The Dog, Whitechapel, E1

How strange to find a fairly quiet backstreet boozer just a stone’s throw from the hustle and bustle of the busy pubs around Aldgate. It’s very simple inside, from the standard banquettes with normal tables and chairs, to the light pine cladding on the front of the bar counter. Above the counter are half a dozen framed collections of banknotes of the world, which is a bit different, and there’s also a dartboard and pool table here. Unfortunately there’s also games and fruit machines here flashing away at one end of the room, but which I guess are a necessary entertainment in pubs like this that don’t seem to be trying to attract the high end of the drinks and food market. There are also TVs all over the place of course, all muted when I was and tuned to Sky Sports, plus some “pub games” piled up in one of the corners. There’s a smallish garden at the side of the pub. On the ale front they had on GKIPA and Harvey’s Best (£1.80 a half), with a reversed Ruddles County clip on a third handpump. The Harvey’s was in good nick. I did see a menu on a chalkboard behind the servery – sarnies are £3.95 a pop, and the “specials”, such as Chilli & Rice, are around £6.25. Top of the list is three sausages, chips and beans for £4.95. No gastro stuff here – this is pub grub at pub grub prices. This is just the sort of of place to escape to for a quiet and decent pint.