The Duke Of Cambridge

One of my all time favourite places to eat! Have been using Riverford for over 10 years and very excited this place exists! Ps list of wines and organic gin great! doddsgin keworganicgin

It is always a pleasure paying a visit to the Duke of Cambridge, one of the first gastropubs to visit at the beginning of the journey, some 8 years ago, and still one of my favourites – although to be frank I always find it very difficult to choose which ones are my favourites…anyway back to the review.

The pub is hidden away in the beautiful terraced streets of Islington and away from the noisy and bustling Upper Street. It is always buzzy in the bar area which most people prefer to have their meal at – this is the first time I have used the dining area and that’s because I had to make sure we got a table as it was a birthday celebration.

It was a Sunday afternoon when we got there to celebrate my brother’s birthday, he recently moved back to London and although I had plans to fly to Portugal on Saturday I changed it for Sunday evening to be here for his birthday (aww…). The place was packed at the bar area and it looked like they were expecting a large party at the dining room.

Although I never used to go three courses for Sunday lunch, but since I started visiting places for the blog I feel I am duty bound to have three courses which clearly is not great for my waistline as I am regularly being reminded by K! (Thankfully I have been going Psycling twice a week and for a run the weekends so I am currently making it through by the skin of my teeth!).

There are so many things I love about the Duke, the atmosphere, the FOOD but also the ethical attitude of the business, which is now the only certified organic gastropub in Britain. The pub doesn’t have printed menus but there are two blackboards (I know that’s quite common and not unique to an organic pub) one at the bar one at the dining room, and you just have to walk up to the board and stand there till you decide – or just take a photo now that we all have smartphones.

My brother had already got himself a premium organic larger from Stroud Brewery whilst he was waiting for me and M-C, and I ordered something new, an Atlantic Fistral Brewery Blond Ale, which was pretty good – I always like trying new ales, especially when I am outside London when you get all the small local breweries.

I ordered the potted pork to start – which was delicious although I could have done with a little bit more chutney…

At the Duke you always know that your meal will be as fresh as it gets, as the menu gets amended during the service as the fresh produce runs out. My brother wanted the buffalo mozzarella with roast cherry tomatoes, Kalamata olives (so Greek!) and leaves but as they run out of mozzarella he chose ricotta instead.

As it was Sunday the roast was a must, M-C and I went for the pork shoulder and my brother went for the lamb. Both looked and tasted delicious although I felt short-changed with the crackling…

Since it was a celebration, and I was later flying with Ryanair (…) to Portugal and had to be fed properly to last till the evening, pudding was a must. We ordered two puddings to share, a lemon posset with fresh berries and a fig amaretto slice with crème fraiche. Followed by a glass of port to warm me up for Portugal…

The Duke is definitely a pub worth a visit(s) whether it be just for beer or beers and a meal. I have been many times and I have never been let down by the Duke in any respect, food, drink, atmosphere…

Visited the Duke recently, and I have to say I had the most delicious food I've had in a long time, the staff are really friendly and they allow dogs in the bar area. We had Smooth Hound fish in Thai Broth, which was amazing, and really good Pork Belly. The wine list has a great selection and the organic beer excellent, going back next week.

I distinctly recall Wife told me about a review she had come across on Duke of Cambridge . Amongst the whole of details she piled on me, only one but was stuck on my mind - the couple paid over £45 for a smallish lunch. She did mention something along the line of sustainability, organic and quality. But price tag of the lunch for two in what seemed like a local pub acted as an inhibitor to any rational decision making, which was why we had never stepped into Duke of Cambridge even though it was literally at our doorstep for the last couple of years. Well, I did try to reserve a table for a special occasion before LO come along. It happened that there was a nasty review about the service staff at Duke of Cambridge, which was rather off-putting. We ended up in Ramsay's Berkeley instead. Long stor

The Duke of Cambridge – Britain’s first and only certified organic pub – has teamed up with Riverford (aka the organic veg box folks from Devon) to “champion seasonal produce” and offer Londoners an ethical and healthier option for quality pub grub. I dropped by the Duke earlier this week for a low key Monday lunch – and very much enjoyed the experience.

Roast leg of chicken with chickpea and pumpkin sauce (£12) with a side of bitter leaves (£3.50) proved a more than satisfactory lunch. A pint of (yes, organic) Kernel Imperial Brown Stout (around five quid) proved an early week treat (and a rather alcoholic one as well at just over 10% ABV). The beer really didn’t go with my choice of food all that well. I had figured as much when ordering but had wanted to sample the stout for some while and this was a good opportunity. No complaints, and I reckon that savoury chicken dish could have held its own with just about any accompanying drink. There were certainly more craft beers on offer and the bartender was enthusiastic about sharing his recommendations.

Prices were a somewhat more dear than what some pub goers might wish to pay, but quality of ingredient and preparation was high. If you’re accustomed to shopping organic you won’t experience any shock when the bill comes. And even if you’re not used to “going green” when you go out, I think you’ll find prices comparable to those at other decent pubs in the area (and there are quite a few).

Service was a tad sluggish but cordial and apologetic about it. There was a large Christmas party going on in the pub’s private dining room and a considerable number of tables filled for a late lunch on Monday at a pub down a residential side street in Islington. Still it was easy enough for me to rock up and snag a table and worth the modest wait for my hearty meal. I’d say reservations are the way forward if you’re planning a visit though – especially for a weekend lunch.

I liked the look and feel of the Duke. Rustic interior with stripped wood furnishings and décor helped remove me from the London hustle for a spell and seemed a suitable scene for the sustainably sourced fare. Worth a visit!

The Duke of Cambridge is an organic gastro pub tucked away behind Angel. I've come here several times with friends and we particularly love the large outdoor beer benches for summer. They sell a selection of delicious organic lagers and ciders on draught. I have also heard very promising things about the menu, which is a little pricey but completely organic as well. The interior is quite simple, menus written in chalkboards, large wooden tables that you might find in a farmhouse and food served on pretty floral plates. This is a really charming spot and very different from the usual gastro pub.

Very attractive pub with a focus on sustainable, organic and ethically sourced produce. More of a restaurant than a local pub. Very elegant 'pub' menu with some creative options. I wouldn't pop in here for a drink but its a nice place for a quality local meal.

Went for Sunday roast and as we expected the food was really good. Slightly pricey but I guess this is the price of quality. Highly recommended.

Staff were amazing, attentive and service with a smile. Food was delicious and seasoned well. I suggest that you make a reservation as the place can fill up quickly.

Went on a Wednesday night. The food was amazing, would recommend the lamb. A nice selection of pints and wines as well. At times it did feel that there wasn’t enough waiters, our table wasn’t attended to that often, and once our waitress forgot about our drinks as well.

One of London's best pubs for food, service and setting (one of the rare pubs where it is actually safe to order a cocktail). I've recently been twice for lunch, on a Saturday and on a Sunday. The quality of the organic food sets it apart from other pubs. Purists may bemoan the lack of a Yorkshire pudding with the Sunday roast - I did not notice until everything was eaten. The lamb shank in red wine sauce was so amazing and the variety of veg served along with the roast left nothing to be desired. A great spot to meet friends, celebrate an occasion or for a date.