Homeboy Bar in Islington

Siendo una persona irlandesa que ha vivido en Londres casi 15 años, todavía busco un sabor de casa cuando me siento un poco nostálgica, así que elegí aquí para la comida. Comida, bebidas, cócteles y ambiente era genial sin quejas. Estaría de acuerdo con varias personas aquí sobre el servicio. Inicialmente muy lento, ya que el tipo que servía era súper lento y realmente no parecía demasiado molesto. Pero más tarde, cuando el personal cambió alrededor de las 6 las damas que estaban sirviendo donde era genial para ser honesto. Literalmente tomó 10 minutos para obtener un paquete de patatas fritas que no más de 3 pasos de distancia de mí. Melodías donde el goo, el rugby y yo y mi pareja tuvimos una gran noche. ¡El guiso fue un punto culminante en el menú!

Estábamos visitando Londres para una noche de comedia y caímos en este lugar en busca de comida, no nos decepcionó. Tomé el pollo mi amigo el almuerzo vegetariano del domingo. Ambos eran hermosos. . . junto con un gran ambiente, un servicio increíble y cualquier cóctel que pida nos quedamos EXTREMADAMENTE contentos de haber encontrado el bar. . .

Homeboy me fue vendido como un bar irlandés de hip hop con un gran DJ un sábado por la noche. Fue decepcionante, entonces, descubrir que el DJ no estaba allí la noche que fuimos - el personal nos dijo que no había DJ porque era la semana entre Navidad y Año Nuevo. Homeboy está tenuemente iluminado con las estanterías detrás de la barra llena de botellas de licor. El personal era amable y había música rap sonando en el sistema de sonido a un volumen bajo. Pedí una porción de nachos de chile para compartir con mi pareja mientras charlamos con amigos, pero los nachos llegaron fríos y empapados, así que no fueron agradables y dejé la mayoría de ellos. Volvería a Homeboy si el DJ de hip hop estuviera allí porque el DJ adecuado podría crear un ambiente muy bueno. Sin embargo, mi pareja ha vuelto desde entonces y dijo que el DJ tocaba principalmente música dance, así que quizás el hip hop se ha desechado.

Booked mainly for a vegan roast but unfortunately we had to sit at a small table (it didn’t look full, but most tables were bar style) and I can’t eat comfortably at those so just had drinks. Drinks on the menu mostly whiskey based (understandably!) and I hate whiskey (despite being Irish) but tried to give it a go. Couldn’t handle it and asked if they’d be able to make a White Russian, which thankfully they did, and it was lovely. Disappointed not to try the food.

Cool cozy spot. Was giving me new york vibes foe sure. Music was great as was the service. We tried a variation of cocktails and all were fresh and tasty. Had a fab night. Reccomend booking a table though as I feel it made it more enjoyable for us.

Yesterday, it was the third time I went to this place The 2 last times were good and I had a nice time with some friends of mine but Yesterday it was quite different. I've been there with a friend of mine for a drink. First of all, even knowing that the place was noisy, this time it was just impossible to hear something, as the music was really too loud. In addition to that, both my friend and I struggled to feel any alcohol in our cocktails. His Russian mule did taste more like a lemonade than anything else. Finally, this morning both my friend and I had a very strong headache and stomach ache and we didn't drink anything else than those two cocktails and didn't dine at the same place before, so we think something was wrong with our cocktails. Unfortunately, after this very poor experience, it's gone be the last time for us at this place.

Amazingly friendly staff with a fabulous range of whiskies and cocktails. Our third visit this cocktail week - great experience thankyou

Fabulous service, cocktails made by the amazing Aaron! Who made fabulous drinks according to our preferences! Highly recommended.

I came in this bar with a group of friends for drinks. We were greeted with a smile by one of the bar staff and given a big table in the middle of the bar. We were each given a glass of water as we looked at the Cocktail Menu. I asked for a Pina Colada and the barman made it and it was one of the best I’ve ever had. We had a Tab at the bar and the bar staff kept topping up our water and gave us bar snacks. The drinks kept coming and the staff were very attentive and always available to get us more drinks. I had such a nice evening here. The service was exactly what I would expect and nothing was too much trouble. I will most definitely come back here . Many Thanks to all the staff for making my visit here a memorable one.

Met a group of friends at Homeboy BATTERSEA to watch the Rugby. This was my first visit to this bar sited in the hugely Americanised area of the now gentrified Nine Elms. (Appears batantly for the wealthy only imho). According to Homeboy's website it prides itself on a warm welcome based on Irish heritage. What it doesn't tell you is that it will also, by stealth, attempt to charge you an automatic 12.5% service charge on EVERY order you make, whether or not you are served at the bar, or whether (again by stealth) you are actively 'encouraged' (passively instructed in an alternative pov) to "sit down, we will come over to you and take your order." (Except then when the "servers" don't and need to be requested to come, I'm not sure how this warrants as service." The receipt I have included is just one of many drinks orders myself and the other 8 members made at the bar, in person. Some varying from 1 drink (with a 75p service charge) to rounds of 9 alcoholic beverages with essentially a £15+ "service charge" added on top. The culture in both Ireland, and the UK is that people working in hospitality, get paid, at the least, the national wage and that "service" is discretionary. And it has been this way for as long as there has been a pub / bar / restaurant / social setting. (Btw Homeboy is not a restaurant either just so we're clear.) The culture in the States is that often bartenders are paid poorly and the customer will usually add $1 per drink and give as a separate tip to their bartender. Another thing to note is that it is widely known people of all cultures don't really like to complain in person /"confront" a wrong and will accept shoddy behaviour and then not return to said place. So... when Homeboy staff try and enforce this 12.5% tip system on you and your bill - without letting you know in ADVANCE that this is what they're doing, it automatically puts a distaste on your atmosphere as well as larger hole in your pocket. Particularly when the drinks are already higher prices.... if you're like many people paying by card, you don't even get given the courtesy of seeing the total bill before realising you've unknowingly paid an additional amount of money for thin air. When asked, the staff removed the service charge from my bills, but a few members of my group didn't feel comfortable asking to have it removed/be reimbursed. When I asked the barmaid (whilst I was stood at the bar for clarity) why there was this practice, she could only say that "oh its for our service" and when I questioned how that works when you're literally stood at the bar as per traditional methods of going to a pub, she genuinely couldn't give any reason. And then stated it was discretionary... except not one of Homeboy's team seemed able to inform customers BEFORE their purchase that this is their policy. Nor did it state anywhere on their menus that this was a "thing" they did... so then you can't help but feel frauded. Their website literally states "We want to see Modern Irish Hospitality recognised as a style of service that sees its focus less on SERVITUDE and more on personality and pride in looking after people. Hospitality is at the heart of Irish culture. Hundreds of years ago there were a set of civil laws which governed everyday life in Ireland. Hospitality was a big part of this. If someone sought hospitality they had to be meant offered 4 key actions, a warm meal, drink, entertainment and a warm bed, the ONLY payment the home could take for this were stories of the guest’s journey." Now I appreciate we are not able to have free drinks in return for our stories but, equally never did Irish hospitality mean "you will be robbed by stealth." I mean, imagine trying that trick in Ireland.... riots. This pub/bar hybrid has a nice decor and an excellent sounding list of cocktails. Yet it doesn't seem to know what it is. Irish heritage but American methods? Bar but Pub? Service but no real service but definitely a hidden service charge. Disappointed and definitely poorer. Would not return.

Brilliant, warm service. Excellent atmosphere and great drinks. It’s got a really nice vibe to the place and the Guinness was excellent.

Visited here on Friday with some friends as a pre celebration for a wedding. Really nice bar and cocktails however I felt the service provided by Jamie could have been better. To kick off the celebrations I bought two bottles of champagne. Jamie poured the first few glasses and then when our friends arrived they ended up having to pour their own drinks. And the bar whilst busy wasn’t packed. I found this disappointing given that we spent a lot of money at the table.,but as I say the cocktails we had were very good.,

I LOVE this place. Perfect Irish hospitality, AMAZING whisky cocktails. I never want to leave - always feel happy there. Will go back again and again and again.

What a fabulous Sunday afternoon spent here [I headed to the newly opened Vauxhall branch so the below references this and not the Islington one!]. As soon as I arrived, I was more than pleasantly surprised by the ambience - intimate and dimly lit [the perfect spot to while away a rainy Sunday afternoon!]. The food was exceptional – delicious and so high quality. I started with the soup [creamy and so more-ish – the perfect antidote to the windy February weather]. The vegan wellington was the tastiest I’ve had in London to date – I’m gluten-free so most roasts don’t tend to agree with me but I was thrilled that I didn't have any side-effects. The roast potatoes, creamy mash and greens were also cooked to perfection [portions are generous too]. The lime sorbet was the perfect palate cleanser too. Service was impeccable – huge thanks to Karolina and Andrea who went above and beyond to make our experience here so pleasant. Both were accommodating to my dietary requirements and were so helpful without being overbearing [very tricky to achieve but both did so effortlessly]. I'm already looking forward to returning!

Had a truly fabulous time. Was a bit surprised that the only food on offer was crisps but the cocktails more than made up for it. Decent value and a great atmosphere - loos could do with a bit of a spruce up.

Buzzy atmosphere, really friendly staff and amazing food. Would recommend not just going for drinks but also staying for food.

This laid back bar is a total hidden gem. Dimly lit, comfortable seating, intimate space. I was lucky enough to sit down here with a large group of friends who had reserved a large seating area up front. The server was utterly charming, the drinks menu was creative and fun. I also noticed they offer a vegan waffle on their menu! As a non-drinker I found it delightful. I was more in the mood for tea and was served up a nice strong Irish breakfast in an adorable china teacup. Great spot to sit back and go over your day's adventures or catch up with old friends.