The House - part of the award-winning group behind the Only Running Footman in Mayfair - is an upmarket gastro pub with lofty ambitions nestled in a leafy part of Islington.

The Venue
Relaxed elegance best describes the decor of The House. Clearly, the pub wants to offer an environment where customers can relax over a meal. Although white tablecloths adorn the tables, the rest the venue is laid back.

The furniture is the pub’s first attempt at understatement, with discreet mix-and-match retro chairs and tables. The stools around the central, prominent bar are modern and match the mirrored wall panels with an effect reminiscent of liquid silver. A couple of couches and a fireplace help to keep things cosy. During the summer, it’s all about the triangular patio - a nice spot to catch some rays but expect to be disturbed by the traffic of Canonbury Road.

The Atmosphere
Chic but casual is the attire of the average customer at The House. There is no strict etiquette regarding dining here, but the atmosphere is more rarefied than your average gastro pub. The staff act accordingly, being slightly surly and superior at times - expect to see the bar staff donning a full-length apron with the pub coat of arms. However, The House also organises relaxed events like music nights. The music ranges from subdued DJ nights with the Beatles and Rolling Stones on rotation, to acoustic acts and modern soulful rock.

The Food
The House has ambitions beyond those of your average gastro pub. The menu is strictly seasonal and highly dependant on what’s looking good at the daily market. Prices are adjusted accordingly.

Starters range from £5.50-£8 and mains £14-£15.50. Desserts come in at £5-£6. Dishes include items like: globe artichoke and fennel pizzetta with sun blushed tomato and spinach; roast duck breast with pancake roll, coriander and hoisin jus; or pan fried sea trout with samphire, brown shrimp and cucumber butter. They also serve a small selection of dishes that can be ordered as a starter or main depending on the portion (£6-£16.50). These can include creative combinations like watercress tagliatelle and summer vegetable broth or spiced scallops with sag aloo and green tomato chutney. The menu is full of experimental dishes like the jaffa cake tower, but has a sophisticated edge.

The Drink
Wine dominates the drink offering at The House with over sixty bottles, grouped by dryness, fruitiness and body. Within the whites, prices range from £15-£82 per bottle. Only a few half bottles and glasses are available (£18-£24.50 and £3.75-£5 respectively) so to taste the interesting Pinot Blanc Federspiel from Austria, you will have to drink the whole bottle. The same is true for the reds (£15-£91 for a bottle, £19-£35 for half a bottle and £3.75-£8.75 for a 175ml glass), where the Marchesi Di Gresy Barbaresco from Italy stands out for its quality.

For hot summer days on the patio outside, beer is the top choice. On draught (£3-£4) you can order Adnams, San Miguel or Hoegaarden, whilst Corona, Peroni, Tiger, Fruli and Leffe are available by the bottle (£3.20-£3.50). A small selection of cocktails are also available at £6.50-£8 and include mixes like The Goods (Campari, limoncello and fresh lemon), Cuban Cucumber (rum, fresh cucumber, lime, mint and ginger) and Vanilla Milkshake (vanilla vodka, Kahlua, Baileys and milk).

The Last Word
The House is a good place if you want to drink wine in a refined environment. And if you get hungry, you just need to move from the sofa to a table.

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