Eating Out With The Phoenician Trader: Royal Oak
Created | Updated Apr 5, 2011
The Royal Oak
In the back streets of Southwark, also known as the Borough, near the quite old church of St George the Martyr and the mostly demolished Machelsea Prison (the second one) is a small back street boozer called the Royal Oak, complete with a swinging sign showing Charles hiding in the famous tree.
The pub only sells beers from one brewer (plus a single guest and a two lagers that few touch) and a couple of very nice ciders. The beer is kept extremely well which makes it good for introducing foreigners to the best of British hand pulled ales (warm beer? what? it is nicely chilled to cellar temperature).
Why many return, though, is for the food. The portions are large and beautifully cooked. Nothing clever, but the cook is a Glaswegian ex-butcher who not only knows his meat but also serves a good size bowl of steamed veggies with pretty much everything. Even the one regular vegetarian dish (Vegetable and Stilton pie) comes with a bowl of veggies. The chips are crisp, the pies wholesome and the steak and kidney pudding tremendous. The yellow paper specials board stuck to the wall changes weekly, unless too many things get crossed off and they have to start again.
Everything that can be made on the premises is, including the mayonnaise, many of the sauces and those other things they put on your table when you order stuff.
The pub is hard to find –saying it is just off the junction of the A3 and A2, follow the ancient Roman road and turn left at Nabraska St will lead to confusion in the rabbit warren of old streets. However, you can nearly always get a seat (although often you share a table) in this Victorian style pub done well.
Getting There: Borough Tube, Northern Line
Who should eat there: Quiet types
Dining Style: It is a pub
Price: £17pp including 2 pints of beer
Quality: Best pub food in the area
Would I go Back: Yep, I think that most people there are regulars
