Stills has been a favourite at the Time Out headquarters for years now and we’d best describe it as reliable – a reliably busy spot serving up reliably tasty grub.
On our most recent visit, the massive space is strangely quiet – it’s the weekend – and it’s unusual for the gastropub which is usually heaving. And despite the lack of guests, the service is slow and doesn’t seem to pick up the pace as the evening goes on.
We take a seat and scour the menu (which could do with being replaced) and decide on the beef carpaccio and the signature Stills flatbread.
The flatbread is perfectly crisp and topped with caramelised red onions, cherry tomatoes, feta, goat’s cheese, pesto, rocket and a balsamic glaze.
The sweetness from the caramelisation of the onions and the glaze marry together perfectly with the saltiness from the cheeses, making it a tasty and well-balanced dish that we swiftly wolf down. On the other hand, the carpaccio lacks any real flavour.
The menu wouldn’t amiss a revamp – literally. Most of the “new” dishes have been on the menu for years now.
Stills has a lot going for it but it needs to step up its game if it wants to continue to stand the test of time. We hope it does because we usually love it.
