price also reasonable."
• "The food here was brilliant I couldn't fault it. Its british food but done well."
• "Accompanying house wine was unreal - I can't remember the last time I got a glass of house wine THAT good and for under £5."

Cons:

• "Expect 30+ quid pp."
• "Despite half of us not having dessert, the bill including two bottles of wine was £300.00, roughly £50.00 per head!"
• "£6 for a pint of Estrella served in a bulk standard glass."
• "It cost £26. It should have cost £18."
• "The cheapest wine is £30 but most are £50 plus."
• "All agreed the prices were about 40% too high."
• "Food distinctly average and overpriced. £25 for steak and chips - Hawksmoor prices, Cafe Rouge quality."