You can’t beat a roast chicken on a Sunday afternoon and it’s one of my favourite dishes to order when I’m out. I especially love it when a whole roasted chicken is on the menu, designed to be shared between two or three people and over the last few years I’ve found some gems in London that serve fantastic whole roasted chickens.
The Princess of Shoreditch
This is a lovely little Gastropub with a really authentic feel to it, just off Old Street (despite the name, it’s not actually in Shoreditch). The decor is relaxed with a modern country feel to it. When I visited I ordered the Adlington Farm whole chicken crown (for two) which cost £17 per person which came out in a huge dish surrounded by crispy roast potatoes and two jugs of gravy. My pet hate when going out for pub lunches is when restaurants are stingy with the gravy so this got a huge thumbs up from me. In another dish we were served with seasonal veggies and two giant Yorkshire puddings and we were given empty plates so that we could serve ourselves. The portion served two of us but there was no room for anything else so this could stretch to three people, leaving more room for starters or desserts but it only came with two Yorkshire puddings so you’ll have to fight over them. We didn’t have any room left for dessert but the sticky toffee pudding on the next table looked (and smelled) amazing.
A really delicious classic roast chicken dinner at a very reasonable price (for London) of £34 plus service charge.
Address: 76-78 Paul St, Hackney, London EC2A 4NE
Tramshed (Hix Restaurants)
I first visited Tramshed a few years ago and I’ve been back a few times since, always ordering the same thing of course. Now this is roast chicken with a twist – for starters the chicken is served with it’s feet attached to the rest of its body and its removed by your waiter at your table. Once you’ve got over the shock of the feet, you can now start carving your chicken with the knife provided and help yourself to the chips and stuffing that surrounds the chicken. Not a vegetable in sight! Its a greta size portion and there’s so much meat – I’ve shared it between two and I’ve also shared it between three of us with some extra sides to share (onion rings and creamed spinach).
The restaurant itself is pretty cool too – there’s a giant instillation by Damien Hurst of a cow suspended in formaldehyde in the middle of the restaurant.
Its definitely more of a unique roast chicken dinner but that’s what makes it fun and the meat has a great flavour. The roast chicken costs £32 and the price includes the chips, stuffing and gravy so great value for money for a tasty meal.
Address: 32 Rivington St, Hackney, London EC2A 3LX
Duck and Waffle
When most people visit the Duck and Waffle, they tend to order the duck and waffle dish which gives the restaurant it’s name but when I saw a roast chicken on the menu I knew I had to try it. Again, this isn’t a typical Sunday roast chicken dish which is why I liked it so much – its so much fancier! When you place your order, you’re notified that you’ll have to wait 30 minutes for the dish to be prepared so we ordered some bread while we waited and enjoyed the views. When the chicken is ready it’s brought to your table for you to see it as a whole chicken (and take pictures) before its whizzed back to the kitchen to be deconstructed. The chicken is surrounded by buttery, soft melt in your mouth potatoes with flakes of truffle in a creamy sauce. It’s so indulgent – a really special roast chicken dish. It was a generous size and we struggled to share this between two of us so it could easily do three people.
This roast chicken dish is more expensive, at £40 plus any service charges but the views and flavours make it worth the extra cost.
Address: 110 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AY
The Royal Oak
Finally, the whole roasted chicken dish served at The Royal Oak in Marylebone is a much more classic Sunday lunch. The recently renovated pub has a relaxed atmosphere, with a modern bar and lovely wooden tables. The Castlemead chicken is served on a large platter surrounded by crispy roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings and a bowl of seasonal vegetables. Bread sauce and a jug of gravy were served on the side but we had to ask for more gravy because one jug simply isn’t enough!
The portion size is slightly smaller compared to other roast chicken dishes we’ve tried; this feeds two comfortably. The roast chicken costs £36 so in my view its verging on the pricer side considering it’s a smaller portion.
Address: 74-76 York St, Marylebone, London W1H 1QN
Do you know any hidden gems for a whole roasted chicken in London? (don’t say Nandos!)
Feeling Inspired? Check out my London restaurant hit list!
