Just don’t tell anyone about this boozy Shangri-La just off City Road or you’ll never get a seat again. The staff is a helpful, friendly bunch and it’s a great option for post-work drinks – who wants to stand on a crowded pavement? Plus, The Eagle strikes just about the right balance of a nicely done-up traditional pub, while falling short of becoming another ghastly gastropub clone.
The grub There’s a decent selection on the fixed price menu – £10 for two courses and £13 for three – which includes starters of crunchy whitebait or chicken and chorizo skewers and mains of bangers and mash, a tasty macaroni and cheese or fish pie. The standard menu and outdoor barbecue are a little on the steep side, with most of the mains coming in at over the £10 mark.
Behind the bar Pints from £3.80. Lagers include Estrella, San Miguel, Red Stripe and the Czech beer Kozel. There are also guest ales such as Hop Back’s Taiphoon and standards include the ever-popular London Pride and Cornwall’s Doom Bar.
Verdict Although it can work out pricey, this old-fashioned pub and its brilliant garden are a welcome retreat from Shoreditch’s relentless concrete.
2 Shepherdess Walk, N1 7LB
theeaglehoxton.co.uk
Tube | Old Street
