Fox & Hounds

A tongue-in-cheek "country" spot with a patio fenced in wrought iron embellished with cutouts of said fox and hounds and a cottage-atmosphere mural. Two rooms with tall tables and chairs in addition to the patio. There's a board with notices of upcoming soccer telecasts. On tap: Guinness, Bass, Fuller ESB and London Pride, Fosters, Harp, Boddington and more. But the food's very uneven. Good sausage in soggy rolls, fish and chips has good chips, not so the fish. The shepherd's pie was watery, but the cheese and onion pasty was deliciously cheddary and just great with beer.

For a dose of culture, visit early for breakfast and the English soccer game of the week. Live music Tue.-Sat. nights. Slightly British, slightly trashy barmaids serving neighborhood folk, aging frat boys and an occasional Brit expat. Happy Hour with half-price appetizers. Darts and English Premier League Football Sat.-Sun. mornings. Thu., 7:30 p.m., is Quiz Night.