The Hunter S

Really, really good beef wellington. One of my goals from while visiting London was to have beef wellington. Not only did I see reviews say this pub was one of the best for it, but it's also half the price. This was really probably my favorite thing I've ever eaten. If I ever get a chance, I'll definitely be back. I ate the meal by myself, sparing only a few chips, but I really cannot recommend this unless you know (like me) that your daily calorie intake is well above normal.

Solid Local with decent beer, good food, friendly staff. Bustling on the weekends and sunny summer evenings. Music can be a little too loud for a quite drink / catch-up with friends. Brace yourself for an experience when you nip into the bathroom - fun to watch the uninitiated coming out of the loos for the first time.. Perhaps think twice about bringing your elderly conservative in-laws for lunch.. ;)

I am never one to complain & I have attended this pub last year November 2023 and the food was amazing! But sadly, today we left without paying and told the manager who had a massive attitude that we were not happy. My partner has allergies, to which I told them he wanted meat no gravy with chips. After a 35 min wait time for our drinks then a further 55 minute wait time for food we were served. My partner has a lot of allergies, they brought his out with all the trimmings plus chips plus gravy. I informed the waitress that he could not have gravy as he has allergies, after waiting 55 minutes we were slightly upset due to the amazing experience we had last year. She then brought out his food (the same meat in gravy) with chips to which he did not eat due to allergies in gravy and he did not want to complain a second time. I ordered the lamb, the lamb was raw and my vegetables were freezing cold. So I also did not eat my food, my mother in law ordered pork belly to which she said the pork belly itself was amazing but the gravy & vegetables were freezing cold. I have worked in the industry for over 5 years and I would never expect to have such attitude given by a manager when complaining about the slow service and food quality. We informed a member of staff to speak with the manager as we were not happy. She stormed over without giving us a opportunity to explain what was wrong she said “I do not want to hear the problems, I will refund you because I am not going back and fourth with you about food” We were absolutely shocked at the way she spoke to us, as other customers were looking & all we wanted to do was explain what issues we had. Apparently it’s new management to last year hence why our experience was so terrible. Atmosphere was amazing but the service was WAY TOO SLOW & the disgusting attitude we received from the manager was upsetting. We are a family who never complain, we are always respectful but feel so disheartened and disgusted with how we were treated in the Hunters S. never have we refused to pay for food. I would avoid at all costs unless you don’t complain and don’t mind waiting 1 hour for food.

I like this pub because it is different from other pubs but still has the pub vibe and because it has Aperol on tap 🤩 beautiful and efficient. The decoration is very cool and the people at the bar super nice as well! I come here often and really enjoy it

Great for a Sunday lunch or dinner. It's advisable to book in advance which we hadn't but we didn't have to wait too long for a table. We had the baked camembert which was glazed with truffle oil plus crudités, bread and olives to share as our starter. Then we had the Beef Wellington which serves 2 and was also delicious. Will definitely be back for more.

I saw the Hunter S pop up as a good place to have a roast, and it was not wrong. We had the lamb and pork which was perfectly cooked, and finished with sticky toffee pudding, and apple crumble. The pub was nicely decorated and photos in the bathroom my partner enjoyed 🤣 One tip would be to book as it was super busy and wet outside. Can’t wait to return!!

I agree with previous comments about the heteronormative toilet decor. I've got no issue with the porn on the walls but why is it exclusively pictures of women in the gents and men in the ladies? It is exclusionary and sexist and gives off the wrong vibe. Other than that an absolutely lovely pub. We had a great time.

First time at the pub - unfortunately was bucketing down with rain but I still had a pleasant experience. Nice vibe and to be fair there were plenty of pundits enjoying themselves

Loved it. Great room. The Sunday roast was good. The Art was saucy. The service could have been better. But I work in a fancy Canadian restaurant so I don't know what's expected here.

I have no idea what the prior incarnation of this pub was like, but the current one certainly ticks all the boxes for me: kitschy taxidermy, spectacular ceiling metalwork and chandelier, absurd art in the toilets, and one of the better Sunday roasts I've had in London. Oh, and they have a television, which I probably wouldn't have noticed except for the fact that Murray/Federer match was on and everyone was enthralled. On one hand, my lamb roast was absolutely beautiful. At about £14 (if memory serves), it was the right amount of food to be heartily satisfying. The meat was perfectly tender and kicked up a notch by the mint sauce which came with it. I also sampled some of my tablemates' horseradish sauce and was impressed by the kick - they don't mess around! Meanwhile, I made the mistake of ordering the gazpacho. I really couldn't distinguish it much from just straight-up tomato juice with some salt in it. I'm used to my gazpacho having some consistency and thickness to it. This was watery and unexciting. Even throwing all of the garnishes in (diced tomatoes, onions, and cucumbers) didn't help that much. I probably shouldn't have ended my meal with this, as it was utterly underwhelming. At this point, I was far too full to consider actually enjoying a dessert, but they do offer a cheese board that caught my eye. Another time - definitely glad to have this joint as a wonderful Sunday roast alternative after climbing at The Castle!

I am a HUGE Yelp'er. And I am SO glad I am because I find Gems like this everywhere I go! At the Hunter S. I had the best dinner I may have ever had in my entire life. I am not kidding. We ordered the Beef Wellington for two and I am SOoooo glad we did - it was truly amazing! Yes, the place is quirky and yes there is taxidermy and yes, the toilets are a sideshow of their own haha. The bartender was great and offered his knowledge, suggestions and gave us excellent and fast service. When he didnt know something he asked instead of just blowing us off. He also let me try a few of the beers on tap before I made my decision. It was a long day for me and my legs were hurting, it was also cold outside and I just wanted to be comfy. My friend and I plopped down on the couch and put our feet up. We tried the beet soup as a starter and it was excellent. The Beef Wellington was so good I am still dreaming about it! The meat was cooked to perfection! The side salad was perfect, the chips were perfect, the veggies were perfectly cooked - literally, The. Best. Dinner. I have EVER had! Thank You Hunter S. -I have already recommended you to locals. And thank you Yelp community!!! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE HUNTER S. - if your going to London or live in London, this is a MUST **Vegetarian options were avail on the menu as well - just fyi. ENJOY@@@!!!!!

I may review this review (haha) after my next visit to the Hunter S - when I plan on eating! This time, me & the hubs came here for an after-work drink with a few friends. It has fantastic décor: plenty of crazy taxidermy (think bearskin rug... on the ceiling!) and lovely vintage-y looking sofas for lounging in. There's a big ol' chandelier in the dining area, and the menu looks extremely tempting. The gin & tonics were well-priced & strong! So ... can't complain. Looking forward to coming back for dinner sometime. But ultimately: a bar named after one of my all-time favourite writers?! Yep, gets a big tick from me.

Came here the weekend before Christmas for a group lunch. Very hipster gastropub, though not unfriendly. Very cool animal heads on the walls and even plastered to the ceiling, which were pretty awesome. Foodwise, it's good quality English pub grub. Borderline pricey but they get away with it. I ordered the dressed crab on brioche toast to start, which was great. Really decent sized portion of crab which tasted light and fresh. I shared a beef Wellington for main, which has a side of (very) chunky chips, small side salad (with pancetta bits) and gravy. Again, great quality. Meat was tender. The pastry was very rich and delicious although it was super filling (no need for a desert). In all, slightly pricey, very hipster gastropub with great quality food and cool ambience. Service was pretty slow though (took over an hour before our food came out).

It's kinda my local pub, however I rather walk an extra 5-10mins to go another pub. They definitely need A/C and better security? The pub is literally based in Canonbury - Dalston with bunch of East London people yet you get weird looks for not being ordinary haha. Very limited seating outside, serving licence isn't till late really. Also quirky toilets

No fear and loathing here! As a fan of the author I was very excited to finally visit this bar. Expecting some gimmicky twist on Hunters books, I wasn't disappointed to find a subdued decor, lacking in the garish department, that had a chic well thought out and sophisticated flair. With a mixed air of American lodge, 1950's airport lounge and speakeasy, I was rather fond of the taxidermy, and if you look closely (and I did), prints of Ralph Steadman's work on the walls (the artist synonymous with creating the covers for hunters books, and the labels for the flying dog brewery if you weren't aware). The real ale beer selection was limited, but good, although I was a little disappointed there wasn't a selection of American craft beer if I had to be honest. I did rather enjoy the handled beer mugs as I've never really been fond of real ale in pint glasses. However I couldn't but help fall in love with this place, relaxing into the dark leather seats and soaking up the grandiose vibe. Friendly (although typically Shoreditch) staff and a little 'shock' for those visiting the bathroom round off the experience. I do intend to revisit and try the food, what I saw coming out of the kitchen looked pretty delicious!

The Hunter S is a quintessential English pub with added quirky cool. It feels more modern than your standard local and apparently the food is off the chain (unfortunately, we had a dinner reservations only had time for drinks). If you're going with a group, make sure you book a table. When we went at 4pm it was relatively quiet but by 6pm - packed to the rafters! Also, don't miss the loos. Both the mens & womans are lined floor to ceiling with 90's nudes and play classical music... quite an interesting experience.

My lamb pie was good, though a little on the small side. The vegetable... I don't know what it was but there wasn't much of it. The mashed potato was green and kind of sausage shaped; it looked horribly like a green turd. The pie was steaming hot. The rest of the food was nearing room temperature. It came on a slab of wood rather than a plate. Not sure what the point of this is. But it does seem to be a bit of a trend in the more pretentious wannabe gastro pubs these days. (Price: £13.50.) The toilets have already been mentioned here. A chap came in to the gents behind me and remarked that he didn't know whether to pee or have a wank. As I left I did consider the thought that the owners of this establishment were having a joke, that they know that their clientele are mostly a bunch of wankers. The selection of ales was unremarkable. What's the point of being a free house if you serve pretty much the same as everyone else? The Timothy Taylor Landlord was perfectly good, nothing wrong with it at all, though I've had better elsewhere. The music was like wallpaper, I stopped noticing it after a while. Neither interesting nor offensive. Although after eight o'clock the volume went up so that it was difficult to converse with the person opposite me at the table. The lighting went down at the same time so that I was barely able to see what I was eating. Hunter S Thompson would have hated the place with a vengeance.

A whole kilo of mussels in a wine sauce with crisp fries on the side for just 12.50! It was a bit warm despite the fans they turned on all over the pub, but it was more than made up for by the high quality grub, friendly servers, and fantastical decor. Between the enormous taxidermied animals lining the walls and the framed pornography in the toilets, this place is full of character. Will return.

Hunter S. is a cool pub, looks like it is great for making reservations for a group for friends. The sunday roast was amazing.. £16.50 - so not cheap but very good meat and a kickin horseradish sauce. The music was a great collection and was not too loud. Great styled decor- lots of animal head trophies...framed nude photos in the bathroom. the staff is friendly and nice...the girls are great bartenders. - I only say that as the tall thin, pale guy bartender pours short on wine. but that is ok. Next time I will mention it when it is served. I like this place and look forward to going back.

OH. MY. GOD. This was the best lamb roast I have had in a pub ever. Tender, juicy lamb. Perfect yorkshires. Delicious potatoes and all the trimmings. It was £14.50 so not cheap. But, they really freaking nailed this. I will be back again in winter for many more roasts like this I hope! Decor is cool, staff are nice and check out the crazy toilets!

Ahh, so glad this pub finally changed hands!! It'a now a trendy sort of pub but with very normal staff & patrons (i.e. no too cool for skool hipsters, well not yet anyway...). Staff are pleasant, helpful and friendly. They have made fantastic use of the large space by filling it with lots of lovely tables and chairs. The music is great (elective mix). They have TV's for showing popular events but keep the sound off (fantastic!). The food menu is pretty good, they serve sweet potato chips!! Yummo!! They also serve the usual modern pub cuisine (from pate to Thai beef Salad, fish and chips, beef wellington etc). The pictures in the ladies loo's will keep you entertained (all framed pictures of naked Male models who work out way too much!). There is even a picture on the ceiling of a Burt Reynolds look alike, fully dressed but with his manhood out and alert! Quite an odd addition to a toilet ceiling..... Yes, this pub is a lovely addition to the area!

My favourite local pub. I had my birthday party there in march for 14 people. The staff were so nice taking my reservation and accommodating with changes to numbers. They didn't expect a deposit to hold the table which I was pleasantly surprised about. The hubby, pooch and I go often. The chicken liver pate is better than a Gordon Ramsey restaurant. The food is seriously as good as a posh restaurant. The decor is so cool with the taxidermy and the metal ceiling. The noise level is always decent and the crowd is a nice mix of locals and hipsters (but not pretentious). Dog friendly pub and the bathroom is a real talking point. Love this place!!!

I only had drinks, so cannot rate on the food! It's a cosy pub with friendly service and a nice (if you like taxidermy) ambiance.

A good friend of ours held her birthday bash at the Hunter S on Saturday. It seems there were two quite large parties that evening that had booked areas and this may go some way to explaining the shoddy service and in my case decidedly average food. The waitress who was looking after our table singlehandedly was an absolute legend, friendly and diligent; but the poor thing seemed to be doing everything on her own. I ordered the belly pork; which turned out to be a rolled belly pork strip with overly sweet red cabbage and an under seasoned layered potato dish. Very disappointing. I've been to the Hunter S a number of times; always because friends are having a celebration there. The décor is superb, the food is always average and the thing that gets me every time and something I genuinely can't get my head around is the rudeness of the bar staff and why this is tolerated. Rarely is a please or thank you muttered and the too cool for school attitude just comes across as rude. I have watched the Scots barman (he could even be management) at work on a number of times and I've never seen such a combative, less eager to serve barmen in my entire life. The disdain he treats customers with needs to be seen to be believed. But he looks quite cool, so that makes it alright in this style over substance establishment. Awful bar staff, very average food, good beer and lovely décor. I won't be going back unless under duress (someone is having a do there)!

The food was over priced, inedible and stingy portions The staff were the rudest staff I have ever come across The manager was unprofessional, told me he was unable to resolve our issue even though he was the manger I was advised after complaining not to return as a way to avoid being disappointed again. Very professional way to deal with a complaint by a manager! Avoid this place

I recently went to this pub for food and drinks and had the WORST experience. The staff were insanely rude and the food was inedible. I wouldn't recommend anyone to go here and certainly won't be going back myself.