Pub
Sunday lunch apart, The Anchor & Hope, a mere dawdle from the South Bank centre at Waterloo has a no booking policy. This can be irksome at times but hang in there, the food does make any incovenience worthwhile. In fact, on a late winter Thursday lunchtime, there was no problem - empty spaces presented themselves and we were tucking in within a matter of minutes.
The menu was a joy and so tempting, it was difficult to know what to choose - partridge broth, the ubiquitous crab salad, potato and Stinking Bishop pie were fierce contenders but we opted a rich, almost meaty plate of octopus, chickpeas and aioli, a warm snail and bacon salad that didn't quite live up to expectatins and a stunning plate of grilled slip soles, mussels, brown shrimps and salsify. The fish was a delight of firm, simply flavoured flesh heightened by the mussels and shrimps and the crunch of the salsify - it was exceptional.
Puddings, due to the pressure of work and diet, were ignorded but next time the treacle tart must be tried - or perhaps the flourless chocolate cake? Who knows but one thing is certain, it will be worth any wait.
Opening hours: Mon 5pm-11pm | Tue-Sat 11am-11pm | Sun 12.30-5pm | bookings taken (Sunday lunch only)