Sunday Roast: London's Weekly Pub Feast

The Sunday roast is a British tradition: a plate of roast meat, crisp roast potatoes, vegetables and gravy, served on Sundays in homes and pubs across the country. The classic meats are roast beef, lamb, pork and chicken, each with its own accompaniments, and the dish is usually served at lunchtime or early afternoon. For many Londoners it is a family and friends occasion, and a good pub roast on a cold day is one of the best meals the city has to offer.

The traditional trimmings are what make the dish. Roast beef comes with a Yorkshire pudding, a puffy, crisp batter baked in the beef fat, and horseradish sauce. Lamb pairs with mint sauce, pork with crackling and apple sauce, and chicken with stuffing and bread sauce. Vegetables usually include carrots, parsnips, cabbage or greens, and cauliflower cheese is a popular side. Gravy is poured generously, and the best roasts have crisp, fluffy potatoes and a good Yorkshire pudding.

Almost every London neighborhood has a pub that does a good roast, and the quality is often more about the individual pub than the area. Gastropubs in areas such as Islington, Clapham and Notting Hill are known for refined versions, while traditional pubs in Hackney, Greenwich and the East End serve classic, generous plates. Prices usually range from about £18 to £30, and a roast is usually served from midday until early evening, although the best joints can sell out. Booking is strongly advised.