A local favourite, but is it worth the trip?

It’s a crisp London Sunday and we’re heading to Chiswick in pursuit of a good roast. The Hound, a classic pub, has been on our list for a while now. We’ve seen it pop up on a few roundups, and it seems like a hit with locals. But we’re not here just for atmosphere, we’re here to find out if the Sunday roast at The Hound Chiswick is worth the hype.

Quick info on Sunday roast at The Hound, Chiswick

• Restaurant: The Hound
• Location: Chiswick, London
• Known for: Sunday roasts, pub classics, casual Chiswick dining
• Prices: mains around £18 – £34, starters £11 – £20
• Good for: local lunches, light-filled pub dining, casual roast cravings
• Overall verdict: Great snacks and soda bread, more average roast.

Starting strong with snacks at The Hound, Chiswick

We begin with the Irish soda bread and Guinness butter, and this turns out to be one of the best parts of the meal. Served warm, it’s malty, nutty and beautifully crusted, with a texture that reminds me of a canele, but savoury. It’s chewy, rich, and altogether lovely. Honestly, I’d come back just for this.

Next up, we try the buttermilk fried chicken with blue cheese and hot sauce. On The Hound menu it’s technically listed as a snack, but one that delivers in full.

The chicken’s well-seasoned and crunchy, and both sauces are punchy and more-ish. These opening dishes have us thinking we’ve landed on something special.

What’s on The Hound’s Sunday roast menu?

The Sunday roast menu at The Hound Chiswick includes rump of beef, pork belly, shoulder of lamb, and a vegetarian mushroom & celeriac pithivier. There’s also a Sunday sharer board if you’re coming in hungry or with a group.

Roasts are served with Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, red cabbage, carrots, brussels sprouts, and a pot of gravy.

Prices range from £28 to £34 for individual roasts, and £36.50 per person for the sharing board (minimum 2 people).

The roast that starts to unravel

We go for the rump of beef roast with bone marrow gravy and horseradish cream. It arrives looking wonderful, heaped with veg and sides, and a glossy jug of gravy alongside. But it doesn’t take long for us to wish we’d stuck to small plates.

The beef is on the rarer side, and not in a good way. It’s chewy and slightly funky, and not something I’d want to eat on its own. The red cabbage, with a vinegary tang, helps offset it enough to be palatable.

There’s one lone carrot, perfectly cooked, and some Brussels sprouts that are far too underdone for my liking. The roast potatoes are fine, but that’s all they are. They’re not super crispy or golden enough to be special. You could probably make better ones at home.

And the Yorkshire pudding? Giant, yes, but hollow and hard where I prefer soft and squidgy. It’s not the comforting Sunday roast anchor I was hoping for.

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Dessert doesn’t save the day

We finish lunch at The Hound Chiswick with the sticky toffee pudding and clotted cream. And again, it’s fine. Sweet, warm, spongy, but not particularly sticky or rich.

I prefer a contrast of hot pudding with cold ice cream, so the clotted cream doesn’t quite do it for me. A decent enough end, but nothing to write home about.

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Final thoughts on Sunday roast lunch at The Hound, Chiswick

The Hound is a great looking space with its large conservatory-style room and speedy, friendly service. It’s clearly popular with the locals, and I can see why with the small plates, the soda bread, the overall vibe.

But for those chasing a really good Sunday roast in the capital? This isn’t it. If you’re in Chiswick already, it’ll serve you well. But I wouldn’t make a journey across town just for this. The hunt for a truly excellent Sunday roast continues.

What else is on The Hound menu?

Beyond the roasts, The Hound’s menu includes pub classics like truffle strozzapreti, a cheeseburger, and fish and chips, along with snacks like croquettes, crab toast, and oysters. For roasts, there are lamb, beef and pork options, plus sauces like bone marrow gravy and chip shop curry sauce, and sides from cauliflower cheese to sprouting broccoli.

There’s promise in the menu, and I’d come back for another shot at the snacks and starters. But if it’s a really good roast you’re after, I think you can probably do better than The Hound in Chiswick.

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The Hound in Chiswick, London restaurant review
Address – 210 Chiswick High Rd., Chiswick, London W4 1PD
Nearest Tube – Turnham Green