The Dog & Duck

Just what London needs - another pub claiming to reinvent the wheel by slapping a pizza oven into a Victorian drinking hole. The Dog & Duck in London's Walthamstow neighborhood initially struck me as yet another victim of the "let's make pubs trendy" epidemic sweeping through the city. But damn them for actually pulling it off.

I arrived determined to hate it. The Harry Kane shrine should have been the final nail in the coffin of my critical assassination. Instead, I found myself reluctantly charmed by this schizophrenic fusion of old-school boozer and modern pizza joint that somehow works better than it has any right to.

Let's address the elephant in the room - yes, The Dog & Duck serves pizza in a pub. Usually, this unholy marriage ranks somewhere between gas station sushi and airport coffee on the culinary crime scale. But here's the infuriating part: their pizzas are actually good. Not "good for pub food" good, but legitimately good-good. The base hits that sweet spot between Naples-style pliancy and London's preference for a bit more structure. It's the kind of pizza that makes you forget you're sitting next to a shelf full of vintage football memorabilia and questionable East 17 tributes.

The beer selection would make a Belgian monk weep - not necessarily from joy, mind you, but not from horror either. While real ale enthusiasts might need to temper their expectations, the rotating craft options keep things interesting enough to maintain your buzz while contemplating another pizza. And let's be honest, that's really what we're all here for.

The space itself is a beautiful mess, like your eccentric aunt's living room after she discovered both Pinterest and car boot sales. Somehow, the random assortment of decorative oddities creates an atmosphere that's both cozy and entertaining. The garden area, with its wooden huts, feels like someone tried to recreate a beach bar in East London and nearly succeeded. It shouldn't work, but like everything else about this place, it inexplicably does.

For those seeking entertainment beyond watching their pizza cook, there's enough gaming options to start a minor arcade. Pool, table tennis, and table football provide ample opportunity to challenge your mates or, more likely, embarrass yourself in front of strangers. The staff, bless them, maintain the perfect pub worker balance of friendly efficiency and benign neglect - they're there when you need them but won't hover like helicopter parents.

Speaking of parents, The Dog & Duck has somehow managed to crack the impossible code of being both child-friendly and actually enjoyable for adults. During daylight hours, you'll see families sharing pizzas without the whole place descending into a Chuck E. Cheese nightmare. Come evening, the atmosphere shifts seamlessly to accommodate a more grown-up crowd, though the occasional table football match might still get rowdier than an Premier League penalty shootout.

The pricing sits in that sweet spot where you can't quite complain but still feel compelled to mention it to whoever's buying the next round. It's London, after all - reasonable pricing is relative, like Einstein's theory but with pints instead of planets.

Fair warning: Friday nights here are about as quiet as a Tube station during rush hour. The place fills up faster than a betting shop on Derby Day, though the crowd tends more toward young professionals and local characters than your typical pub rabble. For those seeking a more serene pizza experience, their takeaway service provides a convenient escape route.

Situated perfectly for both locals and visitors (there's literally a bus stop outside, though I'm contractually obligated as a Londoner to complain about public transport), The Dog & Duck has carved out its own peculiar niche in Walthamstow's increasingly diverse dining scene. It's a pub that serves great pizza, or a pizzeria that happens to be a proper pub, depending on your perspective and blood alcohol level.

Look, I wanted to dismiss The Dog & Duck as another London pub jumping on the gastro bandwagon. Instead, I'm forced to admit it's become my go-to recommendation for anyone asking where to find good pizza and a decent pint in E17. Book ahead for Friday nights, bring cash for the pool table, and prepare to join the ranks of reluctant converts. Just don't tell them I sent you - I have a reputation to maintain.