Plough & Harrow - Hammersmith, London. Just one of hundreds of pubs set up around the United Kingdom under the company name "J.D. Wetherspoon", the Plough and Harrow a characteristic pub with an all-encompassing feel that has often not been associated with pubs before. Everyone is accounted for with service, drinks and whatnot; some of them even have hotels to stay at and everyone has free Wi-Fi on offer. Very little is overlooked in design and feel; it feels like it exists somewhere between a gastropub and the old British pubs of yore. This means that there is something here which exists for everyone.
Wetherspoons has a system down-pat for servicing the food. Patrons are free to peruse the menu before heading up, and after memorising their table number, to place their order at the counter. Drinks are immediate and the patrons bring them back to their table, and the food is just awaited where seating was chosen. It is well planned and the pub is really spacious with various modes of seating from high tables with stools to even couches.
Initially going in, it was time to get some drinks while perusing the menu to decide what to eat. I ordered a double espresso. This coffee was not just good, but really good. Meaning in a way that it was perfectly extracted and a strong, little number. The menu showed just how far pub fare has come in recent years; the range of options was huge with steaks, curries, burgers and jacket potatoes (with fillings) being merely examples of what there was on offer. Traditional and offerings As usual, it is hard to decide on what to order. For those wanting to save or without much cash on them, to help make a good choice on the menu are various sections including a 2 for x, the burgers or a separate menu fixture.
On certain days of the week between particular hours, they have "club" options which are select smaller menus for a generally set price. Extras exist for some more money, and it all still ultimately ends up being good value. Sunday nights have the Sunday club, which can exist as only one option - the classic Sunday roast. From the selection, there were four options (beef, pork, chicken and a vegetarian option) which came with roast potatoes, a Yorkshire pudding, peas, a medley of mixed vegetables and gravy plus an additional sauce depending on the choice requested. Since I got pork, it came with apple sauce. My brother-in-law got the chicken option, which constituted an entire half-chicken on the bone with an infused, crispy skin.
In addition to the meal, an extra Yorkshire pudding plus mashed potato can be requested. Then there is the extra course of dessert, any choice from the regular menu. Alongside the order - extras ordered or not - is a drink from the array. To make the best value out of it, my brother-in-law ordered a Guinness for each meal; since I don't drink he scored really well. On the side was an order for another coffee, a big, black one. The two most premium desserts were selected: an apple crumble and some American-style pancakes.
The complete, whole meal was - simply put - delicious. Each component was given due care, and for the better was good in its own way. The potatoes are cooked perfectly, with the right amount of softness in the middle surrounded by a crispy skin; this was helped by the meat drippings. As for the mashed potato, it was smooth and creamy with a generous helping just for an extra side. To ensure good quality, luscious meat it is cooked for a lengthy period of time - several hours in fact. That work really showed, as the pork was tender and cut beautifully. On the side was some apple sauce, with complimented it nicely. When the menu mentioned "vegetables", that meant it was a medley of the steamed variety; the were carrots, beans and broccoli in the selection. These vegetables fit in well with the peas; as usual for a roast meal, the gravy inevitably became a binding mixture with the tiny vegetables - it was also really tasty in of itself. Finishing off It were the two Yorkshire puddings. These were big enough to fit good amount of the meal at times, and when they were cut open a lot of the gravy, drippings and apple sauce were soaked up into it. On their own, they had a slightly buttery flavour hinting at them being just freshly cooked - there is no other way for a Yorkshire pudding to be. This meal alone was really filling, even without the dessert.
However, there is the old adage of complimenting a roast dinner with a good pudding. So why not? The apple crumble was really good. It had a crumb which consisted of cinnamon. On the side was a generous helping of custard, making a smooth and lithe dessert which - if I was not full already - definitely would make the biggest stomach leave on a satisfied note. The apple in the apple mixture was sweet and delicious. I also got to try a couple of pancakes, which had ice cream and maple syrup on top. Sure the concoction is simple and well-known, and sometimes the common combinations are done because they just work so well.
If this is an indication for the caliber of quality that is provided by Wetherspoons pub, then this is a great first impression. It has been featured more times in the CAMRA's Good Beer Guide than any other pub in existence. Any future trips to England are almost likely to accumulate in trying another one of these. If so, I definitely look forward to it for both the food and noticing the decor of the place.
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