NORMAN’S COACH AND HORSES
29 Greek St., London
Hours: Noon-4 p.m., 5-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday; Noon-9 p.m. Sunday.
Menu: http://coachsoho.co.uk/menu
Suitable for: Vegans, vegetarians, omnivores
Wait, wait, wait, wait. A fully vegetarian pub, serving actual English pub food, in the heart of London’s SoHo district? Is this real life?
It is, and there is. Norman’s Coach and Horses – as fine a pub as any in London, from the wood décor to the bustling vibe – is an entirely vegetarian, mostly vegan, establishment that appeals to the masses. After all, beer tastes just as good whether you’re plant-based or an omnivore, and the food is innovative without being pretentious.
A bit of a history lesson: Norman’s has been around since 1847 – and there has been a pub on the building’s site since the 18th century. Of course, the pub became veg-friendly in more recent times, but its history is deep, and the walls practically exude stories from every direction.
We visited the Coach and Horses on our first evening in England and, after perusing the menu and deliberating perhaps more than was necessary, we decided we had to go all-in on British food. Enter the Tofush and Chips, a vegan version of the fish-and-potatoes pub staple.
This is Norman’s signature dish, and for good reason: It’s amazing. The tofu “fish” is wrapped in seaweed and fried until it develops a light and crispy outer coating; the chips it comes with are what we in the U.S. would call “steak-cut,” and they’re divine, almost creamy inside with every bite. Add some peas for some greenery and you’ve got the makings of a filling meal.
And the menu is teeming with great options. Shepherd’s pie (with a “jug of vegan gravy”), mac and cheese, chili, a bean burger … no matter your hunger level, you’ll be in good standing here. And why not polish off another pint for dessert? You’re among friends, after all.