Widely reputed to be the first gastropub in London, your first clue that The Eagle is something a bit out of the ordinary is the abstract eagle sculpture perched above the doorway.  
It’s a one room show with the bar and open kitchen sharing the far wall but high ceilings and massive windows remove any inklings of claustrophobia.  Scrubbed wooden tables, a  mismatched mishmash of old chairs, low key lighting, barely detectable music and quirky artwork on the walls complete the laid-back feel.

Don’t be fooled by the chilled vibe though.  The staff is efficient and the menu is one some “proper” restaurants could learn a few things from.  You may not be hungry when you walk in but one nose-full of the aromas coming from the kitchen will have you thinking “Yeah, I could eat” in short order.

Seven main courses were on offer when I visited ranging from a pan fried scallop and chorizo baguette with rocket for £11.50 to a perfectly spiced mutton tagine for £13.00.  My dining companion claimed that her boyfriend’s hearty Yorkshire appetite had once been successfully beaten by their steak sandwich (£9.75).  
The only downside to the small but well formed menu is that you can get your taste buds all geared up for one item only to find they’ve run out of it by the time you’ve meandered up to the bar to place your order.  Speed is of the essence.

First and foremost, this is a pub and they serve up a fine selection of lagers, real ales including Eagle IPA as well as a half a dozen reds and whites and cocktails.  A Dark & Stormy, anyone? The Thursday night crowd was as diverse as the chairs they were sat in.  Twenty somethings having a pre-club bite to eat, a few older, well-heeled office workers, a smattering of trendy me-dyah types, some couply couples and some singletons doing some very discreet “shopping”.  Overall, a nice bunch of folks.

The only drawback?  Carefully navigate down the steep, narrow flight of stairs and you can’t miss them .  The loos are painted a pistachio green I’ve only seen previously in a hospital ward.
Finding somewhere that serves good quality food, carefully prepared along with a wide choice of drink is a result.  Being able to enjoy it in an eclectic, non-pretentious atmosphere makes The Eagle a gem.



Food available:     Mon-Fri 12:30pm-3:00pm & 6:30pm-10:30pm
Sat 12:30pm-3:30pm & 6:30pm-10:30pm
Sun 12:30pm-3:30pm


The Eagle, 159 Farringdon Road, London EC1R 3AL

Call:    020 7837 1353

Nearest Tube: Farringdon

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