Eagle-eyed readers may have spotted the Standard's Fay Maschler mentioning a new gastropub's fare in the 5 things Fay ate this week part of her column. The team at The 3 Crowns in question all have interesting backgrounds. The General Manager is Rohit Patkar who worked at the Blueprint Cafe for six years and was most recently manager at Albion and Boundary Rooftop. Running the bar is Luca Mathiszig-Lee who for the last five years was barman and front of house at The Eagle. In charge of the kitchen as Head Chef is Lee Urch who left the Blueprint Cafe last year to help set up the new kitchen at Quo Vadis.
The pub in question has been given a pretty comprehensive makeover and is open from breakfast, when they'll be serving up bacon sarnies, porridge and kippers, through to dinner.
Bar snacks include broad bean & goats’ curd crostini (£3) or salt pork & pease pudding (£4.50) with full table service in the saloon. On the menu are starters like wild garlic & fennel soup (£5) and Cotherstone, asparagus, peas & broad beans (£6) with mains ranging from Adrahan, potato, rosemary & white onion tart (£11.50 to Middle White pork, asparagus, mint & almonds (£17). The dessert menu features lemon posset, rhubarb & a vanilla biscuit (£4) and walnut meringue & blood orange mess (£5.50).
A very well-priced wine list starts with a glass of either 2012 Le Lesc Blanc or 2012 Pasquiers Grenache Noir for just £3.90 although you could push the boat out with a Pauillac at £60. There's a brief list of cocktails - a Negroni is £6.50, with beers from Meantime and Hackney Brewery on tap.
The 3 Crowns is now open at 8 East Road, Old Street, London, N1 6AD. Reservations can be made on 0207 842 8516. They're open Monday–Friday from 8am – 11pm, Saturday 10am – 11pm and Sunday 11am – 5pm.
