If you appreciate quality burgers or are a cheese connoisseur, The Stag will provide you with an excellent choice of well prepared food with the option to have it served in a gorgeous garden. It’s hard to beat, even for an area populated with decent venues.

The Venue
Gifted with a gorgeous garden and a nice but airy interior, The Stag is an ideal hideout for all seasons. On cold days you will want to remain indoors, where a classical and yet modern u-shaped room welcomes you for drinks and a meal. The nicest features are the silver chandeliers on the maple bar, the round table by the working fireplace, and the logs stacked high beside it. Other elements like the many mirrors, padded benches in black leather and large red lampshades add a contemporary allure to the space.

The true jewel in the crown, however, is the garden. With the ground covered by pebbles and large sheds on all sides, you can occupy your own booth with friends or sit on vintage chairs near heaters. Space age chandeliers from the ‘50s and ‘60s make an unusual appearance outdoors adding a lot of character to the area, which is spacious, tidy and leafy. Best of all, there's a roof covering the seating areas so you don’t need to fear the rain when the weather inevitably takes a turn for the worse.

The Atmosphere
The residential area surrounding The Stag is rather quiet and this reflects on the unassuming atmosphere of the pub. Busier during the day because of the nearby hospital, week nights are rather subdued - ideal for a relaxed meal or chatting with friends - whilst the weekend draws in more people, especially for the popular Sunday Roast. The crowd of regulars is comprised mostly of locals and hospital staff - the people tend to be thirty and above but, when the summer arrives, a younger bunch is sure to move in to enjoy the stunning garden, a favourite spot for good weather.

The Food
A main draw of The Stag are the quality homemade burgers on sale, most of which are organic. These burgers (£7.50-£9.50) make up most of the menu and you can choose from beef, chicken or vegetable burgers and a variety of toppings including the spicy New Mexican (smoky guacamole, sour cream and chillies), the very tasty Cobb (avocado, red onion, bacon and gorgonzola), the Blue and Green (stilton, bacon, spinach with a red onion salsa) and many others. You will be served a very tall burger that can prove hard to eat but the quality of the ingredients shines through, despite the meat tending to be slightly under-seasoned.

After you have satiated your hunger with one of those, you can nibble on twelve different cheeses served on a well presented board with a variety of crackers, fruits and chutney (£1.80-£5.25 for 70g). You can choose between traditional hard and soft cheeses like brie, Yorkshire Blue or cheddar or opt for something more adventurous like Boschetto Al Tartufo (cow and goats milk mixed with truffles), Strathdon Blue or Stinking Bishop. Traditional organic Sunday Roasts (£11-£12.50) and a short list of specials complete the menu.

The Drink
If you are coming down for a pint, you can order Heineken, Staropramen, Hoegaarden and others on draught (£3.30-£3.80), or go for a slightly more exotic bottle (£3.30-£3.80) like Estrella Dam, Kingfisher or Sagres. Otherwise, you can choose a spirit or a liqueur: their list of whiskey and bourbon is particularly good.

To go with your burger, pick one of the wines from the dozen they offer (£3.50-£5.75 for a small glass, £4.75-£7.50 for a large one and £13.50-£22.50 for a bottle) or choose a long drink (£7-£7.50). The selection is limited to a few but the orange and pomegranate Cosmo and the Mochatini will keep you satisfied. Finally, to wash all the alcohol and food down, pick from their long list of teas and sit down for a few minutes to have a good look at the pretty room or spacious garden.

The Last Word
The Stag stands out for three things: burgers (excellent quality), cheese (great variety) and its garden (more than enjoyable). If you are a fan of any of the above, a trip to NW3 is recommended.

venue information venue map view london review user reviews (29) image gallery (9)