The Engineer

I used to live in Primrose Hill and vowed never to return to The Engineer. Their famously rude – to cool for school – service and chaotic approach was enough to overshadow any positives with the food or gorgeous setting.

It was with much reluctance that I agreed to return for a friend's birthday dinner, who knew the new General Manager. She assured me that things had changed and, judging by the ensuing meal, she was right.

The same chef is clearly still at the helm, as reliable favourites are still on the menu and being gobbled up with the same gusto as they were many moons ago. Everything we ate was tasting and well cooked; my only complaint being that they could have moved on a little in the 4 years since my last visit, but this is just nit picking!

What was obvious, was that the front of house brigade had clearly been given a shove in the right direction. The pub was packed, and we were looked after very well with what appeared to be genuine personality and warmth. The service wasn't seamless, but one needs to remember that this is a pub after all.

The pub is just as beautiful as I remember, and still throngs with the right kind of people enjoying the unpretentiousness of this place (It was always such a shame that the complacent staff thought to much of themselves and their famous… More

Do not let the lovely decor, the extensive bar and their self-proclaimed “Best Bloody Mary in town” fool you. While The Engineer's Bloody Mary is better than some I have had, it in no way compensates for their rude and inattentive staff. My partner and I waited to be acknowledged by a waiter and be given a menu for the better part of an hour, despite repeated requests for service with any staff that would pass us by. Needless to say we declined ordering food when we were finally acknowledged, and requested the bill for our drinks. They took another ten minutes to locate our credit card which they had somehow lost and added what I thought to be a very cheeky 12.5 % “service” charge to our bill, for drinks we had ordered and collected at the bar. Had we not been so keen to leave, I would have contested this. The tables in the garden which were “all reserved” when we arrived, were still not occupied by the time we left.

Personally I would say don't bother. There are countless eateries, restaurants and cafes in the area, where you will get better value (and service!) for your money.

Clearly some things never change. Although it has been some time since I visited the Engineer (I used to work in Primrose Hill), the same comments apply. If you're in the area, go to the Lansdowne instead, just up the road. Better, more consistently good food, laid-back relaxed atmosphere and great staff who don't make you feel like you're interrupting their day.