Rebecca P.
Yelp
Opening its doors to the trendy set of Hackney Wick in 2014, Number 90 is a canal-side bar and kitchen on the fringes of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The décor is ramshackle, industrial and quirky- basically it's an East London archetype- and the spacious interior (think converted warehouse floor) permits the venue to host an extensive range of goings-on: their events calendar is filled with everything from bingo nights to wild late-night DJ sets. The versatility of Number 90 is its major appeal and it's already established as a hub of activity amongst the locals. It also offers an extensive and eclectic cocktail menu and delivers an all-day food menu featuring local produce.
On Sundays, Number 90 exclusively serves roasts, offering the full gamut: lamb, beef, chicken, pork and a nut roast. Children eat for free and the prices are reasonable at £13 a plate (or £10.50 for the vegetarians). Reservations are recommended, but we had no problem being seated when we showed up without one. The atmosphere is casual yet buzzy- there was a cross-section of people, including families, large comradely groups and whispering couples, all enjoying the peaceful view of the canal boats slinking by.
Bar staff tend to be slightly aloof while not entirely unfriendly. We always have to make it pointedly obvious that we want to order drinks and are never asked. The range of beer available- especially given the proximity to so many microbreweries- is slightly lacklustre.
On our first meal experience at Number 90, we had extremely pleasant servers once seated. It gets busy on Sundays and once your roast order is taken, it can be challenging to flag down the servers for additional drinks or the bill. We were pressed to order as soon as we were seated and given the option to pay in advance- we were thankfully not in a rush, but this tacitly acknowledged how overstretched the servers can be. During our meal, we were kept waiting on a pint and when it finally arrived, it was the wrong beer.
On the upside, the roasts do come out of the kitchen promptly- we ordered lamb and chicken and the sizes were portioned, but not inadequate. The lamb rump arrived in slices, incrusted in a blend of spices and seasoning, well-cooked and complemented with a generous splodge of mint sauce. The lemon chicken was also well-seasoned and moist throughout; however, it was a stingy quarter- just a leg- and there was little tender breast meat on the bone, which was a slight disappointment. Both roasts were accompanied by a jug of gravy, roast potatoes, a medley of vibrant vegetables, including broccoli, baby carrots and- curiously- roast beetroot. A smallish Yorkshire pudding was perched on the plate, which lacked the imperfect lumpiness of a homemade yorkie that I expect from less gastronomically ambitious kitchens.
On the whole, the trimmings on the plate were decent, the gravy arrived in a good portion and we polished everything off happily. The value of the roast is standard- I was expecting something slightly stodgier, rustic and saturated in gravy, but they were much more refined. The real value of the Sunday lunch lies in the venue itself, which is idyllically located and unexpectedly relaxed and inviting. There is also an outdoor seated area overlooking the canal, which will offer a superb grazing spot in the summer months.
For a decent roast in breezy surroundings, Number 90 is a good bet. Given its busy events calendar, you'll also find something for everyone (if roasts aren't your thing).
