St. James's Gate has a good selection of food and beer for the area. It's one of the better restaurants right around Islington station. However, I feel as though the food isn't cooked on site, because it seemed like my pot pie had been frozen and then microwaved.
On Fridays and Saturdays, there's generally live music. On some nights, a crowd that seems more fit for the Entertainment District than an Irish pub in the West end gathers there.