For all the village atmosphere throughout Crouch End, only one pub has a truly cosy and country-ish feel about it, and that’s The Good Reader. This independent gastropub makes for a ridiculously picturesque scene on a wintry evening. Roaring fireplace. Check. Elderly pint-sipping locals with reading material. Check and check. Doe-eyed couples poking anchovies, glugging wine, and playing backgammon. Check, check, and check. The food has that faintly Mediterranean lean to it that so many pub menus tend to and is thoroughly comforting. Crunchy chicken schnitzel and slick olive oil mash is always a winner. There’s a proper dining room for a big family roast and a roomy garden for summer, too.