The Londoner

Overall, go -- it's fun and feels like an Old World Pub, and don't go if you are in a hurry.

I have been a few times since I have lived in Baton Rouge. Any time you drive down S Sherwood Forest, you have to notice the double decker bus parked out in front.

The most recent time I went in was during restaurant week. I got the Mini Me Sliders, the Shepard's Pie and a giant slice of Caramel Cake all for $20 (Who else can't wait for Restaurant Week next year?)

My sliders weren't the most spectacular thing, though I did love that they used brie instead of some other cheeses, but then again, who doesn't love a good brie?

My Shepard's Pie, now that was great. It comes in a little crock that that is piping hot when they bring it to you. It is a giant entree. I was completely surprised when I was able to finish all of it last night. I normally am only able to eat about half.

Now, the cake, that was the most unexpected treat of the evening. The waitress asked me which dessert I wanted, and I couldn't decide. So, I told her to pick one and surprise me with it. Well, my waitress friend, you definitely picked a winner. It was a big, thick slice of moist cake with a caramel filling and the plate was drizzled in caramel sauce. It was outstanding. I was by myself at my booth, and I literally said, "Oh, my God" after my first bite.

The draw back was that the service wasn't very good the last time I went. I normally go in expecting to wait, but last night, my cup stayed empty a lot, and my waitress completely forgot to bring me a refill after she said she would bring me another. I also had to wait a long time to get my check so I could pay and leave. I suppose that that would have been a lot less noticeable, had someone else been with me, but it was a bit frustrating. My waitress was very apologetic, but she didn't offer an actually explanation for it either. Oh well.

The concept of this place is good, but unfortunately the execution is way, way off.

The price on the menu is less than the price they'll actually charge you. Watch out. It's systematic, unethical, and they're unapologetic.

The beer often has a slightly soapy taste to it - sometimes it's a very soapy taste. This has been going on for a number of months, despite my group of friends complaining on several occasions. I don't know what they're messing up, but it really ruins a beer.

The selection is unreliable - for instance they were routinely out of Smithwick's for months in a row.

All in all, Londoner used to be good - it became our default bar - but it's now disappointing and sad. You'll be happier if you go somewhere else.

The Londoner is one of my favorite restaurants in Baton Rouge. They have a wide variety of food, and an even better selection of beer and cocktails. This is the place I like to bring out-of-town visitors when we go out to eat.

I usually get the fish and chips or the shepherd's pie, but I've tried various things on the menu and never ended up with something I didn't enjoy. The avocado and tomato toast really hits the spot for a light Sunday breakfast, and the desserts (I've had them all) are spectacular and generously sized. Both the regular menu and the weekend brunch are excellent.

The atmosphere is fun, with lots of humorous artwork on the walls. They also have multiple TVs which are usually tuned to ESPN or showing a soccer match. My husband and I enjoy the dart boards while we are waiting for our food.

I deducted a star because this has become the kind of place that we don't go to unless we have a block of about 2 hours. Occasionally, we can get right in and out, but the majority of the time, even if it's not particularly crowded, it takes a really long time to get our food. Our servers are generally very attentive, frequently stopping by to refill our drinks. On one of our recent visits, the server actually seemed embarrassed by how long it was taking for our food to come out (it took about 45 minutes to an hour from the time we ordered until the food was ready). He was very apologetic and kept coming to check on us. So, I don't think it's an issue of poor service by the wait staff. It seems more like they are occasionally understaffed in the kitchen.

This place can be a bit pricey, especially if you are getting alcoholic drinks or dessert, but I don't think it's outrageously expensive, and there are plenty of options available at every price point, with many meals under $10 for an entree and side. It just depends on what you want.

Overall, I'd definitely recommend it, but make sure to go when you're not in a hurry.