# I there such a thing as an English restaurant anywhere in the United States? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 11, 2002, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-there-such-a-thing-as-an-english-restaurant-anywhere-in-the-united-states/142019 "2002-12-11T16:11:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![tullius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@tullius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tullius)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-there-such-a-thing-as-an-english-restaurant-anywhere-in-the-united-states/142019/61 "2002-12-12T15:37:07Z")
As for English restaurants in France, read Tom Higgins’s “Spotted Dick, si’l vous plait”: [URL=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1569470324/qid=1039707654/sr=8-1/ref=sr\_8\_1/104-2651391-5535120?v=glance&s=books&n=507846 ---
**Author:** ![tullius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@tullius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tullius)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-there-such-a-thing-as-an-english-restaurant-anywhere-in-the-united-states/142019/62 "2002-12-12T15:40:05Z")
Let me try that again – [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1569470324/qid=1039707654/sr=8-1/ref=sr\_8\_1/104-2651391-5535120?v=glance&s=books&n=507846](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1569470324/qid=1039707654/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/104-2651391-5535120?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) ---
**Author:** ![rsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsa)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-there-such-a-thing-as-an-english-restaurant-anywhere-in-the-united-states/142019/63 "2002-12-12T16:40:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by raisinbread \* > Why are they called bangers? Because they look like a man’s most masculine of areas? All the better to bang you with? WBS K TNX They are called bangers because of the popping (banging) noise they make while frying in the skillet. There is an excellent authentic English pub in Addison, Texas (North Dallas) called the Londoner. Most of their English food is very well done. They have the best fish & chips that I have had and they have plenty of malt vinegar on hand. Their Shepard’s pie and steak and mushroon pie is very good as well. They also have Scotch eggs, chicken curry (with Pappadums) and Chicken Tikka Masala. On Sundays, they have a big British Fry-up and a roast beed and cabbage plate. While English food may not be _haute cuisine_, it’s about the best comfort food that I can think of and very tasty when seasoned properly. Cheers, y’all. ---
**Author:** ![curly\_chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ba0ec/32.png) [@curly\_chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curly_chick)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-there-such-a-thing-as-an-english-restaurant-anywhere-in-the-united-states/142019/64 "2002-12-12T16:52:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by everton \* > \*\*Isn’t that from New Zealand? \*\* Nope, beef Wellington as well as the city of Wellington in New Zealand are both named after the Duke of Wellington, who was a Britisher by choice - born in Ireland, but rose to fame serving his monarch and defeating Napoleon inthe battle of Waterloo ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-there-such-a-thing-as-an-english-restaurant-anywhere-in-the-united-states/142019/65 "2002-12-12T16:57:40Z")
Don’t forget the boots and the bomber - both named after the same guy (who is an ancestor of mine by the way). ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-there-such-a-thing-as-an-english-restaurant-anywhere-in-the-united-states/142019/66 "2002-12-12T17:03:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jjimm \* > \*\*Don’t forget the boots and the bomber - both named after the same guy (who is an ancestor of mine by the way). \*\* And you went to live in Ireland! He’ll turn in his grave! ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-there-such-a-thing-as-an-english-restaurant-anywhere-in-the-united-states/142019/67 "2002-12-12T17:14:36Z")
He even married one of the stable animals 😉 Mrs jjimm btw is one of the best looking stable animals I have ever met. I really like British grub. It’s quite like Irish grub strangley enough 😉 Same weather and lots of cultural crossover. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-there-such-a-thing-as-an-english-restaurant-anywhere-in-the-united-states/142019/68 "2002-12-12T17:23:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by owlstretchingtime \* > \*\*And you went to live in Ireland! He’ll turn in his grave! \*\* I had dinner in his birthplace just the other evening (the Merrion Hotel). **yojimbo** , less of the “filly” references! ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-there-such-a-thing-as-an-english-restaurant-anywhere-in-the-united-states/142019/69 "2002-12-12T17:35:30Z")
😛 ---
**Author:** ![Profane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47774/32.png) [@Profane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Profane)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-there-such-a-thing-as-an-english-restaurant-anywhere-in-the-united-states/142019/70 "2002-12-12T17:50:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rostfrei \* > \*\*There’s also the one down on Midlothian Tpke in the Pocono Green shopping center. The name escapes me. \*\* It’s The Fox and Hound. I loved it and I am a Genuine British Person[sup]TM[/sup]. It has been several years since I’ve been, though. I like going to English restaurants (as long as they are good, not crap chain types) they always remind me of Sunday dinners with my grandparents. ---
**Author:** ![Morgainelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Morgainelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgainelf)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-there-such-a-thing-as-an-english-restaurant-anywhere-in-the-united-states/142019/71 "2002-12-16T15:21:43Z")
Hi **Shagnasty**. For some good English food near you, try _John Stones Inn_ in Ashland, MA. Great atmosphere, excellent British pub food (Bangers and Mash, Bleu Cheese burgers, Fish and Chips), great blues bands on the weekends, and a roaring fire. And, a ghost (don’t get too creeped out - I’ve been there countless times and never seen or felt anything scary). The owner, Vernon, is from Britain but lived for quite a while in New Orleans and is cool to talk to. Actually, have you been there before…? [http://www.johnstonesinn.com/index.htm](http://www.johnstonesinn.com/index.htm) Or, if you want to travel a little, _Ye Olde England Inn_ in Stowe Vt. is fantastic. [http://www.englandinn.com/](http://www.englandinn.com/) ---
**Author:** ![mrcrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@mrcrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrcrow)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-there-such-a-thing-as-an-english-restaurant-anywhere-in-the-united-states/142019/72 "2002-12-16T15:47:02Z")
english food to me is roast beef and yorkshire puddings, spotty dick, bubble and squeak and bangers and mash already mentioned in scotland we ate a lot of stovies which are potato oriented and finnon haddock in place of the cod in the fish and chips haggis puddings and vimto. scotlands second national drink to irn bru. a jelly peece was staple diet when i was at school i am not too sure about scotch eggs though 🙂 most english cuisine relies on daddies sauce for that touch of the exotic. ---
**Author:** ![fizgig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f04885/32.png) [@fizgig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fizgig)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-there-such-a-thing-as-an-english-restaurant-anywhere-in-the-united-states/142019/73 "2002-12-16T16:57:43Z")
There’s one in Florence, Oregon. I can’t recall the name right now, but I think their specialties are clam chowder and fish and chips. Never eaten there, but it’s a proper sit-down place, not a pub. ---
**Author:** ![Coilean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f6c823/32.png) [@Coilean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coilean)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-there-such-a-thing-as-an-english-restaurant-anywhere-in-the-united-states/142019/74 "2002-12-16T17:21:49Z")
**Shagnasty** , Next time you’re in town there’s a pub in Kenmore Square called,I think, Cornwall’s. It’s next to the Gap store and though it’s been quite a few years since I’ve been there, IIRC they’ve a mix of food with a few typical dishes (bangers and mash, a meat pie or two, etc.). You can also get a bit of The Ol’ Hen on tap. No beer engines though. Shame. ---
**Author:** ![OxyMoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9a140/32.png) [@OxyMoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OxyMoron)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-there-such-a-thing-as-an-english-restaurant-anywhere-in-the-united-states/142019/75 "2002-12-16T19:35:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Usram \* > \*\*That’s because of all the Mad Cow Disease. Oxy-moron, geddit? Oh please yourself… \*\* Ahem. :). There is a lovely tea shop in the West Village called Tea & Sympathy. Don’t look for it in Zagat’s, they aren’t listed - I think they asked not to be because it’s quite small (9 tables) and gets overwhelmed as it is. Quite an ex-pat community, owned by an Englishwoman called Nikki who is a charmer but quite strict: she posts rules (you will not be seated until all your party arrive, people who arrive late will not be seated with you, etc.) and if you don’t want to follow them, go elsewhere. Whingers are not welcome. The food is marvelous. They do a chicken pot pie which is dreamy, and always with wonderful fresh vegetables. Puddings are great, too (and I mean it in the English way), spotted dick, ginger cake with custard sauce, all fantastic. I remember reading that English food suffered in reputation in no small part because England industrialized so early. In the slums of London or Liverpool, people had very little in the way of cooking facilities, no way to grow fresh foods and not enough money to buy them - so canned goods became quite popular and cooking skills suffered. There seems to be a real rediscovery of what English cookery once was, and that’s great. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-there-such-a-thing-as-an-english-restaurant-anywhere-in-the-united-states/142019/76 "2002-12-17T10:38:15Z")
British cookery was destroyed (IMHO) by two things: Public schools and rationing. The English public schools used to provide the most appaling food (they have improved a bit now, but are still pretty ropey, at least mine was). THis meant that the middle and upper classes grew up with no idea about decent food, and as such as the people most able to afford to eat out didn’t demand high enough standards. Rationing also introduced the idea of food as fuel, rather than something to be enjoyed, a legacy we are still stuck with in our demand for astonishingly cheap food rather than good food. Things have changed greatly due mainly (IMHO) to increased foreign travel and a rediscovery of how good English food is if made with care and good ingredients (eg Staek and kidney pud, which is ambrosia itself, but not a cheap dish). You can now eat as well in London as in any other city - including Paris. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-there-such-a-thing-as-an-english-restaurant-anywhere-in-the-united-states/142019.md?page=3)