26th July 2007
Social hub of the City
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.
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