The recently opened The Londoner Pub and Grill offers the taste of an authentic English pub in Baton Rouge.
The Londoner, located on South Sherwood Forest, opened about 10 weeks ago and has had great success with a wide array of customers including both families and students, according to manager Wayne Crawford.
The Londoner originated in Dallas and was opened by London native Barry Tate. The Londoner in Baton Rouge is the only located outside of Dallas, which has four.
The English-infused menu includes many traditional English dishes such as bangers and mash, shepherd’s pie, fish and chips and steak and ale pie.
Emily McCalla, international studies sophomore, participated in LSU in London, a University study abroad program. She said the food served is “very similar” to an English pub.
McCalla claims the pub offers most of the traditional items aside from the quintessential “mushy peas” served across England.
“The food is probably the most authentic part of the Londoner,” said Reed Martin, LSU in London participant and psychology senior. “I ordered the fish and chips and two European beers on tap — Grimbergen and Warsteiner Dunkel — and everything was delicious.”
LSU in London Director and English associate professor Daniel Novak agreed that the presence of Indian foods on The Londoner’s menu is similar to English pubs, considering the high population of Indian residents in England.
“They have fries with a curry dipping sauce, which they have in England and Ireland, as well, though the curry is poured on the fries,” Novak said. “Ireland has a chain of fast-food restaurants called ‘Supermac’ that carries the fries, so they’re totally mainstream.”
Crawford said The Londoner will serve many more English beers on draft within the next few weeks. As for now they have Newcastle, Boddington’s, Bass Ale and a few others.
Beer and good times are the purposes of all pubs in England, said Brett Beter, LSU in London participant and finance junior, who was disappointed in the draft selection at The Londoner. He claims more English beers could be found on tap at both The Cove and The Chimes.
Beter said The Londoner has a solid selection of bottled beers, but it’s rare to see someone drinking a bottled beer at a pub in London.
The Londoner uses frozen glass with beers, which is not “London-like,” Beter said.
“Londoners believe that the colder the beer, the less you can really taste it,” Beter said.
According to McCalla, the look of The Londoner is similar to an authentic English pub. It’s dark, cozy and has a huge mirror over the bar. However, it is much larger than typical English pubs, which usually are “holes-in-the-wall,” according to Beter.
“The Londoner’s look is extremely authentic,” said Lindsay Nunez, mass communication junior and a former Daily Reveille employee. “There is a fireplace, and the coloring, furniture and general look are pretty accurate.”
While The Londoner has channeled the English look, the atmosphere is much more like a restaurant than a pub, said Emily Gurdian, history senior.
Visitors to English pubs sit wherever they want and may visit the bar and order food at their own leisure, Martin said.
“I felt that the general objective of those around me was to eat,” Beter said. “A pub in London is a very laid back, social place in which every person there is drinking a pint and talking to his or her friends.”
McCalla agreed The Londoner portrays a much more restaurant-like style than an authentic English pub, but she argues it comes as close as possible to being authentic in America.
“If it went along with the English serving style it would end up being overcrowded and probably appear far too kitschy,” McCalla said.
 
—-
Contact Devon Walsh at [email protected]