Medcalf

Medcalf, always rammed, became a favourite local with the demise of the Quality Chop House. Occupying a former butcher's shop – long and thin with décor of the shabby-chic variety – it sits halfway along Exmouth Market's much-appreciated restaurant strip, and just a door away from Moro.
The focus is on British cuisine – locally sourced – and it never disappoints. Service is casual but attentive (though a restaurant that advertises a decent aperitif of Carpano bitters, yet CAN'T be bothered to make a Negroni, earns a black-mark in my book).
Starters always include a decent smoked salmon with toasted bread, an excellent terrine and Welsh rarebit. Last time I opted for a brandade of smoked haddock which was a flavoursome opener.
Mains wave the banner of tradition – a perfectly-cooked rolled piece of belly pork with champ and cabbage, a superb bavette (very bloody – fine by me – though no request for cooking was given) with a horseradish cream that delivered a veritable upper-cut, a nice piece of sea-bream done with mussels, or a salad involving British crab. Something for everyone, in short, and offered in decent portions. (A pork chop a few weeks back was the most perfectly cooked example I've ever tasted!)
The wine list is nicely balanced with many decent bottles in the sub-£30 bracket and there's a wide range of beers and ciders too.
In decent weather (though Exmouth Market diners tend to flood outside in all but hurricane conditions) you can eat outside (and there's a tiny walled area at the back). Inside, the atmosphere is friendly and the clientele youngish and fashion-concious.
Prices tend to be £5-7 for starters, mains around £16 and puds about £6 (I long to be still hungry enough to tackle a greengage millefeuille – it sounds divine). If you live in EC1, this is a useful place for all occasions – but don't expect to walk in and get a table every time…

I have been to Medcalf on several occasions and liked it, however I had a table booked for Friday evening with friends for my birthday. A friend from overseas announced she will be in London so will join us, however much to my disamay and disappointment it was not possible to change to reservation from four people to five? Really?

In all my years I have never encountered such inflexibility and lack of goodwill. I spent a good few years working in hospitality and no matter how challenging xmas can be we would always look to accomodate our customers. It's called customer service…

Medcalf now have five less people they need to worry about (or not) as none of them will be returning!

I had a thoroughly enjoyable Sunday lunch with 14 friends (March 2010). The meal was fresh and tasty, with plenty of interest both on the food menu and wine list. The roast beef was rare with hat-size Yorkshire puddings. Our large table at the sunny end of the room was ideal for the group, and the staff were exceedingly considerate, smiling and unfussy (and efficient too). I had originally thought of going to Frederick's, Upper Street as it's an old favourite – but Medcalf is my new favourite.

I last visited Medcalf in the summer 2008 when we had free range chucks from the bbq and left happy.

Last night was another story, Moules Mariniere consisted of strong (read not that fresh) mussels swimmingin an insipid pool of water which missed both parsely and cream. Then add to that huge fat chips that had been re-heated and you get the picture. If its Moules its gotta be french fries, there's a reason they're served that way, because they work.

It was dull and lazy and they've lost another customer. Just go to the reliable Eagle, Easton or Moro next door.