Roast Beef, Giant Yorkshires and Gravy at The Alpaca Pub

There are few things more disappointing than a bad Sunday roast, and we’ve had a few of those. So when I head to The Alpaca pub in Islington for Sunday lunch, I’m hopeful but cautious.

Happily, I needn’t have worried.

The Alpaca is a gorgeous Islington pubs that feels relaxed and unfussy. It’s got that easy Sunday hum, families at one table, couples at another,  friends deep in conversation. 

And then the plates arrive.

Quick info on The Alpaca Pub in Islington

• Restaurant: The Alpaca Pub
• Location: Islington
• What to order: Roast Irish beef rump
• Also great: Free-range Norfolk grain-fed chicken Sunday roast
• Small wish: A gravy boat for extra Yorkshire drenching
• Vibe: Relaxed pub energy with a proper Sunday roast

Find out more in our review of The Alpaca Pub below.

Sunday roast is the main event on The Alpaca menu

While Sunday is clearly built around the roast, The Alpaca menu still has enough breadth to keep the whole table happy.

The roast section is reassuringly classic with free-range chicken, Irish beef rump, a vegetarian wellington, and even a half shoulder of Welsh lamb designed for sharing if you’re in the mood. Every roast comes with the full works, including roast potatoes, carrot, swede, parsnip, savoy cabbage, Yorkshire pudding and gravy.

Before that, there’s a neat snacks and small plates list. Think padron peppers, king prawns with garlic butter, and panko cod cheeks. It’s pub-with-ambition territory without trying too hard.

And if someone at the table isn’t in a roast mood, there are solid mains like battered haddock and chips, tagliatelle with clams, and a meat-free burger. It’s a very solid Sunday roast menu.

Sunday roast Irish beef rump

Let’s start with the beef, because I’ve had some truly tragic beef rumps in my time.

Not here.

At The Alpaca pub, the roast Irish beef rump arrives in two generous slices, and it is properly tender and juicy. The knife glides through without protest, and the beefy flavour is deep and savoury without being heavy.

Dragged through the gravy that’s already coating the plate, it becomes even more indulgent. You get that rich, comforting combination of beef and gravy that makes Sunday lunch feel really special.

There’s also a chicken option for Sunday roast

We also order the free-range Norfolk grain-fed chicken, and we ask for it without the pork stuffing.

Chicken roasts can be risky – too often they’re dry . But this one is juicy and beautifully cooked, with crisped skin and tender flesh underneath.

It doesn’t rely on gravy to rescue it. It stands on its own.

The Sunday roast sides at The Alpaca

Every roast comes with a set of veg, roasted potatoes and gravy.

The roast potatoes are golden and crackly, with lovely fluffy insides. You knife one open, the outside shattering slightly under your fork, and the inside collapsing into soft potato. These are proper roast potatoes.

We also get a massive roasted carrot. It’s soft and sweet, though not quite as jammy as the legendary ones at The Devonshire. Still, it does the job beautifully.

Read more:
A Stunning Sunday Roast at The Devonshire, Soho

Savoy cabbage brings that slightly squeaky bite that keeps the plate from feeling too rich. Parsnip adds sweetness. Swede gives a bit of earthy depth. It’s a well-balanced vegetable lineup, which varies from decent to actually quite good.

And now for the Yorkshire pudding. It’s huge, puffy, and finished with crisp frills on top.

The gravy situation

The roasts are served already doused in gravy, and initially it feels generous.

However, around halfway through, you realise you’d quite like a little extra on the side. Just a small gravy boat so you can dredge the leftover bits of Yorkshire pudding through. 

Is Sunday roast at The Alpaca Pub in Islington worth your time?

Yes. Very much so.

The Alpaca pub in Islington delivers a Sunday roast that feels thoughtful and well executed. The beef rump is tender and excellent, while the chicken is juicy and satisfying. And the sides keep up that momentum, from roasties to veggies. 

If you’re in Islington and craving a proper plate of meat, potatoes and gravy, The Alpaca is a very safe pair of hands.

Read more
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The Alpaca pub in Islington review
Address – 84-86 Essex Rd, London N1 8LU
Nearest Tube – Angel