The Background:
Tucked away in a cute little backstreet close to the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens lies The Black Dog – a lovely little spot to while away the hours which is all about great grub, friendly atmosphere and an excellent array of beers and craft ales – which is always a winner in our books. I was lucky enough to head on down there with a mate for a sunny Sunday afternoon, and we both loved the generous staff, the sun-dappled beer garden out back and, of course, the food. Here’s my take on it…
The Venue:
Ah yes Vauxhall. At first glance, you could be forgiven for thinking that it was just one big old bus station… but it’s far more than just that. After all, this is the neck of the woods which has the legendary Royal Vauxhall Tavern and Newport Street Gallery remember. Add to that The Black Dog – a historic gastropub-come-boozer which is tucked away on Glasshouse Walk right by the peaceful Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. It’s a hidden gem which is incredibly popular with locals, and it has a real neighbourhood feel to it too.
The oak-style bar shows off a pretty decent range of real ales, English ciders, continental lagers and wallet-friendly wines too, and the interior of the pub itself is both cosy and vibey, with fairy lights, hanging plants and hanging copper chandeliers all adding to the charm.
Even better are the staff, who are both incredibly welcoming and helpful too. Not always the case in London… Add in the fact that there’s a sheltered little beer garden out the back – perfect for when the weather’s playing ball – and you can see why we love this place.
The Food and Drinks:
The sun was shining on this Sunday lunchtime in September, so to kick off our meal, we were advised to try their ‘froze’ – a delicious fruity concoction filled to the brim with crushed ice – which I have to say, is exactly what the doctor ordered.
I then opted for a pint of their Black Dog Lager – a delightfully light beer which is under six quid (a winner in London right), and then it was time to order the main. The smells wafting from the kitchen were absolutely dreamy, and it was a toss up between the chicken and the beef, but I had to go for the beef. Good job I did, as it was absolutely delicious and probably ranks as one of the best roasts I’ve had in the Big Smoke in over a decade. Seriously!
It consisted of a generous rump of English beef with a side of tasty horseradish, duck fat fluffy potatoes, steamed seasonal greens, roasted root vegetables, lashings of gravy and a hefty Yorkshire pudding too. My mate tried the half chicken (there’s a veggie option too), which was just as good, and the portions rustled up here are more than generous – they certainly fill a hole! Plus, at 21 quid for the beef and 19 quid for the chicken – it’s pretty damn good value too! As if the roast wasn’t enough, we then finished up with the affogato for dessert which came with three scoops of scrumptious ice cream and espresso to drizzle over it. The perfect end to the meal I’d say!
The Overall Verdict:
I’ve got to say, if you’re looking for a Sunday roast and you’re south of the river, then I’d have to recommend heading to The Black Dog. It’s a charming and quiet spot – not always the case somewhere this central – which has a bangin’ Sunday roast, really great staff and some excellent drinks on the menu too.
Plus, they also do tapas, more regular pub grub and even ‘Steak Saturday’s – where you can feast on a 400g T-bone steak and a side of fries for just 19 quid. Add in some red vino and what more could you ask for?