The Modern Pantry, Clerkenwell

Today's stop is a local venue where we've enjoyed dinner, The Modern Pantry. The last time we had dinner here was in January, and we enjoyed it so much that I'm surprised it has taken us so long to return. Surely, this restaurant would give our local roast favorites a challenge!

It was a last minute choice this morning, and when we rang at 11ish for a 1230 reservation, we should have taken note when we were (rather oddly) advised our table was only available until 200p.

Joining us on the Quest today are Vera, Roland, Oscar, and Darren. The Sunday menu from their website, offering both brunch and lunch, is here. Today's menu differed a bit, but the sample menu is a good representation of the offerings.

Dishes Ordered:
We went for the set menu. 

Appetizers: 
Unfortunately, there aren't any pictures of the appetizers because the soup arrived before the fritters, and when the fritters arrived, only two orders were delivered. Darren waited another ten minutes for his appetizer.

• Okra, courgette, turmeric, and feta fritters, mango and ginger puree
• Smoky aubergine soup, tahini yogurt, Turkish chili oil

Mains:

• Poached Guinea Fowl , Plum, Nectarine, and Hijiki relish - served with spiced roast potatoes, carrot and parsnip quinoa, Yorkshire pudding
  (Vera, Darren, Franc)

• Roast Saddle of Lamb, Smoked Anchovy, and Tomatillo -
  served with spiced roast potatoes, carrot and parsnip quinoa, Yorkshire pudding
  (Roland, Oscar)

Desserts:

• Yuzu, lime, kiwi, and green tea sorbet
  (Vera)

• Gooseberry, Buckwheat, and Oat Crumble, White Chocolate Creme Anglaise
  (Darren and Roland)

• Spiced apple and raspberry tart, Eton Mess ice cream (Split by Oscar and Franc)

 

• A selection of cheeses, The Modern Pantry Chutney, Oatcakes (Split by Oscar and Franc)

Observations: (collective and individual)

• The service was awful throughout. The venue was not packed.
• When we asked our waitress if we could order drinks, she told us that they were being prepared, as though we were terribly impatient. When we alerted her to the fact that no drinks had been ordered, she stopped to take our order. I ordered one Bloody Mary, and she acknowledged by saying, "one pitcher". I explained that only one person wanted a Bloody Mary and that a single glass would be fine, and she pointed at a visibly pregnant Vera and tried to make it seem like Vera had telepathically asked her for a Bloody Mary as well.
• As mentioned before, the appetizers didn't all come at once, and one order of fritters came late from a server other than our waitress, with an apology
• We were never asked if we'd like more drinks or another bottle of water. 
• When giving our dessert orders, the waitress repeated back that we requested three crumbles when we had requested two. It was as though she really never listened to what we asked for.
  
  
  
  
• The bill, when it was finally presented, was incorrect. We had been charged the set menu for courses rate with each dessert billed at full price.
• The service sucked. It was neither friendly nor intuitive. (Oscar)
• Yorkshire pudding with the main was fine, but out of place. It should have been presented with a dish that included gravy. (Franc)
  
• There should have been a beef or pork option (Oscar)
  
• Excellent selection of local beer (Oscar, Roland, Darren)
  
• The Aubergine soup was OK - nothing special (Oscar)
  
• It took them ten minutes to bring mustard, had I waited for it, my lunch would have gone cold. (Oscar)
• I liked the food (Vera)
• Oscar and Darren didn't like the gravel (aka: cous cous), but I really liked it (Franc)
  
• The venue is sparsely decorated, and as there's nothing to absorb the sound, it is surprisingly loud.
• What decor? (Oscar)
• I like my dessert (Darren)
  
• The cheese plate was OK. It would have been nice if the waitress had identified the cheeses and thought to suggest a glass of port.  (Franc)
  
• This experience really shows how bad service can really color one's impression.
• The Eton Mess ice cream is brilliant. I am going to try to replicate this at home. It's wonderful. (Franc)
  
• The service was so poor, I told the server to remove the gratuity from the check. She did so apathetically and made no inquiry as to why I had elected to do so.I have never asked a server to do this. (Franc)
  

On to the scores: (awarded on these guidelines)

Our Updated Map of Eats:

View The Quest for the Best Sunday Roast in a larger map
*note: All Pubs visited including today's are noted with their scores in parentheses