The Flask, Highgate Reviews Summary

Staff and Service

Pros:

• "A lovely welcome from friendly staff, which is absolutely the way to ensure a good visit."
• "Service was prompt, both for drinks before dinner and for dinner itself."
• "Came here for their Christmas Eve special, our server Juliette was fantastic and so kind."
• "The staff should be proud of themselves for how attentive they were."
• "Great staff, could not fault them at all."
• "The waiter louie had offered great customer service from start to end."
• "The staff where very friendly and helpful."

Cons:

• "All around us people were sending back food cold, waiting for ages, tables not being cleared."
• "Service was terrible. People who served didn’t have a clue what to do."
• "Despite telling bar staff we had arrived... our table was given away."
• "When complaints were made the attitude of the staff was insolent."
• "Service slow and unfriendly."
• "We waited well over an hour for our roast - which was cold, the waiter kept getting confused which table was which and took our drinks to the wrong table every time."
• "This pub used to be fantastic with a great menu. Unfortunately now staff are dressed as if they are going to the gym and when trying to order they seem unwilling to help bringing the wrong drinks, wrong food and then being very rude."

Ambiance and Location

Pros:

• "A beautiful pub, with thoughtfully arranged outdoor space."
• "It's a great pub - with lots of nooks and crannies and a real feeling of atmosphere."
• "The perfect London pub. Real fireplaces in each room making it so cosy for winter."
• "The Flask is undeniably a very beautiful pub in a perfect setting."
• "The beer garden is gorgeous and also quite private and secluded."
• "This is a perfect, old style English pub. The staff are friendly and efficient. The atmosphere is relaxed."
• "This is a really special pub. It is beautiful, well conserved and really atmospheric."

Cons:

• "The seating under the covered part outside was really uncomfortable."
• "Tables are often secluded in small dark corners of the pub, which some will find claustrophobic and cramped."
• "The inside could do with an update but to be honest this place for me is all about the beer garden so I won't take any stars off for it."
• "The bizarre interaction with the reception guy made us felt like he was trying real hard for us to not enter the premise."
• "However as it’s very small it’s hard to find a table and takes about 3 million years to be served."
• "I deduct a star due to the overly commercial café like furniture outside. It made the atmosphere a bit stale."
• "Lovely outdoor seating but appallingly rude service (seems to be a common theme in these reviews)."

Food and Drink

Pros:

• "Food is very good."
• "Good selection of beers though and the garden is lovely on a sunny day."
• "Had a super good Sunday roast here."
• "The filled choux bun with chocolate mousse is worth a visit in itself. It is Michelin quality!"
• "Food here is AMAZING. Not typical pub food, feels higher end, but everything I have here is delicious."
• "Great fish n chips. Proper crunchy batter and succulent fish."
• "The foods are really delicious and flavourful."

Cons:

• "The food is quite overpriced: neither quality or quantity justifies the amount paid."
• "£17.50 for a linguine and it tasted worse then a Tesco microwave meal."
• "Food was actually disgusting."
• "The children’s pasta was mushy and inedible."
• "The lamb was dry and over cooked. The cheese sauce on the cauliflower was basic, lacked cheese and was watery and thin."
• "The food was overpriced and disappointing."
• "Food took over half an hour to arrive even though the place was mostly empty."

Management and Policies

Pros:

• "Management were good in resolving issues."
• "The manager let me charge my phone and call for help when I was stranded yesterday because I forgot where I parked my car in Hampstead heath park."
• "By far the best pub in Highgate! Beautiful spot, stunning food (with a chef that really cared that my son and I's nut/egg allergy were catered for without fuss!) and the staff are fab, smiling faces everywhere :)"

Cons:

• "Management seem to be intent on ruining a great old pub!"
• "Management need to sort their customer service training out asap."
• "The Flask definitely isn't what it once was and it feels like it's living off it's past reputation / location / garden."
• "Having visited the place many times throughout the years and having had a great experience, was rather disappointed yesterday."
• "Management seem to be intent on ruining a great old pub!"
• "The manager then told us this was issues with suppliers."
• "The staff are friendly but constantly watching over your every movement."