The Narrow is the new, and first, Gordon Ramsay gastropub, located in the Limehouse basin in Docklands. Having done a quick search on the internet for it’s location, I came across quite a few negative reviews of the place, since it’s re-opening in March. I therefore felt some trepidation about quite what to expect. Fortunately, the negative reviews were in sharp contrast to my experience, which was very positive, overall.

The restaurant section is separate from the rest of the pub, and is decked out in white walls, skylights, old Docklands maps and mahogany tables & chairs, with a pleasant view out over the river. Even without the addition of a large oar on one wall, it definitely had a nautical feel to it, but still felt light and modern.

The menu comprised of fairly traditional English fare, such as potted crab, welsh rarebit and the like. I went for the devilled kidneys on toast to start, with my dining partners going for the beetroot salad and smoked mackerel with potato salad. I’m not a big fan of offal, but do like devilled foods and the kidneys were the best I’ve ever had. Melt in the mouth tender with not too strong a taste, with the slight smokey, spiciness of the devilling, I was very impressed. The smoked mackerel and the beetroot salad were also good, if not outstanding.

The mains consisted of braised faggot in gravy, pea, leek & morel flan plus a lamb steak with anchovy butter. We also ordered sides of salad, purple sprouting broccoli and chips. My faggot was good with an excellent gravy and worked well with the marrowfat peas it was served with. The chips were perfect to mop up the gravy with. The lamb steak was very good with the anchovy butter and the flan had a lovely soft consistency.

Unfortunately, time was not permitting enough for me to try the dessert, but if I had, the Gypsy Tart with cream had caught my eye.

The service was initially very good, but then faded as the restaurant filled up, our table only being half cleared after the mains (the other half taking another 5-10 mins to be removed) and having to request a dessert menu, as well as an extra bottle of water when we’d run out.

I didn’t think that The Narrow is quite up to the standard of The Gun or the Anchor and Hope, but it isn’t too far off with it’s quality of food. The service does need further work, although having been open for a few weeks, I would expect this to iron itself out before too long. I would have no qualms about going back, as overall, my experience was very positive.