UPSD #1: The George

5 Trafalgar Street, North Laine

More specifically, right on my doorstep. So we frequent there pretty often. We’d frequent the Great Eastern pretty often too if it wasn’t so smoke-filled. What can I say, I’m excited that England is going non-smoking but not too excited that this perhaps will mean more children
in pubs. I guess you can’t have it all.

To be honest, being American I guess doesn’t really have me wired for craving roast meat and potatoes slathered in gravy on a Sunday afternoon. I was more of a “quiche and lovely salad” girl or a “let’s put together a smorgasbord of fridge leftovers” girl but I’ve managed to come around to this bit of British culinary tradition.

Even though the George has become our default stop for “I can’t be arsed cooking, let’s go out”, I realized that I’d never been there for Sunday Lunch. Whenver we would go, I would frequent the generously portioned nachos (with extra jalapenos, natch) or if felt up to a bit of assembly, the fajitas. I mourn the loss of their original veggie burger. (For those of you not in-the-know, the George is an all vegetarian pub and of course, vegan friendly as well.) When we first moved here all I could talk about was the George’s veggie burger. You could tell it was homemade, shaped by loving hands, deliciously filled with all sorts of good-for-you’s like nuts and seeds, topped with salsa and BOY was it delicious. Sadly, I think they’ve gone the way of the frozen burger and I haven’t ordered one since.

On the bright side, their portions are generous and anyone that serves up sweet chilli sauce with their chips is in with me. (sidenote: when I googled “sweet chilli sauce” you’ll never believe what I found.) I’d say I go there about twice a month with my lovely friend who would like to be referred to as “S”. Not so much that she doesn’t want to be known but that she likes to think of herself as the mysterious companion to the food critic. So I’m indulging her. Anyways, “S” and I go there quite frequently as she’s a veggie and I’m downright lazy after working an 8-hour day. I don’t think I’ve ever had a meal there I was disappointed in. Well, not until I went there for Sunday lunch.

This isn’t to say that it was awful, because it wasn’t. It was just ok. My roast potatoes were burnt enough that had I been working in that kitchen I wouldn’t have served them. The veggies were a-plenty-broccoli, leeks and red cabbage, all very nice but slightly overcooked. You run this risk on a Sunday I suppose since you’re serving up all the same sides for whatever meal is ordered. The first time I went I ordered the nut roast and found it quite nice. “S” said she could taste mint and that she wasn’t too fond of mint but otherwise found it ok. The 2nd time I went I ordered the sweet potato and spinach strudel (with all the trimmings, of course) and it would’ve been so much nicer had it not been slathered in water-y gravy. What is it with vegetarian gravy?? I know that you don’t have any animal fat to work with but come on now, people. Just add a bit of flour so that we get a NICE consistency that isn’t sogging up the rest of the meal. Maybe it’s me and what my momma got me used to but I like the kind of gravy that stays put.

No breaking down the wall between potato and main course unless I want it to, that’s how I like it.