The great British roast revolution

The humble roast has had a rather dodgy reputation of late - more associated with downmarket carveries which leave overcooked meat and frozen vegetables shrivelling under heat lamps. So thank goodness London's foodies appear to be instigating a roast revival, with local pubs and even smart restaurants offering prime cuts in comforting portions.

These days roasts aren't restricted to Sundays: some are a daily indulgence.

Here's our pick of the capital's best pubs and restaurants serving up the choicest cuts to the choosiest crowd...

Roast, Borough Market
With its name a giveaway for the thing it does best, Roast is packed at every sitting. Once you have tasted the crispy on the outside, creamily soft on the inside beef dripping-roasted potatoes, you'll know why.

You can eat roast seven days a week in this airy room perched above the market, with a choice of roast Laverstoke Park chicken breast (£20), rack of lamb (£22) or spit roast pork belly (£17.50). Order a day in advance and four can feast on roast rib of beef with Yorkshire pudding and horseradish (£110).

Every Monday there's a roast of the day. This week it was Gloucestershire Old Spot pork (£20), though it could be beef, lamb or fish. If you have room, finish with an oldfashioned pudding such as Mrs Beeton's Lemon Posset with shortbread (£5) or rhubarb crumble and ice cream (£6).
Roast, The Floral Hall, Stoney Street, Southwark, 020 7940 1300, roastrestaurant.com

The Amersham Arms, New Cross
In a forgotten corner of New Cross, the restored Amersham Arms breathes new life into an old-fashioned boozer. The oh-so-now refit - dark wood, sprawling sofas, outdoor smoking space - attracts a stylish indie crowd from miles around.

The Amersham is embracing the pub roast revolution with its cool carvery. Choose from beef, pork or chicken (or a veggie option) complete with roasties, homemade Yorkshire puds, stuffing and real gravy. And, unbelievably for the price - £5 before 1pm, £6 between 1pm and 2pm; £7 after 2pm - you can eat as much as you like. Follow with apple crumble or treacle sponge and custard for £1.50 each with a roast dinner. There's entertainment, too, from film quizzes to musical bingo, complete with kitsch prizes.
The Amersham Arms, 388 New Cross Road, New Cross, 020 8469 1499, amersham-arms.co.uk

The Fat Badger, Portobello Road
Leather sofas, vintage lamps, shabby chic chandeliers: this is the ideal Sunday chillout pub. While you wait for the food, keep yourself amused with a close look at the wallpaper - it's an urban version of French toile, complete with muggers instead of milkmaids and vagrants instead of shepherds.

But there's more to The Fat Badger than its décor. It's also home to possibly the best Sunday roast in town: the table roast. Priced at £14 per person and for a minimum of eight or up to 20, it's a huge platter of incredibly good-quality Hereford beef cooked to bloodoozing, melt-in-the-mouth perfection together with divine trimmings - giant Yorkshires, soft, caramelised butternut squash and tasty potatoes.

There's also pot roast featherblade of beef with Parmesan mash (£12) or try the roast halibut with chanterelle and brown shrimp vinaigrette (£15.50). Call to book the table roast two days in advance.
The Fat Badger, 310 Portobello Road, Notting Hill, 020 8969 4500, thefatbadger.com

The Albion, Islington
The Albion rose like a phoenix from its previous incarnation as a grubby boozer last year and is now all wooden flooring, open fires, mahogany furniture and superbly retro carnations on the table: a fitting backdrop for a robust roast.