The Sterling

mazphd

Gherkin hub 29th January 2008

2 found this helpful

Nestled right inside the Gherkin The Sterling certainly lives up to its name-sake; a home away from home for the banking fraternity. Thankfully this means that the range and array of wines is up to spec, although their pricing is a little suspicious where a glass of pinot noir at £7.40 (small glass mind you) from New Zealand is more than the superior Rioja from Argentina... hey but who am i to complain, the better glass is cheaper! :D

the bar 'food' is limited. The restaurant does offer more, but this was not open the night that our little party went, and so i am unable to include any 'highlights' in this review.

Staff are polite and friendly and you have a wonderful sense of being in the centre of things, quite literally as you are in the belly of the gherkin!

So sit back enjoy smoosing with the city types and order the rioja, better than an over-priced pinot noir!

herrylaw

Social hub of the City 26th July 2007

6 found this helpful

The Sterling is my 'local' when in the City and stands where my office used to be before the bombing of the Baltic Exchange. It's a slightly unprepossessing place squeezed along one 'side' of the Gherkin (officially the Swiss Re building), with its entrance rather lost behind one of the gigantic girders that support the now iconic edifice. The Sterling is redeemed by three things: the maitre d' and her staff, the food and the terrace. Naimh Stanford ('pronounced 'Neame') is a dream of Irish charm and enthusiasm and she hangs onto a friendly and efficient brigade as well as chefs who above all buy and cook fish exceptionally well. I can still remember the absolutely delicious haddock from one of my first visits and have never been disappointed since. Wines are well-chosen , but the coffee comes in mugs - a bit of a turn-off. The terrace, in the shadow of the tower later in the day, is huge and hums with life whenever the weather is clement - and often when it's barely tolerable (the wind can be savage). On a good day they have to cope with up to 500 people, which makes it 'the' City social hub, at least for the insurance quarter.