The Steam Passage is a comfortable pub with friendly staff benefiting from a great central location on Islington’s Upper Street. The pub offers a wide selection of wines, beers and sprits and has a wide ranging menu of traditional British dishes.

The Venue
The main bar area of The Steam Passage is often busy but seating can be found towards the rear of the pub. The furniture is functional with oak tables and bar stools. The interior is clean and bright, with paintings and contemporary photographs of the local area on display. Its outdoor seating area provides visitors with a perfect spot from which to watch the world go by and has never been more popular than since the introduction of the smoking ban.

The Atmosphere
The Steam Passage provides an environment for couples and groups to enjoy drinks in an upbeat but relaxed environment. Chart music, often with dance classics on Friday and Saturday nights, is played at a medium level. Sports news and football matches are regularly shown on the four TV screens here, often on mute, providing a good option for larger groups with mixed interests. Seating, which surrounds a centrally positioned bar, can usually be found although the bar can get busy on weekend evenings.

The Food
Basic dishes, two for one offers and an unusually large pub food menu ensures The Steam Passage remains popular with a young crowd and families. Food is served seven days a week from early afternoon well into the evening. Starters including spare ribs and large breaded mushrooms are offered alongside combo and sharing platters of chicken, chilli and plain nachos. All off the meals listed in the main section of the menu form part of the ongoing two for one offer here. This includes a substantial steak and ale pie, created with juicy high quality pieces of beef coated in a thick, textured, ale-based gravy. Although the two for one deal offers good value for money, with most options priced well under £10, choices for vegetarian diners are noticeably missing. Perhaps in relation to this many pasta dishes, salads and jacket potatoes with meat free fillings are available.

The Drink
Overall The Steam Passage is good value with most drink prices slightly below average for the Angel area. Discounts are readily available on multiple cocktail purchases and on a variety of speciality shooters. The selection of red and white wines available is fair with over eight varieties including a zesty Australian Chardonnay and an organic Chilean white, ranging from £12 - £18. Rose options are limited and on the expensive side for the venue at nearly £7 for a large glass. With Peroni, Fosters, Carlsberg and John Smiths on tap alongside an array of bottled beers and alcoholic fruit drinks, there should be something to suit most tastes at The Steam Passage. Non alcoholic cocktails, tea and a varied Italian coffee menu provide ample soft drink choices.

The Last Word
The Steam Passage benefits from helpful and friendly staff. Its excellent central location, extensive food menu and impressive selection of drinks at generally good prices make the Steam Passage a worthy choice for locals and visitors alike.

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