Chances are if you take a wander along most high streets, you’ll see a Slug & Lettuce pub somewhere – they have 80 bars spread across the UK, and I just discovered that the pub chain has reached its 30th birthday this year. To celebrate, they invited me to my local S&L for a review.
I haven’t been to a branch of the chain in several years to eat, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was however pleasantly surprised by the menu – alongside the expected burgers, fish and chips and nachos was a range of light bites, salads and specials.
My friend Liz and I both chose from the specials menu: I had smoked haddock fischcakes with a mixed salad, and Liz chose risotto with crab. I was impressed with the salad accompanying my fishcakes, which wasn’t your usual bunch of mixed leaves but included lettuce, cucumber, peppers, tomatoes and a tangy dip. The fishcakes were generously packed with fish and creamy potato and were very tasty and filling enough not to need a side dish of chips (which you sometimes ‘need’ to bulk out a plate of fishcakes). Liz’s risotto was rich with crab, and came with a crispy parmesan tuile biscuit. I felt that both dishes were more styled towards a restaurant than a pub, and for around £10 each they were reasonable value for money.
I was already full from the fishcakes but as our review offer included puddings I felt obliged (taking one for the team) to order a waffle with salted caramel sauce and ice cream. Liz chose another special: a warm cookie / brownie combination with ice cream.
Both were delicious and came in at just under £4 each. The waffle was thick like a liege Belgian waffle (my favourite) and the salted caramel sauce had the right mix of sweet and salty. I didn’t expect to like the cookie but it was gorgeous: slightly underbaked and chewy with chunks of chocolate and warm ice cream. Again, we were very impressed, and very full.
The Slug & Lettuce I went to was near my work between Bank and St Pauls tube stations in London, and the venue was light and airy with friendly and efficient staff. I discovered that Mondays are ‘Happy Mondays’ at the S&L and that means 50% off food, which seems like a great deal to me. I’d definitely go back for an office lunch and try some more options off the menu – I am sure there would be something to please everyone.
If you fancy giving a Slug & Lettuce a go then check out their website for menus / locations.
In case it’s not completely obvious, I dined as a guest of Slug & Lettuce.