Date Visited: Sunday, 2 November 2025
Food — 4.5 / 10
Beef Sirloin Roast
The beef was cooked rare, as requested — tender and well-flavoured, though a little cold by the time it arrived. The Yorkshire pudding was unfortunately burnt, the potatoes decent but lacking crunch, and the vegetables over-steamed and bland. The lone parsnip was a pleasant surprise, and the gravy tied things together nicely.
Nut Roast
Less a roast and more a damp assembly of grains and nuts in loaf form. The vegetables were again steamed but not mushy, and the Yorkshire dominated the plate without much payoff. The gravy, a thin stock-cube affair, disappointed — and I regretted not following our server’s suggestion to try the beef gravy instead.
Overall: 6/10 for the beef, 3/10 for the nut roast — average score 4.5/10.
Drinks
As a cask-ale pub, the range was surprisingly narrow: mostly IPAs, pale ales, and lagers. More bitters, ruby ales, or stouts — the kind that pair naturally with a roast — would elevate the offer.
The wine list was solid, with most bottles around £30–£35. We chose the 2024 Côtes du Rhône from La Berthete, which was excellent.
Score: 6/10
Hospitality
Booking was last-minute, and we’d been allocated the basement, but our server offered us a table upstairs instead — a thoughtful gesture that improved the experience immediately. Service was warm, attentive, and professional throughout, even with a packed house.
The server’s small touches — like suggesting the beef gravy and tactfully steering us to a better table — were quietly impressive and lifted the experience well above pub standard.
(Jasmine’s note: her recommendation on the gravy was right.)
Score 9/10
Atmosphere
Harrison’s feels more like a restaurant than a pub — open, bright, and contemporary, though a little sterile. The furniture is mismatched; my chair wobbled enough to cause concern. Still, the space was relaxed, lively, and comfortable for families and couples alike.
Music volume was perfect (a rarity). The vibe sits neatly between a restaurant and a traditional pub.
Score: 6/10
Price
£95 total, including wine (£35) and service.
Reasonable for central London, but without the excellent service, the food alone wouldn’t justify it.
Verdict
A welcoming team and thoughtful service kept this meal above water, but inconsistent execution in the kitchen held it back.
Overall rating: 6.4 / 10