It’s rare to find an establishment that serves fantastic food in such a beautiful and traditional setting without it being full of pretentious show-offs. The Atlas achieves this and does so with style.

The Venue
Situated close to Earls Court Exhibition Centre and West Brompton tube is The Atlas - a pub that’s full of surprises. It lies in a residential street and doesn’t look at all special when you peer in. However, the beauty of this venue is in its simplicity. The striking red exterior with beautiful hanging baskets beckon you inward.

The main bar area is cosy and unspoilt by contrived decorative flourishes. The original wooden fittings and traditional bar front make you feel as if you’re sitting in a local country pub. There is a small gathering of wooden chairs up front and a large blackboard proudly displays a list of the food on offer. Below the blackboard, you can pick up board games like Scrabble, Chess or Monopoly if you want to make a competitive evening of it.

The back space serves as a dining area and the tables here are bigger and better suited to groups. You can also have a peek at the kitchen through the small cubby hole, which is a nice touch. Although it’s a small venue, it feels spacious and light courtesy of the windows. The beer garden, although very small, is actually one of the best features of the pub. It comes complete with a retractable roof so when the British weather inevitably shows up you are protected from all the elements.

The Atmosphere
After work, especially as the weekend looms, expect to find locals and office workers unwinding at The Atlas. It can get quite raucous at times so if you want to have a quiet meal you should come earlier in the week.

The beer garden is rammed when the sun shines although the holiday edge the atmosphere takes on is uplifting. The staff are very accommodating and extremely efficient, which is exactly what you need in such a popular pub.

The Food
The Atlas prides itself on its regularly changing menu, sticking to Mediterranean food with some British classics. The food is locally sourced and seasonal.

For starters, try dishes like the bruschetta al pomodoro - grilled Pugliese bread, vine tomatoes and salad (£6). The ciabatta is light and crisp paired with soft, sweet, succulent tomatoes with a dusting of basil and a splash of olive oil. Alternatively, anitpasi to share is a popular choice (£10).

Mains are tempting with dishes like penne with Italian sausage ragu, tomato, oregano, cream and parmesan (£7.50 a small plate and £10 a large). If you opt for the large plate, you’ll be presented with a huge portion of pasta with lots of parmesan to complement it. The sausage is tender and perfectly spiced.

Desserts are all priced at £4.50 and you can choose from chocolate and almond cake with cream, apple and rhubarb crumble with vanilla ice cream and profiteroles.

The Drink
The main focus here is the large wine list from around the world. The house bottle is a Sicilian wine for £13.50 a bottle. The South African Chenin Blanc (£16) has potential when you first smell it with its sweet, citrus aromas but when you taste it, it’s a bit of an anticlimax with an acidic, bland flavour. For the reds, the 2007 Argentinean Malbec (£17.50) is a dark, brooding heavy wine that goes perfectly with meat dishes.

If you prefer the grain to the grape then there’s a good selection of beer on offer. You can choose from brands like Kronenbourg, Strongbow, Leffe, Staropramen, Becks Vier, Peroni, IPA, London Pride and Hoegaarden, starting at the £3 mark.

The Last Word
The Atlas really does welcome everyone from around the globe.

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