ROAST SERIES: The Stonhouse

Because The Stonhouse is tucked away off Clapham High Street it could mean that it would be easy for it to fall under the radar. We were expecting it to be more of the ‘if you know, you know’ kind of place, so when we walked in we were a little surprised to find that everyone does, in fact, know. A pub so bustling in central London is always a promising sign, especially in Clapham where it’s surrounded by so many other fantastic places.

Ambience:
If you’ve passed by then you’ll know that The Stonhouse is really charming from the outside. There’s something very classic and welcoming about the inside that matches the exterior. It’s got that wholesome, traditional pub feel with a little edge to it. There’s trendy art and we loved the peachy, velvet curtains. If you want to be outside then their very green beer garden is heated and sheltered, and there are cozy blankets to keep you extra warm. The pub go-ers themselves felt very ‘Clapham’: young people, families and, obviously, dogs. The service was lovely and a big shout out to the manager who is completely hilarious and dishes out the best craic. It all adds to that convivial atmosphere that you want when you come to your local.

The Food:
All the food here is orchestrated by a female head-chef, which we always think- in a traditionally male dominated business- is a nice thing to note. The vegetarian roast was a nutty Wellington that was filled with chestnuts, mixed grains and parsnips. It was terrific (and maybe even our favourite vegetarian option in the series so far). We loved the different textures and flavours going on here, umami with a touch of sweetness from the parsnips. The beef was also gorgeous. The meat was incredibly tender and cut thinly which gave it an almost delicate look on the plate. It also came with a Yorkshire pudding that was almost the size of our head. These have got to be the biggest in Clapham and is worth trying the roast here just to experience the Yorkie. All of the Sunday lunches come with herby roast potatoes, vegetables and gravy so it’s a really good sized portion too, you won’t leave hungry.

Standouts:
If you like your gravy thick, this is the place is for you. We do and this one had us in a chokehold- it’s thick and almost heavy in consistency (in the best way). The Bloody Mary we had was a showstopper in its own right. We ordered the extra hot one made from a jalapeño infused vodka. It really hit the spot and if you like a bit of heat to scare away the Sunday scaries (or any lingering hangover) then we couldn’t recommend this one enough.

Price:
With all roast options coming in under £20 this is certainly on the cheaper end of the Clapham-Scale.

Beef: £18, Vegetarian: £17, Cauliflower cheese (for 2): £6.

We loved a lot of things about The Stonhouse. The food, the atmosphere and that Bloody Mary left us feeling warm and fuzzy inside. Which is exactly what we are after when we’ve been for a roast.

THE ROAST SERIES: We are on a journey to discover some of the very best Sunday roasts in Clapham. Each will have remarks 4 categories: Ambience, The Food, Price and Standouts to make it clear what it is we loved about each one. We will aim to order similarly in every place we try to give you the clearest indication of how it compares to the rest of the neighbourhood.  Stay tuned to find your favourite.