Thursday, June 18, 2009
Posted By:
Chris 9N
Photo:
Chris 9N
The Empress of India
The Empress, an upmarket gastropub from the same team that brought you The Gun in the Docklands and The Prince Arthur in London Fields, fits in perfectly in the yummy mummy stronghold of Lauriston Road and the 'Victoria Park Village.' Principally set up for food (though there is some seating around the bar for drinkers) its menu highlights typical gastropub fare, executed with some flair. Think pig's head (St John's anyone?), pint o' prawns (that's a prawn cocktail to you and I) and hangar steak (my personal favourite cut of meat) served rare.
The focus is on ingredients rather than particularly inventive cooking, but it does work, even if the prices are rather high for a place 30 minutes walk from the nearest tube and in Hackney. Though it is 25% off food at the moment if you book online.
Service is usually cheerful and swift, though the waitress' eye rolling at some of our parties' reasonable requests during our last visit was less appreciated. Luckily she made up for it by having a good grasp of the menu and well-chosen wine list. The room is pleasant, with wood, red leather, 'colonial' murals and animal heads dominating the ample space.
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