Angel & Crown

Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Covent Garden, the first floor dining room at the Angel & Crown serves up hearty, reasonably priced food with discerning foodies in mind. After a hefty revamp, this new-look gastro pub features everything youd expect from a casual West End eatery, but with the added bonus of a spot right on St Martins Lane.

The latest addition to the ETM groups collection of gastro pubs in London (which includes the Botanist on Sloane Square and The White Swan on Fetter Lane), the Angel & Crown pairs the muted tones of a Farrow & Ball colour chart, with all the charm and intimacy of a traditional country pub.

But its not just the décor that sets minds whirring. Serving up healthy sized portions of seasonal British produce paired with an easy-to-like wine list, the ambiance of the Angel & Crown gives its over-priced neighbors something to talk about. Service is unquestionably charming while the staff are happy to recommend the perfect dish and accompanying wine without sounding remotely pretentious.

With starters varying from £6 for ELLEuks favoured salt beef croquettes, to £8 for snails, bacon and pearl barley, you can easily forget youre in the middle of Covent Garden and start dreaming of country pubs with delightful kitchen gardens. Pair that with oxtail and bone marrow pie or a perfectly cooked flank steak and chips and youre back to understanding why pubs like this deserve to do well. We just about managed to finish off a rhubarb and stem ginger crumble with custard before calling it a night and heading back downstairs to the bustling pub and theatre-goers.