The Duke Of Cambridge

who cares if it's organic? - it tasted great

07 Oct 08, 08:29 Above expectations

This is as good as The Marquess used to be. Packed with the exact DNA of the Observer Food monthly target audience. It's dark and reassuring, woody and warm.

It does strike me as a little organic for organic's sake - but the good news is the food. The chicken liver pate was good, but the toast it came with was the same as the bread that was with the oil. By the time the mains came I felt like I'd eaten half a loaf of heavy bread. My own fault you may say.

My Rabbit on the bone stew totally rocked! With the liver still rolling around in the sauce I was more than happy. My partners beef (the little I managed to wrangle off her) was exciting, reassuring and good value.

The cheese - a whopping 3.50 per cheese was good but not sensational and provided a comfortable end to a great experience. The service was friendly and relaxed and we left a happy couple having spent a good 4 hours there. You're always quick to leave a bad restaurant.

I will concede that Islington's food offering isn't all that great and The Cambridge may be good in comparison but I'll be going back for sure.

I don't subscribe to the Big Organic Fuss - good non organic will always be better than bad organic. I love the idea of organic food but I hate it when it starts to get talked about a bit like a medicine.

But don't let this put you off, see you there on Sunday.

Poor poor poor

27 Apr 08, 11:03 Well below expectations

Having being excited by an organic restaurant in a pub we were completely disappointed. The food was bland, the staff were rude and the whole experience was completely rubbish.

Lazy Sunday afternoons await

04 Sep 07, 12:29 As expected

The Duke of Cambridge has the requisite parts for the type of place it is: organic gastropub (organic beers and wines, daily menu written on a wipe-off chalkboard- check), catering to an affluent North London crowd (mismatched furniture, wood floors, wide enough spaces for 3-wheeled buggies - check) and taking their food seriously (quality breads and olive oil for nibbling, information about the sustainability of their food - check).

I've been a fan of the Duke fo several years, though I've found that in the past couple the creativity of the food has dipped while the prices have crept up slightly. Or perhaps just more places are doing the same thing, so the Duke doesn't have an edge over anyone anymore.

That said, it still does good food in an atmosphere that is hospitable to nearly any kind of gathering. You'll be just as comfortable on your own with a pint and a newpaper whiling away the Sunday hours, or in a group (with or without urban buggy). The Duke seems made for lazy eating and drinking.

The Duke of Cambridge

04 May 07, 15:00 Above expectations

An excellent pub/restaurant. All the food and drink is organic and locally sourced not to mention delicious. The restaurant is cosy and normally busy so it's always best to book ahead.