The Rustic Sunday Roast of Dreams
The George in the Strand offering cosy vibes and top notch roast dinners this winter
There is nothing quite like spending a chilly, Baltic Sunday, roaming the beautiful, cobbled streets of Covent Garden, exploring the boutiques and watching the buskers. As the chilly morning turns into the afternoon, and bellies start to rumble, it’s time to start the quest for the perfect Sunday roast.
Just a short walk from the popular sights in Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square and nearby shopping districts, you can find The George in the Strand – a pleasant and rustic ‘country-style’ pub, right in the middle of the city.
The gastropub itself has recently undergone a transformative refurbishment and re-opened in September 2023. The new-look dining room and drinks parlour positions The George as the perfect spot for Londoners to indulge in good, honest British food.
When seeking out a cosy vibe, nothing quite compares to a building with history. The Gastropub first opened its doors 300 years ago in 1723 and was originally a simple coffee shop. The quaint mock Tudor exterior perfectly mirrors the modern yet historical interiors – ideal to snuggle up and beat the chill.
The food menu at The George offers a contemporary twist on British Classics. All dishes on the menu are prepared with the finest seasonal ingredients and will be ever changing to bring epic flavours to customers. Star of the show is its Sunday roast.
Boasting a diverse and varied menu of Bar Snacks, Starters, Mains and Roasts, each dish is freshly made to order in the partially-visible kitchen, situated in the quaint and intimate upstairs dining room.
Snacks include decadent options such as Beef Shin Croquettes with horseradish cream and Whipped Stilton with celery and salted crackers. Starter choices are varied and impressive, including a pub classic Venison and Duck Scotch Egg with curry ketchup, or a classic Epic Prawn, Caviar and Baby Vegetable Salad with cocktail sauce.
Foregoing starters to stock up on the epic side dishes (think Cauliflower Cheese and must-order Pigs in Blankets), we opted for the Roast Pork Belly with Apple Sauce and the Roast Chicken served with pigs in blankets (of course we ordered extra), sage stuffing and bread sauce – all of the good stuff that grandma used to make.
Roast prices were reasonable (£17.00 to £23.00), portions very generous and each roast came with a plethora of trimmings including beautifully crisp roast potatoes, maple-roasted carrots, mixed kale, parsnip puree and a Yorkshire pudding. The gravy, which is always the main tell of a really good roast was a little thin for my liking, but still exuded the rich umami taste that marries together all of the flavours.
Each bite was divine, and it was one of the best roasts I have had, for a very long time. To complement the dishes, we indulged in classic cocktails – a perfect Dirty Vodka Martini, and a punchy Espresso Martini, followed by a bottle of the house wine, Tempranillo ‘Caminante’, Vina Albergada. The bottle was a little pricey for a house (£29.50), but it’s undeniable the rich Spanish wine, further elevated the wonderful fusion of flavours on the plate.
We will definitely be back, and encourage diners to reserve a table in the upstairs dining room for more of a formal feel. That said, the classic village-esque pub setting downstairs is equally charming and the perfect spot to grab a pint before the theatre, or other such nearby endeavours.
To find out more and to view the classic mid-week menus, please visit: www.georgeinthestrand.com
