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Several of us went there in the afternoon to experience the pub and only received the noxious stence of tobacco smoke. We left and have never returned.

The only employee that I interacted with was the bartender, and I thought he was a bit surly. I think he had an English accent, so maybe that makes this place "authentic"?

They have a website, I think they make some effort to update it. I clicked on "What's Happening Today" and it did have last Friday, which is more current than many websites; but it wasn't today. And the list of their beers was not 100%, they didn't have the Young's Double Chocolate Stout on draught.

I had a London Curry for dinner, I liked it quite a bit.

Overall, it's probably typical for an English pub in Texas, with some pros and some cons.

San Antonio Express-News

(Edward A. Ornelas/Express-News)

A suit of armor acts as a sentry at the English pub The Lion & Rose.

The Lion & Rose Address: 5148 Broadway (in the Stewart Shopping Center)

Hours: 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Monday-Sunday

Phone: (210) 822-7673

Web site: www.thelionandrose.com

Snapshot: Handsome English pub with its hefty wooden bar and even heftier beers is about as close to the real British thing as you'll get in San Antonio. It's no wonder it has quickly become a popular hangout for knocking back a pint or two or catching a bit of televised soccer. It appeals not only to an international crowd — "ex-pats" from all over, from South Africa to Canada to Australia, as manager Paul Creagh of Liverpool put it — but to Americans as well. Busiest nights are Fridays and Saturdays. Though seating is plentiful and varied, from comfortable booths to barstools to domino tables with corner pockets that conveniently hold beer glasses, a short wait is known to happen.

Behind the bar: The bar offers every spirit, but it's the pub's impressive selection of light, honey-colored and dark-as-coal brews that will make your head spin, even before you take a drink. Smooth, yet rich, favorites on tap are Old Speckled Hen of England, Smithwicks of Ireland and Stella Artois of Belgium. There's Chocolate Stout that will fill you up faster than a shepherd's pie (though the dish, also served here, is satisfying). Numerous bottled beers, foreign and American, also are available. It's a haven for wine lovers as well with the list running the gamut, from Pinot Grigios and Chardonnays to Cabernets and the reddest of Shirazes. Imported beers start at $5. A glass of wine is reasonable, ranging from less than $5 to $9.50.

Who goes there: Though all ages are welcome, regulars tend to be professionals in their 30s, 40s and 50s. Dress is casual in this coziest of establishments, though patrons tend to be neat and on the stylish side.

Munchies: The menu is an Anglophile's dream, including "bangers and mash" (sausage and mashed potatoes), corned beef and cabbage, beef stew and, of course, fish and chips. There's an extended list of appetizers as well. For those seeking more traditional fare, a varied American menu is also available. Kitchen closes at midnight, but the bar remains active until 2 a.m.

Fun and games: Pastimes include games of darts, as well as chess, checkers or dominoes on the domino tables. Less active is the sports-watching on the many TVs that are conveniently located around the establishment.

Soundtrack: Live music with a Gaelic or Celtic feel is sometimes available on Fridays and Saturdays.

The skinny: The place is colorful and European, while also being laid-back and low-lit. Visual treats include suits of armor, polished wood and waitresses in British schoolgirl garb. There are smoking and nonsmoking areas. Particularly fun is when waiter Allan Bakewell of Nottingham serves you and recommends the truly British best. Even people who aren't beer drinkers will crave more Old Speckled Hen after one glug.

—Jeanne Jakle

Back to England for the real thing.

The Lion & Rose Pub: Fit for a king

Imperial pints are the way to go

It is common knowledge among circles of stuffy historians that King William "The Lion" of 12th-century Scotland was a fiery fellow with a tendency to invade northern England. Lesser known is whether he would have preferred to infiltrate The Lion & Rose Pub, a new "authentic English pub" in Alamo Heights that takes the King's legacy as its namesake.

The Lion & Rose

5148 Broadway 822-7673 11-2am $3.75-4.25 bottle, $5 draught (20-oz. imperial pints) A brief history lesson: William once adopted for his royal symbol the rampant red lion on yellow background that rears high in Scotland even today. As for the "Rose," legend speaks of a lusty maiden named Mary Rose who once refreshed the besieged King's life by introducing an attacking soldier's throat to the sharp end of an arrow.

So now that the King has been saved, let's send him for a meal and ale at The Lion & Rose.

Once there, he is unlikely to mistake his servant for Rose herself. Upon requesting Scottish ale, the King is astounded to hear the girl remark snidely, "This is an English pub" (as one such waitress did to this amateur historian). The coup de grace, however, arrives with the King's reply: "So why are you all wearing kilts?"

Service aside, the King is extremely apt to enjoy his food, billed as a blend of traditional English recipes with an American twist. He would likely savor the Cornish Crab Cakes, which are light and flavorful. He might, however, run into trouble with the creamed spinach, coming as it does mixed with a healthy dose of mozzarella; cheese dangling from the royal mouth is rarely construed as becoming.

All is redeemed, though, with the main course, for the King finds the English Beef Crock as it is: delectable. As for ale, a draught of Old Speckled Hen does the King just fine. Imported from Suffolk, the hen is a reddish creature with fruity overtones and a pleasing effect on the regal cerebellum.

Stuffed, William is put at ease by the medieval ambience - the lanterns and suits of armor - although bewildered by the numerous plasma TVs transmitting bizarre battles over strangely shaped balls. So he visits the dartboard, visualizing King Henry II as the target. Completely sated now and slightly buzzed, the King stumbles out onto Broadway. — Brian Chasnoff

Michael Potts

http://www.britannia.com/cooking/recipes/mushypeas.html

http://www.greatbritishkitchen.co.uk/recipes/sauces/chipshopcurrysauce.htm

p.s. that second recipe needs about double the amount of curry powder & a little cayenne to make it