Best Sunday/Easter Pub Lunch?

[Eats Dulwich]

I've not posted any restaurant reviews here for a while, but with the long Easter weekend approaching I thought I'd serve an update. I recently reviewed The Palmerston and elsewhere became involved in a debate about the best pub lunch in SE22. So which ones do readers here currently rate?  Yes I know people can just do a search for "Best pub lunch" but as well as new eateries popping up all the time two of the places I've reviewed – EDT and Bishop – have had a reboot since I reviewed them so I'm interested in hearing how they are doing now. Click eats dulwich to read reviews.

Edited April 16 by Eats Dulwich
too much self-indulgent waffle

[EDmummy101]

The Plough has very good traditional food...

[Monkey]

Watson’s General Telegraph. Truly amazing. High quality meat, generous portions, huge Yorkshires. We don’t go anywhere else.

[granadaland]

You deleted the part of your post saying you are not charging people to read your reviews of their local restaurants. 

[Eats Dulwich]

  On 16/04/2025 at 21:12, granadaland said:

You deleted the part of your post saying you are not charging people to read your reviews of their local restaurants. 

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If you've seen the original longer post then you'll know that you've taken that out of context. I don't charge but didn't feel I even needed to say that – you've made it sound like I do charge and that's why I deleted this part of the post saying I don't charge. When I read back what I'd written it sounded like I was defending myself against criticisms that hadn't even been made so i cut it out. And now you've made that kind of criticism anyway I should've left it in. 

What do you mean "not charging people to read your reviews of their local restaurants."?  You make it sound like i'm sneaking into SE22 from somewhere else. I live here - they are reviews of my local restaurants!

Edited April 16 by Eats Dulwich
trying to make myself clear in a way that won't prompt a pedantic response

[Sue]

The trouble is that pub management and chefs are constantly changing, so what might be fantastic on one occasion  becomes terrible a short time later, and vice versa.

Two of the worst pub lunches I've had locally were at the Dog in the village and the Plough, but both those were some time ago.

We had an absolutely appalling Christmas lunch on Christmas Day at The Cherry Tree, which was also exorbitantly expensive, so unless their chef (I use the term loosely) has changed, I wouldn't advise eating there.

The menu looked amazing. We thought we would treat ourselves. Never again 😭

[Eats Dulwich]

  On 16/04/2025 at 21:49, Sue said:

The trouble is that pub management and chefs are constantly changing, so what might be fantastic on one occasion  becomes terrible a short time later, and vice versa.

Two of the worst pub lunches I've had locally were at the Dog in the village and the Plough, but both those were some time ago.

We had an absolutely appalling Christmas lunch on Christmas Day at The Cherry Tree, which was also exorbitantly expensive, so unless their chef (I use the term loosely) has changed, I wouldn't advise eating there.

The menu looked amazing. We thought we would treat ourselves. Never again 😭

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There are so many variables. Good chefs can having bad nights, post-Brexit staff shortages, your dish might be brilliant, your friend might order something that's inedible. In the end I think the best option is just to go to the restaurant which has the best overall reviews. If all the reviews are bad then avoid, but even if all the reviews are good that's not a cast iron gaurantee. 

[NewWave]

Agree with @Sue the Dog is awful-nice building awful food.

We like The Rossendale and Watsons

[Eats Dulwich]

Following the recommendations on this thread here I went to Watsons last night. Review to follow. i'm not going to post review link here as it'll start to look like I'm spamming EDF if I post every review! You'll have to subscribe. Did I mention it's free to subscribe? link is here: https://eatsdulwich.substack.com/ 

[PickledPorcupine]

  On 16/04/2025 at 21:49, Sue said:

The trouble is that pub management and chefs are constantly changing, so what might be fantastic on one occasion  becomes terrible a short time later, and vice versa.

Two of the worst pub lunches I've had locally were at the Dog in the village and the Plough, but both those were some time ago.

We had an absolutely appalling Christmas lunch on Christmas Day at The Cherry Tree, which was also exorbitantly expensive, so unless their chef (I use the term loosely) has changed, I wouldn't advise eating there.

The menu looked amazing. We thought we would treat ourselves. Never again 😭

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Youngs pubs are notorious at ripping off the middle classes when it comes to Sunday dinners, even more so on Christmas Day. They are far worse than you could cook at home., but obviously 5 times the price. And then there are the mental drinks prices. People really ought to have wised up to this scam by now. 

[Sue]

  On 22/04/2025 at 10:22, PickledPorcupine said:

Youngs pubs are notorious at ripping off the middle classes when it comes to Sunday dinners, even more so on Christmas Day. They are far worse than you could cook at home., but obviously 5 times the price. And then there are the mental drinks prices. People really ought to have wised up to this scam by now. 

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We looked at all the options, and  have in past years spent a fortune on cooking Christmas meals at home!

But this was nearly £200 for two people for appalling food, without drinks, and I don't use the term appalling lightly.

We needed somewhere within walking distance as I didn't want to drive on Christmas Day, and we had been to The Ivy House for festive  drinks beforehand.

 

 

Edited April 22 by Sue