Let Londonist help you celebrate one of Britain’s most cherished traditions, the Sunday Lunch.
The Flask
77 Highgate West Hill, N6 6BU
Nearest Tube: Highgate
020 8348 7346
11am-11pm (Monday-Saturday); 12pm-10.30pm (Sunday)
Expect to Pay: Typically, £8-10 for a main course
Rating: 7.5 out of 10
It's a long, thirsty climb up Highgate Hill. Fortunately, it's topped by an oak-paneled treasure box that happens to sell beer, called The Flask. (Not to be confused with the pub atop Hampstead Hill also called 'The Flask' - although you wouldn't go far wrong there either.)
The Flask is like the countrified little cousin of Fleet Street's Cheshire Cheese. Five or six little wooden rooms make for a cosy setting, unless you happen upon the resident ghost. Several real ales and Leffe-style beers are on tap from the solitary and crowded bar area.
If you intend to eat, get there as early as possible. A seating area outside helps in warmer months, but even so, this Flask is quickly filled.
The Sunday lunch menu is varied and hearty—wild boar sausage, lamb chops, roasted pork belly; that sort of thing. Londonist opted for the latter and thoroughly enjoyed a meaty cube of pork and crackling slices. The big let-down here, considering the price, is the accompanying vegetables. The honey-glazed leek and mustard mash were just cold leek and dry mash. They might has well have not been there. Other diners (particularly the vegetarians) had no such quibbles, however.
In summary: one of London's most picturesque pubs, serving food of mixed quality.
