Duke of Wellington, Marylebone, London

[limster]

Comes well recommended by friends for which I'm grateful. Very well made and delicious food that doesn't beat about the bush.

Good flavour in the meaty smoked mackerel, firm but lightly and evenly moist. Beneath that the comforts and textured softness of egg and potato, dotted with occasional chives (iirc), their creamy textures punctuated by the soft crunch of tangy red onion.

The sunday roast of pork was beautiful - meaty, juicy and deep, and a smooth gravy with gravity. The crispy surface of the duck fat roasted potatoes was exceedingly savoury. All that richness balanced with cabbage and carrots, cooked properly and without any fuss. A modern wink in the form of a quenelle of quince compote, fruity sweet contrast to the pork. Only minus was the blunt and hard crackling, if only it was crispy it would have been a perfect dish.

A solid and respectable sticky toffee pudding, the sauce nicely soaked through.

A drinkable pinot noir by the glass, not something I'd remember for too long, but enough acidity and soft gentle fruit and mild earth to follow the pork.

[cimui]

Oh, I had no idea that Duke of Wellington was on the Chowhound / foodie's radar! I stumbled across this place about this time last year. I remember it (and the after work crowd) as being pretty nondescript looking, but the food was hearty and excellent. I had something simple, a run-of-the-mill pub-style (roast? boiled?) beef with potatoes and carrots and maybe other vegetables, if I recall correctly -- but it was far better executed than usual.

Thanks for this write-up. I don't know if I consider DoW destination dining, but it certainly is a pleasant, solid option in an unlikely area.

[feelinfoodie]

Have been many, many times over the last seven months...

On the whole I prefer the menu during the week to the Sunday roast menu.. And the bar menu to the upstairs menu although they are very similar

Felt compelled to post as I had the pork belly last night which was great - came with apricots and coco bean mash and watercress salad... The crackling was great, nicely salted... not as good as chinese style pork belly but what can compare to great chinese roast pork or crackling pork? a really satisfying meal

The best meals I've had here have the the pork belly, pork chop, roast pork and on occasion the fish (although not the fish and chips); I love the labneh and the rice pudding dessserts.

Can't beat sitting on an outside table in the summer or indoors downstairs in winter... great atmosphere and fabulous people

[cimui]

Nice report. I'll have to go back for the pork belly. That sounds great!

[cimui]

Stopped by for an after work snack. Fantastic English pork bangers (organic) served with a lovely quince compote and some of the worst chips (fries) I've ever had in a pub (grease saturated and barely crisp... this happens when the fryer isn't hot enough).

[feelinfoodie]

cimui

unlike the food on the menu which is always very good and sometimes excellent the fries do vary.... i have had brilliant fries here but also mediocre

don't give up on them yet!