The Devonshire Reviews Summary

Food Quality

Pros:

• "Amazing food & lovely atmosphere especially outside in the back garden!"
• "Had a loaded burger from the burger shack and it was delicious - two juicy beef patties topped up with ox cheek."
• "The food is very good indeed. Way better than all the other pub food in the area."
• "Had some very good service from a super friendly team and the food was delicious."
• "The portion sizes were very fair and the beef roast was delicious."
• "Sunday roast was fantastic."
• "The staff are all lovely and welcoming and to top it all off the food is immaculate."

Cons:

• "The food was over an hour late, the food was missing most of the vegetables."
• "£16 for a terrible beef roast. Stringy overcooked meat, bland vegetables."
• "The fish and chips was bland and somehow lukewarm."
• "The portion size was small and the gravy was basically just meat juice...watery, flavourless and lots of fatty oil."
• "The burgers tasted burnt and had clearly been sitting under a hot lamp for a while."
• "The food was mediocre and portions small."
• "The food was pretty disappointing. I felt it was overpriced."

Service

Pros:

• "The staff were wonderful and the garden has been well thought out, for the current situation, no-one went without cover or less than a couple of meters from a heater."
• "Staff = so friendly/caring/they all look after their customers 100% to ensure everyone is having a good evening."
• "She had great chat and no qualms with serving us multiple rounds of drinks, she was an absolute pleasure."
• "Staff was very nice and helpful."
• "The staff were incredibly accommodating and friendly."
• "Bryn has the patience of a saint and made us wonderful baby Guinness."
• "The service was quick, friendly, and efficient and my food came out quickly and was hot and fresh."

Cons:

• "Staff are at best non-plussed and occasionally baffled/baffling."
• "Food from another table served in error to some of our party, therefore remaining diners had to wait for their meals."
• "Food was nice, service let the place down - asked what looked like a manager 'where can we order'... We were told 'Well the bar is behind you, only a metre away'."
• "Terrible service... £72 for a shared starter, 2 mains, 2 glasses of wine, a beer and a G&T..."
• "Honestly the worst service in a pub I have ever had to experience in London."
• "The service at the bar is slow, despite there being a lot of staff milling about."
• "Service at bar was very slow. Inattentive waiting staff - no one acknowledged us for 30 mins."

Atmosphere

Pros:

• "Can confirm the atmosphere coupled with the setting, is perfect for whether you want a quiet night with a glass of wine, or a couple of beers with mates to catch up for old times’ sake!"
• "The garden is rammed in summer, and the best place to capture the dying rays on a Friday night."
• "It’s definitely the kind of pub you can spend the whole evening catching up with friends and a top recommendation in the area."
• "Friendly service in a warm and buzzy atmosphere."
• "Atmosphere = calm/safe/happy/secure/fun/family & pet friendly."
• "This pub is great for all occasions, whether you want a quiet atmosphere to study/work during the week or you're looking for a fun vibrant Saturday or Friday night out."
• "Great service and a lovely warming environment to enjoy with friends. There's a decent menu and a wine menu I recommend."

Cons:

• "Used to love going to Devonshire but since they have changed the seating area out in the garden not to keen."
• "However, the garden was SO loud! It was impossible to hear what the people you're with are saying."
• "Open during Covid. But wow it's sooo loud in there. Not a single curtain, rug or cushion in the entire place."
• "Classic British pub... feels out of place to play Mickey mouse music for this audience."
• "However, the garden was SO loud! It was impossible to hear what the people you're with are saying."
• "The atmosphere and outdoor area was so nice but even more, the staff were outstanding."
• "The service was extremely slow."

Value

Pros:

• "Very interesting prices because cocktails are 8.5 and house vodka with mixer is 10.75."
• "£10 for a burger and two sides is a pretty good deal - you're unlikely to get anything better in a Balham pub."
• "Drinks were quick and cheap and served with a genuine interest in pleasing the customer."
• "Great beers both cask and keg as we should expect from the Young's stable."
• "Lashings of gravy with the roasts is always a good thing."
• "Such a hidden gem with an amazing garden/terrace out the back - it wasn't totally packed and it was fairly easy to find a seat outside on a Thursday evening."
• "Great pub, might just be my favourite in Balham now. The garden is lovely."

Cons:

• "The food cost is extremely high with the £19 bavette steak not coming with chips."
• "Pints are good but super expensive."
• "Drinks are very expensive."
• "Price of drinks: 2 double house GNTs, a pint of Neck Oil, a small lemonade and a cordial with water came to over £40."
• "Drinks very expensive (£12.55 for a large G&T)."
• "£60 for three burgers and chips is not a cheap night out."
• "£21 for a Sunday roast. Fine, wouldn't mind it if it tasted half decent or if the portion size wasn't so small."