The Pilot

Stripped-wood floors & plain wood tables look great but do little to dampen the acoustics at this Gunnersbury gastropub, where the noise levels can become brain-numbingly high on late-week nights. Readers have little patience, too, for the ‘braying estate agent types’ who use The Pilot for their end-of-week ‘mutual back slapping’ get-togethers. There’s a pleasant courtyard garden, however, & the menu’s full of good things, with dishes such as Welsh lamb shank with Puy lentils, salmon & lobster fishcakes with sorrel sauce, & Barbary duck leg with steamed greens, honey & soy vying for attention. To get the most out of The Pilot, hit it early in the week or at lunchtime for a perfectly pleasant experience.