Set in the heart of Islington, just a stone’s throw from Angel station, the Islington Townhouse offers a cosy place to relax away from the hustle and bustle of nearby Upper Street. As the nights draw in, our minds inevitably turn to roast dinners and our eternal quest to find the best London has to offer.
On the Sunday we visited, the rain was torrential and we couldn’t have been happier to be welcomed into Islington Townhouses’ warm interior. Set over three floors, each space has its own feel. The ground floor holds the bar and a selection of tables, a good place to sit if you’re popping in for a drink and a bite to eat. The further two floors hold a mix of dining tables and more relaxed chairs. It was here we were seated for our roast.
The drinks menu offers a good selection of beer, wine and cocktails. A much needed Bloody Mary was long, cold and spicy – just how we like it. The Sunday menu is simple but has everything you want, a choice of rare rump Angus beef, half a corn fed chicken or a roast aubergine. As well as the traditional roast offerings, there are also choices of main, including roasted squash, monkfish or venison kebab. If your friends can never agree on a roast, this menu offers a great selection to suit everyone.
We opted for the chicken and the beef, thinking we could share between us. However, when the food came we knew we wouldn’t be sharing anything! The beef rump was perfectly cooked, still pink and succulent – no mean feat when cooking a roast for so many over a whole day. The chicken too was juicy and being on the bone meant a really good portion size.
The trimmings included kale, delicious honey-glazed carrots and parsnips, roast potatoes and a huge Yorkshire pudding placed on top. There was more than enough gravy for those of us who like a little bit for everything on our plate, and we saw people with gravy served on the side if you like to control your own.
At £14.95 for the chicken and £15.95 for the beef, we think that the quality of the roast is deserving of the price tag. We’ll be returning with friends over the coming winter months!
