Pint Shop

Really great selection of beers from all over the UK at reasonable prices. The food we ordered from the bar menu was really tasty and great value for money. The staff were very friendly and accommodating to our large group. If I lived in Cambridge I would be here every weekend.

A great addition to the options available in central Cambridge, the food is great, they always have an interesting beer (and gin) selection for people who like to explore, and staff are always attentive and helpful.

I love the pint shop because of their beer and gin selections. You can’t go wrong with either! The beers are constantly being changed out, but there is usually always a stout or porter on tap. That alone makes me happy.
My husband enjoys their scotch eggs — he says they are the best in town, especially dipped in mustard.

This place was awesome! Food was amazing, server was super nice, beer selection was next level.
I also loved the meat selection. Nothing but the best steak pork or chicken. Perfect place for a beer and a steak.

After a night out in Cambridge, we decided we should have some lunch before heading back to London. I asked my friend who lives there for a recommendation, and he said we should come to the Pint Shop. So I made a booking for lunch, and the three of us headed there to give it a try.
It’s a super hipstery gastropub. The beard to non-​beard ratio among the employees is high. We were some of the first people to arrive (I guess 12:15 for a Sunday lunch is a bit early), but by the time we left around 2:00, the place was packed. Because I had to drive, I didn’t have any beer, but my partner decided to order an interesting cask ginger beer from the menu that wasn’t sweet, just a regular beer with a hint of ginger flavor to it. Very nice. I had the Cucumber Soda (awesome) and the ginger ice tea (a bit too sweet, but still nice). We also ordered some of the snacks while we were waiting for our friend to arrive, so we had some really delicious chili jerky and some beer sticks. Then we sat back and enjoyed the art. It was very nice, and we both found a piece we liked, but I couldn’t convince my partner he needed it in the flat. Oh well!
Food-​wise, the menu reads like a dream. A lot of things on there that sounded amazing. I opted for the Sunday set menu and started with the potted crab on corn fritters and the roast beef. My partner got the bacon and egg croquettes and the roast beef. Our friend ordered the fried chili ribs and a burger.
Starters were nice. I tried the croquette. They were probably the best starter. The potted crab was lacking a bit of oomph in all honesty. The fritters were nice, but the crab was kind of masked by the taste of the fritter. I think a potted shrimp would have worked much better to be honest. I didn’t try the ribs, but both my friend and my partner said they preferred the croquettes.
The mains came. The roast beef was one of the better roasts I’ve had at a restaurant, but my partner’s was actually too rare in the middle so was slightly chewy. All the veg were good, and we also ordered some of the triple cooked spuds with truffle cheese sauce. I think my partner ate all the sauce but left most of the spuds. They were tasty though.
I was quite full, but was still contemplating dessert. There was a chocolate stout pudding cake on the menu that was calling my name, but when I saw it on another table, I decided it sounded better than it looked. I just got some coffee, and my partner tried the red dessert wine (because we love the stuff). It was a malbec. And while sweet, it wasn’t amazingly complex. But kudos to having a red dessert wine on the menu. My friend ordered the small cookie selection (florentine, pistachio cookies and blondies). They were all okay, but the florentine was a bit soft, the cookies were a bit stale and the blondies were a bit too sweet and dry.
So while we had a good meal at Pint Shop, the food was a slight let-​down. My partner commented that the menu read better than it actually was, and I think it’s true. That being said, if we’re in Cambridge again, we may actually give them another go. I think we may just have to be a bit more selective about what we order. (Plus go for dinner so I can drink too!)

This place is awesome. Love the laid back gastropub vibe, with the simple white and wood details throughout. There is an option to sit at the bar area, which is pretty large, with a great amount of seating at benches all around and there is a more formal dining room. We sat at the bar :)
The bar menu is perfection. It’s small, but it has everything you’d ever want in a bar menu. Everything perfectly compliments the beer. The beer menu isn’t huge, but they have 8-​ish draft beers then 4 or 5 kask beers. All great selections.
Now for the food — we had a hard time deciding, so we got almost everything :) Here’s what we had:
–Steak & ale pie: super yummy. the steak was so tender (almost like a short rib) and the gravy was perfectly seasoned. The flaky crust was also perfection. I was leery at first, because they took the pie out of a little refrigerated looking shelf on the bar counter. But don’t worry! They are super fresh and amazing!
–Chips & curry sauce: you guys — this curry sauce is #amazing! Why aren’t chips always served with curry sauce? And the crisps were excellent!
–garlic toast with salted beef drippings — ok so this one came out, and I looked at my husband like, «what did we just buy, it looks like plain bread». But it was love after first bite. seriously — this was divine! I mean, total heart attack waiting to happen, but it’s genius! So simple, but so perfect!
–Salted beef frites: this was the star of the «meal». again, why don’t all pubs serve this? the salted beef was perfectly seasoned and moist then they deep fry chunks of it and serve it with the most amazing dill mustard! ahh! i want more now!
The only disappointing thing, was that they were out of Scotch eggs :(But everything else was perfect. Their bar menu also has some sandwiches and sausages rolls as well.
When in Cambridge — go. And don’t be afraid to try everything on the menu!

My how England has changed since my first visit 18 years ago. Now you can find a legitimate craft beer bar and gastropub even in sleepy college towns.
But the time thing remains. Pint Shop stops serving full meals in the front bar by 8pm on weeknights. Careful, because the bartenders are unlikely to tell you that there’s a full kitchen and dining room in the rear of the sprawling space.
«Sprawling» won’t be your first impression as the bar seems relatively small by English pub standards with just a handful of tables, but there’s a full dining room and patio available for dining.
The food is updated English — wouldn’t quite call it modern, but it’s very very good. The lamb, fish, and steaks were all a hit with my party and if you are a vegetarian they have a very good entrée option.
Beer list is eclectic and truly craft, unlike the nearby Bath House, which has Greene King beer — perhaps the Blue Moon of the English craft beer scene (that’s not a compliment in case you actually like Blue Moon made by Coors).
Definitely worth a visit if you’re a beer lover or just enjoy good food.
Cheers.

We really enjoyed our first visit to The Pint Shop. Being Valentines Day it was pretty busy but we were lucky and shown to a table in the back dining room. Theres a relaxed vibe with plenty of family groups coming and going. The waiters were top qualiry, friendly and attentive offering recommendations about the beer and even bringing us a refill because we were waiting a while for the pie.
The beef and pickled walnut pie was delicious. Perfect gravy soaked pastry with crispy edges and pickled walnuts adding a little something extra. Fishfinger brioche was fine. Oh and the beer was great!
Next time we’re heading to the front bar and the bar snack menu… and we’re already looking forward to it!