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    Joe Allen

    3.6 (63 reviews)
    PriceyAmerican, Bars, Brasseries
    Open • 10:30 am - 11:30 pm

    Joe Allen Photos

    JOE ALLEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - Joe Allen

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    Andrew M.

    Epic burger fail! Intrigued by the great experience Dan H has with the BurgerMonday event hosted by Young & Foodish at Joe Allen, I added it to my burger shortlist. And when the Champagne & Fromage Elite event was right around the corner, this seemed like a perfect time to give it a go. I ducked out of work early, sped over to Covent Garden, and within 15 minutes I was the proud owner of a brand spanking new bacon cheeseburger from Joe Allen. The sun was shining on a convenient spot in Covent Garden market with some pretty decent live music and the friendly hostess had thrown in a quarter full bottle of Heniz ketchup to go with the fries. Life was good. Well until the first bit at least. To be far, the bun is decent and the cheese tasty. Overall, it's a tad on the small size but filling enough especially with the large portions of fries. But it's when you get to the meat that it all goes to hell in the breadbasket. First off, the patty is about 2 inches think and about that in diameter so rather than the typical burger shape you get a cylindrical lump of meat. And it's dense. How dense is it? Well it's denser than your stereotypical line backer after a 3 day bender. It's so dense that I didn't bite into it so much as gnaw away at the edges. And as Dan H has mentioned, it's dry. And given I had ordered it medium rare (to avoid just that) and it was very pink, that's a damn impressive feat of cooking. The fries were alright but nothing special. They are medium-thick cut with moderately fluffy insides but severely lacking in crunch factor. On the plus side, the interior décor is pretty cool and the hostess was uber friendly and helpful. In fact, I liked almost everything (well prices were a tad high for the quality but not for the location) except the burger patty. And since that's what I specifically came for it was a bit of a letdown. I can't say I won't ever return, but it's definitely not going to be high on my list. Given you have a Byron and even MEATMarket just around the corner, Joe Allen's will need to up the stakes in the burger department if it wants to compete.

    Dave S.

    I was keen to try Joe Allen as its burger made many a top 10 list for the best burgers in London. And the verdict is....meh it's just OK and a bit small, hence the 3 star rating. Interestingly enough the burger is not on a menu and you have to "secretly" ask for it. However it can't be too much of a secret as I saw many a table dining with said burger. The meat itself was well cooked and clearly higher-quality chuck. The bacon was a bit undercooked and its smokiness actually overpowered the burger and its brioche bun. The buffalo wings as a starter are delicious---I'd definitley get them again, though be forewarned they are covered in a tangy sweet bbq sauce instead of your traditional tabasco laced sauce (see pics). As for the atmosphere, the other reviewers are spot on, Joe Allen is an interesting exposed brick space below the streets of Covent Garden. Has the atmosphere of a higher-end American family-style restaurant, almost like a fancy candle lit TGIFridays---though that sounds a bit harsh, Joe Allen is actually nicer than that. All in, Joe Allen is a solid but not spectacular 3 star place for American fare in Covent Garden.

    Steven P.

    My experience here was pleasant. I came to the Covent Garden restaurant a month back. They have coat check and are a theater themed American food restaurant. The staff was friendly and boisterous. I love my meat and therefore ordered the steak sirloin 300G. The steak came with steak sauce and fries. All I can say is that is was neither the best nor worst steak I have ever had. The thing this restaurant has going for it is its overall experience- theater, themed servers, average American fare... taken together it can be a nice night out and a pleasant change of pace.

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    A great place with good food, and old timey appeal. Service was great and food was also good

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    Page 1 of 2

    Review Highlights - Joe Allen

    “If you are a fan of burgers ask for a Secret Burger - it's not on the menu -- and you will be surprisingly shocked -- it is AMAZING!!!”

    Mentioned in 4 reviews

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    The Alchemist - Truffle, tater tots and prawn popsicles or maybe it was lollipops

    The Alchemist

    4.3(105 reviews)
    0.3 mi•Covent Garden, Strand
    •££

    We had a spectacular time here! I would have loved to try every single drink on their very…read moreextensive menu! I have been to two different locations, but they were both gorgeous spots, like the look and vibe is top notch. The drinks? Kitschy and weird as hell. Do they taste good though? Live up to the price and the hype? YES. 1000% The drinks are fun and funny and most have some sort of little quirk...color changing, in a weird vessel, tasty sweet garnishes, etc. But they also all taste amazing. Some are a show to watch them being made, some are diy mixed at the table by you. I was brought here the first time by a family friend who lives in London, and when I returned a year and a half later, with our hotel around the corner from an Alchemist, I made ALL my friends on the trip go here on our first night. And we all returned at least once more during our week in the city. Service was good and patient with our large group, food was decent...I simply have had an amazing time every time I have gone to the Alchemist and if there was one in my hometown I would be out of house and home giving them all my money. Highly HIGHLY recommend.

    The Alchemist was literally at the bottom of our Airbnb, making it incredibly convenient--and I'm…read moreso glad we stopped in. The location is fantastic, the customer service was excellent, and the atmosphere made for a really enjoyable breakfast. I started with a cappuccino and added salted caramel, but honestly, the cappuccino was so good it didn't even need it. It was smooth, rich, and perfectly made on its own. For breakfast, I ordered the Eggs Benedict. They offer two versions: one with pulled beef and one Florentine. As someone from the US who's a bit of an Eggs Benedict snob, I've tried countless versions over the years, and pulled beef just wasn't something I could picture working with it. I went with the Florentine and customized it by adding bacon, avocado, and a side of sausage. One thing I've learned while visiting the UK is that the sausages are much larger than what I'm used to back home! I honestly could have skipped it because it was so filling. The Benedict itself was unique--the base was almost like a buttery croissant instead of a traditional English muffin, and it came with pickled red onions, which was an interesting touch. The poached eggs were cooked perfectly, and I especially enjoyed it with the added bacon. The food was fresh, high quality, and beautifully prepared. There was plenty of seating both inside and outside, but I chose to sit outside and enjoy some people watching, which made for a relaxing start to the day. Overall, a great breakfast spot with delicious food, excellent service, and a wonderful atmosphere. I'd definitely come back.

    Photos
    The Alchemist
    The Alchemist - Cookie dessert

    Cookie dessert

    The Alchemist - Presentation drink

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    Presentation drink

    The Fat Bear - Seafood Gumbo 2

    The Fat Bear

    4.5(125 reviews)
    0.9 mi•Blackfriars
    •££

    WOW, this place is delicious!…read more Our family stopped in London for the last part of our cruise. After touring St. Paul's Cathedral, we were pretty hungry. We found The Fat Bear via Yelp!, and decided to give it a try. There were so many things on the menu that looked really good, but I had been craving chicken and waffles. The waffles were crisp on the outside, and fluffy on the inside -- the chicken, cooked perfectly, too. The syrup they serve it with is incredible. I definitely recommend checking this place out if you are in London! Carson C. Visalia, California

    I felt a bit like a genius because I was choosing a place for several friends to meet up and we all…read morewanted different things. I wanted something with at least one good veggie option, they wanted something with meat, and it had to be somewhere in-between Camden and Canary Wharf, not too pricey, and ideally close to the city because otherwise our Italian friend probably wouldn't make it. And lo and behold.... THE FAT BEAR!!! It was all we wanted and more! This place is sort of tucked away and up some stairs above a pub. It's really just a room and a half, which makes it super cozy and they have a pretty awesome looking bar. It's got warm lighting which makes the atmosphere really nice. Their cocktails were delightful and the service was excellent. I will make a very strange observation that someone working there had a very drunk friend who just sort of made herself at home. Then more joined and it turned into me watching this table of really really drunk people trying to order food. Two of them ended up just falling asleep. It was super strange. Anyway, me being distracted aside, I really loved the cocktail I ordered- Sloe Boat To China, and everyone else seemed happy with theirs. I was dying to try the pimiento cheese starter and the fried pickles. The cheese was particularly sharp and delicious. The pickles were good, but quite skinny (I mean come on, you're in an American restaurant I was expecting some serious pickles). The vegan gumbo was super spicy and delicious. I was impressed and enjoyed it. My husband dropped the ball and ordered the regular jambalaya (with sausage) rather than the seafood one which broke my heart a little bit, because I really wanted to try it. You know, I guess that means we'll just have to come back. Oh also another bonus, this place has brisket which is really hard to find. I can't say how it tastes but my friend said he defo approves (am I becoming more British with these words, or just more annoying?) Anyway, to finish it off I had the oreo cheesecake which the bomb. I love oreos. And it tasted like oreo. So all was right with the world. A wonderful place to come if you have people who want to try American food, or if you have out of town Americans who are too scared to try other food, or if you have hungry friends that want to try cajun food, or if you just want to try some really yummy food.

    Photos
    The Fat Bear - Bar Close-up

    Bar Close-up

    The Fat Bear - Buffalo Style Fried Chicken Sandwich

    Buffalo Style Fried Chicken Sandwich

    The Fat Bear - Crawfish Boil - Special Event 1

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    Crawfish Boil - Special Event 1

    Smith and Wollensky

    Smith and Wollensky

    4.3(45 reviews)
    0.1 mi•Strand
    •££££

    If you're looking for a high end steakhouse look no further. I first came here 7 years ago on a…read moretrip to London and have dined here several times since. Service was quick and personal, the atmosphere was great and we had some amazing food again. My filet was spectacular and thats comparing to many top steakhouses in the US and Australia. My only negative comment is the cost. Compared to similar steakhouses overseas its more expensive. Despite that I'll be back next time I'm in London.

    This is a beautiful restaurant, very classy with elegant lighting and a very old school vibe…read more Waiters in white coats bustling food deliverers, etc. The service and attention to detail were impeccable. My partner and I visited on New Years Eve. I'm not sure if this is always the case, but the music playing was primarily American rock - like The Eagles, Neil Young, etc. It's fine, but not very in line with the classic, upscale feel. The bartending staff was top notch. I had a martini and my partner had a house Manhattan, both were perfect. We shared the iceberg wedge to start, a personal favorite, and this one was spot on. Great bleu cheese dressing, still warm lardons, and crispy, fresh iceberg lettuce. For mains, I ordered the aged Irish ribeye and chose to have it "gorgonzola encrusted". This was the first misstep. First of all, the grass fed beef stands on its own, I would never choose to add a sauce, but this was encrusted, right? Not so much. Here's the definition of encrusted from the Oxford dictionary: "Covered or decorated with a HARD surface layer". What I received was a steak smothered in (a very lovely) gorgonzola SAUCE with some bacon and spring onions. Had I known it was a sauce, I would have skipped it, or at the very least had it served on the side. Slightly disappointing, but the steak was perfectly medium rare and delicious. My partner ordered the hake. It was served with a prawn and a very tasty tarragon pesto. She said the pesto was the star. The fish was delicate and also well prepared. We shared sauteed spinach and roasted mushrooms, both delicious. For dessert we shared the banana and toffee mousse. This was the second misstep. This was a tasty dessert, but it was definitely not mousse. It was a very small sliver of banana bread (?). It had strong banana flavor and was served with rum raisin ice cream which was nice. It was also thankfully a very small portion as we were stuffed. Overall, a very decadent and elegant meal to ring in the new year!

    Photos
    Smith and Wollensky - Kiwido cocktail

    Kiwido cocktail

    Smith and Wollensky - Steak au poivre

    Steak au poivre

    Smith and Wollensky - Table

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    Table

    Joe Allen - tradamerican - Updated October 2026

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