BITE user comments - rugbyboy
Comments by rugbyboy
The Royal Albert, Crystal Palace
I have been a couple of times to this cute, little, traditional Sunday-roast pub with no pretentiousness. The service is friendly and the food is decent. Did not stimulate my libido but I would go there again probably with the old folks.
2 Feb 2007 15:27
The Black Sheep Bar, Crystal Palace
If it wasn�t for the heavily smoky atmosphere I would have rated this pub higher. Thankfully the crowd of the Puzzle did not shift to the Black Sheep, leaving it immune from a more substantial �downgrade�.
The service is friendly and the atmosphere is nice, though I�d rather be able to speak to the other person standing in front of me rather than shout!
This combined with the passive smoke was a fatal mix for my throat. It took me 2 days to recover to full power!
I believe they will benefit from the smoke ban!
2 Feb 2007 15:24
The Blue Bottle, Crystal Palace
The blue bottle has a great space and location, good deco and decent selection of beers. When I first moved into the area I was positively surprised by the pub, however once I got there at night in week-ends I suddenly (and rightly) changed my mind.
I appreciate the effort of the new management to take this off the �black list� but this remains below average location where bouncers should spot a trouble maker not because of the trainers he is wearing. They should relax more and pick up from the crowds from the White Hart and the Mansion, probably a no-chavs policy will support the business!
2 Feb 2007 15:19
Great for watching rugby matches, nice atmosphere and very good service. But that�s as far as I can go with this pub. It�s an average pub, nothing that let it standout from the crowd and it may have lost some clientele since the White Hart returned to its origins (formerly a chain).
2 Feb 2007 15:12
My favourite in the area.
The food is great, even if a little bit on the �heavy� side of the healthy-choice board sometimes, however you can treat yourself once in a while. I loved their burgers so yummi.
The service though let you down and does not stand with the outstanding features of this pub.
They can point you to your table but they don�t bother to either come to take order or to let you know that you have to order from the bar.
Last summer we ordered for the BBQ, however they did not tell us that we had to take the order outside to the chef. I honestly though it was their job.
The deco and the crowd are brill.
I would have liked to give them more than a 6 cause I really like them but they have to drop the attitude with their service and possibly provide some more indications.
They should take example from the Greyhound in Battersea!
2 Feb 2007 15:08
The White Hart, Crystal Palace
It�s a very nice place to go. I like the relaxed atmosphere of the clientele. Food is good but not great, I think they may do it with a little bit of revamp. The wedges and the home made tortillas were both savagely burnt and I struggled to eat them.
I like the variety of the beer and positively surprised by the fruity beers, not my cup of tea but it was worth trying it and it makes a change.
It�s a bit of hit and miss with the service, I had very slow responses in the past but recently they have been extremely good and friendly. This is certainly a plus.
2 Feb 2007 14:58
The Gipsy Hill Tavern, Upper Norwood
This pub has a great potential in terms of space and location but you are let down by the deco and the general atmosphere. The beers are ok but average choice. Though service is great, very friendly and prompt, the crowd seem not to be bothered to be there (probably I was just very unlucky).
I must confess that in the summer it gains loads of vitality and it almost seems a different pub.
Wish I could rate them higher as their staff really deserves it!
2 Feb 2007 15:36