The Princess of Shoreditch

I like this place so why 3 stars? This is a busy East London pub /​restaurant near Great Eastern Road. The pub has always been busy downstairs when I’ve been. The restaurant upstairs is accessible by a spiral staircase which brings you into a tidy but tight restaurant area Service was attentive, perhaps a little too attentive but makes a pleasant change from many other places. Now back to the 3 stars…, the food is very nice. We shared a smoked salmon starter and I followed with a ribeye steak cautiously ordered medium and it actually came out medium rather than me having to lasso the meat from the plate. But, and this is the small but, the servings were tiny. Pricey and tiny. The ribeye seemed as though it had been sliced through the middle to make two portions (it seemed as though I had one half and someone got the other), the home made chips were maliciously cut chunks of potatoes deep fried and lightly garnished with some vegetable matter. The side of chard did not appeal to me. The wine was ok, but scarily overpriced when cross referenced against Vivino (£7 average price versus £38 restaurant price). The dessert, now required, was also petite. Calling the portion microscopic would be a little unfair. So better value found elsewhere with less of a climb to the meal.

This was undoubtedly the most delicious meal I have experienced since moving to London for the summer. My friend and I each ordered the Sunday roast; she had the sirloin and I had the lamb.
To begin, the waitstaff was extremely friendly and we felt right at home. A few pints of cidre were served right away while my friend and I debated between the pork, lamb and beef. When the massive portions arrived in front of us, we were in awe. One of the waitstaff came over with a plate full of different sauces/​accompaniments. For my lamb, I got the mint sauce which was amazing and my friend the mustard. The waiter was very helpful in making recommendations as to which we should pair with our proteins.
The potatoes were incredible – delightfully crisp on the outside while light and creamy on the inside. The vegetables were perfectly cooked, the Yorkshire pudding was light and flaky and delicious and the gravy was great!
We finished the meal with some classic sticky toffee pudding that was divine!
Overall it was somewhat pricey, but DEFINITELY worth every penny.

Very solid Sunday lunch in an area where I would not expect such a nice pub and dining room. Very nice lamb
Roast with a good mix of sides. Sticky toffee pudding was excellent. Good wine selection.
Can be pricey but there was definitely some extra care over and above a regular pub.
Six of us came in two hours early and the wait accommodated us.

Fish n chips!
Came here with 4 coworkers, and ³⁄₅ of us ordered the fish and chips. The fish is perfectly fried with an even, golden crispy skin and tender white flesh that just falls apart when you cut into it. I have never seen such elegantly prepared fast food.
We started with two kinds of chips (fries for all ye ‘muricans). There was a VERY thick cut version and a thinner version more akin to McDonald’s fries (please don’t shoot daggers at me for mentioning Micky-​Dees). I thought the thinner chips were tastier, but that’s just my preference.
The fish n chips come with mushy peas, which helped balance out the greasiness of the food. Loved loved loved the mayo sauce for dipping the chips in.
I got a dry white wine that the bartender recommended. I told him that I prefer a dry white that’s not sweet or sour. He gave me a look that told me he knew exactly what I wanted, and he was right. It was so refreshing and crisp. I ordered seconds but alas, I don’t recall the name of the wine.

What a great spot. We got to the pub an hour before our dinner reservations on a rainy Saturday. Our initial thought was that we’d stroll around and see the neighborhood before dinner, but the rain made us consider a pint or glass of wine instead. The place was packed and the only possible table was a large group that was clearing out as we arrived. When we started to take over, the GM (Dan) politely let us know the table was reserved for another expected group. We told him we were early for our dinner reservations and he quickly changed gears and invited us to sit at the vacant table while he notified the dining room we were early and prepared for the upcoming party. He provided wine and beer via table service and reset the table while we waited for the dining room to re-​open. Soon, our table was ready and we ascended the spiral staircase and enjoyed a fantastic dinner. Very possibly the best lamb I’ve ever had. The dining room is a great contrast to the noisy/​hip pub below and the service was refined, but not stuffy. If you are looking for a fantastic meal and experience while exploring London’s hottest neighborhood, there’s no need to look any further.

Definitely recommend the upstairs restaurant — fantastic value for money in an often overpriced part of town.

Popped in for a few beers with some mates, the downstairs bar is a really nice space with the right amount of chairs and tables.
The bar has a decent amount of largers from all over the world (although nothing local???) I wasn’t really looking but I don’t think the Ale choice is brilliant. There seemed to be a nice choice of spirits and mixers if that’s your thing. I also treated the lads to some mixed nuts which were a great accompanyment to the beers.
The bar staff were a nice bunch and offered table service… I’m never too sure about this in London pubs, there’s sonthing weird about being served beer at your table in a pub and I’m always suspicious they are going to add an annoying service charge, as we were 1 meter from the bar I played it safe and ordered there.
I’ve eaten upstairs previously and its not bad, probably not as good as they would like to think but above standard pub grub.

I came here for my work Christmas party this year. The menu sounded promising and so did the location. We had a table for twelve in the upstairs dining area.
I had the duck rillettes, the venison and cheese for dessert. The rillettes were nice but not amazing. The venison was overcooked and the brussels sprouts that came with it were really underdone. The cheese was good, but it’s hard to screw up cheese.
I had a beer when I arrived, but wasn’t impressed. We did end up ordering some nice wine to accompany our meal too.
I guess my problem was everything was just nice, and not amazing. It was probably better than other pubs I go to and eat at, which is saying something. However, given the hefty £40 pp price of the three course meal, I was really expecting something better. It’s as if the chef really wants to be working someplace nicer and is trying to hard. Yes it’s a gastropub, but really the flavor and level of cooking should come first, then trying to make it look pretty.
And the plating wasn’t really even that pretty. My friend ordered the salmon. And if there are cubes of beetroot stacked on a plate, that means it’s gourmet right?

Not bad. We popped in for a late-​ish dinner on Sunday night — the place was crowded but the owner thought he could fit us in before the kitchen closed. Not 10 minutes later, we had a table.
The food was good but portions were a bit out of whack. The beef roast was a good-​sized piece of meat accompanied by three large potatoes, a good amount of carrots and popover– type biscuit. The hake, had a tiny bit of potatoes, a sauce and nothing else. Hmmm…
Wine prices were reasonable, no beer sampled.

Came here for dinner with a big group of friends last fall. I believe it was £25 prix fixe for three meals.
I ordered this pork belly dish that was one of the best pork belly I had ever tasted. It was so, so succulent and melted in your mouth, the way that braised meat should be. I don’t remember what appetizer or dessert I ordered, so I guess they weren’t as memorable, haha.
The reason why I’m only giving it three stars is because first, they required a down payment (NOT a deposit). What?!? For a big group, I understand wanting some kind of security in the event of cancellation, but no restaurant I’ve eaten at has ever asked for money UP FRONT. Normally they take a credit card and apply some penalty charge if we don’t show up. So strange. Secondly, one of our friends got stuck at work and couldn’t make it to dinner, so we asked them to wrap up her steak so she could eat it later. They literally just rolled it in a ball of foil that later leaked all over the inside of her bag. We ordered her a side dish of greens which was never wrapped up. I know that asking to get food wrapped up at the end isn’t as common in the UK and Europe as it is in America but… surely for a more upscale place like this, the request wasn’t so rare that they wouldn’t have takeaway containers on hand?

Great service as always, decent burger, could have done with a few more fries but then I am greedy. Nicely busy and good venue to meet my clients.

A pleasant bar below and a cozy dining room upstairs the Princess of Shoreditch is a little out of the way place that offers a nice dining experience. The upstairs dining is first come first serve but I am usually just looking for a spot at the bar and don’t venture up. Note the bar menu is only available until 5:30. I thoroughly enjoy the ales on tap.

Great gastropub — loved the food.
We came on a Saturday around 6pm and it was packed. It’s less bar and more restaurant as the bar area is small and smashed up next to the tables. But by the time we left folks didn’t care and the bar area was packed.
The downstairs dining is first come first serve tables and has a more limited menu than the dining room upstairs. Upstairs takes reservations and books up pretty quickly.
We ordered and loved:
Roasted butternut squash, spinach & artichoke wellington, garlic mushrooms (v) £11.95
8oz Hereford beef burger, pickles, double dipped chips £11.95
They also had a good and affordable beer selection.
We would definitely go back.

My Sunday roast lamb here was absolutely delicious. A deboned shoulder of lamb, plenty of meat, veg and a huge Yorkshire pudding. My sticky toffee pudding to follow was amazing. I’d come back every Sunday if I could afford to. A few of my dining companions chose the mixed roast and had mixed feelings about that.
We sat upstairs in the dining room which was very nice but that spiral staircase might be deadly if you’re feeling a bit tipsy. They also don’t allow children in this pub unless you reserve the entire dining room (and it’s a £5000 minimum spend on a Saturday afternoon I was told) so don’t go planning it for a family celebration with any little ones around.
The service was fantastic with not a single complaint from me.

So I went to The Princess of Shoreditch for my friend’s birthday gathering. After getting off the bus… I wandered around and finally found the place (it’s not that hard to find). Let me just say… I was slightly puzzled as to how to get to the second floor of the building because that’s where the group was already seated. I saw the spiral staircase and the door to it… but I normally think that those doors are usually locked right? Anyway after wandering into the side entrance I inched my way through the VERY packed downstairs area… up to the second floor. This was an interesting feat because those spiral stairs are a bit tricky… especially with heels…
Anyway the party was seated at the large table in the corner and thankfully I wasn’t the last to arrive. NOW TO THE FOOD… they have a daily menu I believe and it looked pretty good!
I ordered the 3 course menu meal… but at the time… I chose 2…
The menu offered the following selections:
2 courses for £25 or 3 courses for £30.50
starters:
Roasted golden beetroot soup, chives (v)
Globe artichoke, smoked garlic mayo (v)
Potted crab, avocado, mango salsa
Rabbit rillettes, cornichons toast
mains:
Jerusalem artichoke, risotto, baby spinach, taleggio (v)
slow roasted pork belly, braised cheek, black pudding croquette
Sole, sautéed potatoes (something else)
28 day aged sirloin, watercress, double dipped chips, red wine jus
desserts:
caramelized peaches, homemade vanilla ice cream
sticky toffee pudding, toffee sauce, homemade vanilla ice cream
Cheese plate
chocolate fondant, homemade vanilla ice cream
I ordered the Potted Crab… it was small… but delicious (nothing to really complain or rave about) and then the slow roasted pork belly because the waiter suggested it… he said you can get delicious steak anywhere but you can’t get really well cooked pork belly anywhere! Let me just say… it was GOOD! (so was the steak… but that’s a different matter) and the caramelized peaches… those were meh…
I am a fan of this place because they never really rush you for anything and we had a very nice dinner. My friends all loved their dishes and yes… THEY WERE GOOD!
I think given another chance… i’d go again! :)
(I have nothing really to say about the pub portion downstairs because… I didn’t go… but like I said earlier, IT WAS PACKED so I’m assuming it was a great)

If you are visiting from ‘merica you must try a Sunday roast. No excuses. This was the most memorable meal I ate while in London. A very hearty meal, best shared with friends and family, will make you one happy person.
Skip the Bloody Mary’s especially the concoction with beets since its tough to chew a drink. They arrive in a short glass for around five pounds, no garnish, and seem like an afterthought.
The Yorkshire pudding were so large my camera recognized it as a face. They are a great vessel for soaking up all the meaty juices left behind. The mixed roast came with pork, beef, and chicken. You can never go wrong with potatoes finished in duck fat. The veggies were perfectly cooked, sweet, and were not part of the dish you push to the side.
Great service and a wonderful experience. The sticky toffee ice cream dessert was unnecessary but warranted. This was the tipping point to the inevitable food coma. I wish I had a place like this at home. Cheers to The Princess of Shoreditch.

As promised, I returned for Sunday Roast!
With a group of 10, many visiting from out of town — we wanted to show them a proper Sunday Roast, and the dear Princess had been singing her siren song (Kamm & Sons cocktail, for the record) for weeks since my last visit.
The Roast was absolutely delightful! Raves all around. The service was quite exceptional as well. Very friendly, fun and swift from start to finish. My mother and I split the Guineafowl Roast (for 2) — and at 25 quid, very reasonable. Everyone was picking off our plates, a very large portion and delicious. There were various mixed roasts, roast beef, duck and lentil salads, and the list goes on. End with Sticky Toffee with ice cream and a Rhubarb Custard Crumble. And rose champagne. And coffee. And… stuffed! The perfect Roast.
So why only 4-​stars? Well, it was a surefire 5 if not for a few issues with the private booking. But other than this, it was absolutely lovely and I’ll surely return for another Roast. Not one complaint in the bunch. Just beautiful!
Private Party Booking: *Tip — make one for Sunday Roast, this place is busy.
I made a booking for our large group, Sunday 4pm. For parties over 8 they require a 10 quid/​pp deposit and a set menu. This was handled by Duncan, and all went very smoothly. Form is quite easy to fill out, deposit charged to my credit card, etc.
A few missteps with the booking: Our party all arrived on time (nice!) and our table was ready upstairs in the dining room, but when our last remaining 3 came they were told it wasn’t ready even though we were all upstairs and they gave our name. This delayed them a good 10 minutes as they waited and thought we were not there. The table was a bit crunched, despite the advanced booking and missing one place setting/​chair, which had to be placed on the end. Then… no set menu? We asked and they were confused. «Oh no, we only do that for dinner, you can do a la carte.» Which, actually worked better for us, but after all the fuss with the private booking and the set menu (which was sent to me on PDF) — this seemed strange. Finally, the 100GBP deposit was not taken off the bill. I had to ask for it to be subtracted. All in all, I wondered if anyone actually had even told them we were coming. For a booking where I had to do a fair bit of prep, form-​filling, depositing, etc… I expected a bit more.
I’ll be back though, probably with just a smaller group!

Great food. Comfy décor and superb service. The fish pie is immense.

After reading up the reviews, we had been expecting this place to be packed for Sunday lunch. We booked ahead and when we got there, it was almost empty! We were the only ones in the upstairs room for lunch.
I had the pork belly, which is my usual choice. It was as good as any of the others that I have had, which is to say that it’s good — I’ve usually enjoyed my Sunday roasts here. The pork was alright, but a bit fatty. The potatoes could have been a bit crunchier. But, I liked the yorkshires — smaller than usual, but I prefer it when you can use them to mop up the gravy.
The serve was friendly. The price was about average for what I have experienced.

I received word about The Princess from across the pond, dutifully bookmarking it for some later relevant date. Since that time I’ve tried reserving for Sunday lunch several times without success (I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: all good Sunday roasts in London must be booked in advance.)
Then finally one Sunday, just as the clocks had sprung forward, I snagged a table for three. Our roasts were bountiful, the meat tender — Yorkshire puds wet on the inside — and arrived with lots of veg on the plate: beets, broccoli, carrots and parsnips.
Both upstairs and down are bathed in light during the day and the service is pleasant. Guinness is on tap, if you’re like me and enjoy a glass of the black stuff with your roast.
And thus, The Princess of Shoreditch joins my regular Sunday lunch rotation.