St. John - St John � Twice as Nice by laissezfare

laissezfare — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:16:44 +0000

Review by laissezfare

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7251 0848

Website: http://www.stjohnrestaurant.com/

[Non-photo Review]

For full review go to: http://wp.me/pwXBH-tC

St John â¬ Twice as Nice

The gist of it: St John serves simple, honest, delicious food that brings out the best of what its often humble ingredients can be. The dining space mirrors head chef Hendersonâ¬"s paired down philosophy and is reminiscent of a posh school canteen for grown-ups...in a good way. The thing about St John is that, while itâ¬"s brilliant, there should be places like this in every town across the UK, where you can find well-cooked everyday dishes that wonâ¬"t blow the bank. Itâ¬"s the kind of food you might have gotten at your Nanâ¬"s or Auntieâ¬"s house in days gone by, and itâ¬"s not rocket science, after all. If you havenâ¬"t been, by all means go, if only to taste the marrow and sample one of their brilliant puddings. I just canâ¬"t believe there arenâ¬"t more places like this in London and elsewhere throughout Britain.

Sundays at St John

St John had been on my hit list for a long time â¬ too long. So, when the weather began cooling and the days got darker, and when my stomach began craving for heart-warming comfort food, I happily discovered that St John was open for Sunday lunches. What a brilliant idea, I thought, and promptly booked myself in for the upcoming weekend.

I think that most readers of this blog will already know as much (or more) about St John, and its head chef Fergus Henderson, than I do, so I will spare you all of the literally gory details here. Suffice to say that the original outpost is located just opposite the Smithfield meat market in 1994 and that the building was formerly a smokehouse. Henderson is well-known for his â¬Ünose-to-tail eatingâ¬" philosophy (in fact, this was the title of his first cookbook), and the interior of the restaurant mirrors his style of food: it is paired down, simple and honest.

In 2003, Henderson and his business partner Trevor Gulliver opened a second branch, imaginatively called St John Bread and Wine, near Spitalfields market (spot the trend?). The original restaurantâ¬"s baking operations had outgrown its existing baking capabilities, so this new site took care of the new baking needs and also housed a smaller, less formal restaurant serving food and drink throughout the day.

As you will read further down, Mrs. LF and I so much enjoyed our first visit to St John that we immediately booked Sunday lunch for the very next week upon leaving. So this review comprises two meals on two consecutive Sundays.

Meal 1: Initiation

It was a typically bleak autumn afternoon as we made our way East to the City of London, gliding stealthily beneath its dragon-crowned gates in the anonymity of the Circle Line. I had only ever seen St John from the outside, and didnâ¬"t realize there was a little bakery and bar on the ground floor, with the main restaurant on a slightly raised level up a small flight of stairs.

We made our way up and found the place to be about half full but with a nice but quiet buzz about it. Our waitress took us to our little table for two, which was nestled very cosily against the right wall. After being given the paper menu (a good deal of the dishes change every day, with only a few fixtures/signature dishes such as the infamous marrow), we were served some bread. It was a wonderful loaf of sourdough with a great crust and bags of perfect sourdough flavor. We loved it. And one of my unofficial rules that normally holds true in restaurants is that, if the bread is excellent, there is a very good chance youâ¬"re in for some good food, too.

We eventually ordered and took stock of the place. It is pretty much what I expected. Stark, basic, and mostly white. Industrial looking light fixtures, bistro-style wooden chairs, paper table cloths on top of the real ones, silverware that you can tell has been well used, waiting staff in kitchen whites. But most importantly, all of the diners there seemed to be genuinely having a good time. It was a posh school canteen for grown-ups.

After attempting to turn my eyes into binoculars while peering past the pass in the kitchen, to see what offal tricks these culinary wizards were conjuring, and soaking everything in, our efficient waitress came back with our starters.

Starter 1: Roast Bone Marrow & Parsley Salad
And what a starter. Phwoah â¬ just look at those bad boys! This was the signature dish I had been waiting to order. Despite my expectations being ridiculously high for what is after all a very simple dish, I was not let down one bit. This was one of the best and most satisfying things Iâ¬"ve shoved down my gob in recent memory. It just worked on every level. The marrow was rich and smooth, with a half liquidized fat texture. Spread across the perfectly toasted bread (which was the right thickness for the dish), sprinkled with a bit of that chunky gray salt, and topped off with a good dose of fresh parsley and onions (with a faultless vinaigrette), I was eating way too fast. You had richness that was accented by salt and shot through the heart with fresh green acidity; you had smooth, you had crunchy you had chewy. It was all thereâ¬¦for about 2 minutes that is. Mrs. LF concurred and, had she been able to stomach it, would have had much more of it than she did (thank God she is slim and didnâ¬"t have the stomach for it!). No doubt, 10/10.

Starter 2: Split Pea Soup
Meanwhile, she was slurping up another wonderfully simple and rustic dish, a bowl of split pea soup. And what it lacked in looks, it certainly made up for in taste. It was one of the best pea soups Iâ¬"ve had, hands down. Pure sweet pea flavor, perfectly seasoned, with a great thick but not-too-thick texture, we couldnâ¬"t really fault it. Mrs. LF informed me that when she was growing up in the Normandy countryside, they often began their meals with a simple vegetable soup, and she thought it a great start to the meal. 9/10.

Main Course 1: Ox Heart, Carrots & Aioli
For my main course, I ordered something I had never eaten before â¬ we were in St John, after all. The ox heart had been masterfully cooked, being seared on the outside but with a very soft and buttery core (zoom in on the second photo to see what Iâ¬"m talking about), and I loved the way it felt in my mouth. The taste was quite full-on; after all, it is a frigginâ¬" heart weâ¬"re talking about. It is quite a lean meat (being a muscle), and you can taste its high mineral content on your palate (itâ¬"s high in both iron and copper), but not unpleasantly so. It had a nice little accompanying sauce and a lovely aioli on the side, which was good because it needed a little kick from time to time. I could see how eating the meat itself could become monotonous after a while as for me it wasnâ¬"t like a sumptuous steak youâ¬"d keep coming back to again and again without relief. For this reason the aioli and the simply cooked sweet carrots were well thought-out partners. Overall, I was really glad I tried this dish and enjoyed it. Would I order it again? Not necessarily, but it was well worth the experience. 7/10.

Main Course 2: Smoked Eel, Beetroot & Horseradish
Mrs. LF couldnâ¬"t believe how good her dish of smoked eel was, and neither could I when I tasted it. She commented that it had a â¬Srich and strong taste of eel, yet it was perfectly balanced, so flavorsome and distinct and unlike any other seafood dish Iâ¬"d had. The beetroot, which I never really loved before, was outstanding; it was as if they had marinated or cooked in some kind of vinegar, and that sharpness was the perfect accompaniment for the intense taste of the eel. I truly enjoyed this dish for its authenticity and honesty. 10/10.â¬

Dessert: Plum Jelly & Shortbread
The puddingsâ¬¦oohâ¬¦the puddings. My god, they all sounded so simple, so satisfying, so good. But alas, as one of Catherine Tateâ¬"s characters might say, â¬Swe was well fullâ¬ by then. So we decided to split one and rolled the dessert dice. Thank God we came up trumps.

We simply loved this dessert. It was a perfect jelly â¬ firm yet with a bit of wobble â¬ whose creators had achieved the miracle of blissful balance between the sweet and tart. But jelly on its own is not a proper pudding. Luckily, the good folks at St John agreed, and provided some cooked plums on the side, as well as a dollop of thick cream and two of the best rectangles of homemade shortbread Iâ¬"ve had. Just like the marrow, salad and toast â¬ it just all worked together. We wanted another one, but in the end, we were good little adult canteen goers. 9/10.

Meal 2: Conversion?
With an overwhelmingly positive first meal at St John, we were back the next Sunday, same bat time, same bat channel. But could Fergusâ¬" kitchen charm us twice?

Starter 1: Squid & Tomato
I had also heard good things about their calamari, and as they were on the menu that Sunday, I went for it. I was a bit underwhelmed. They were a little firmer than I thought they should be, but had good, sweet flavor and were well seasoned (like everything else at St John). The peppery rocket and sweet tomato provided good contrasts in both taste and texture, and I ate it quite happily though it was nothing compared to those towers of shins the week before. 6/10.

Starter 2: Pea & Ham Soup
Given Mrs. LFâ¬"s previously mentioned predisposition for a simple potage as the opening to the show, she again opted for the pea soup, although on this day there was some ham too. It was again an extremely satisfying soup which did everything it could possibly have. 9/10 once again.

Main Course 1: Whole Grouse with Bread Sauce & Grouse PÃ¢tÃ© on Toast
Being bang in the middle of grouse season, I thought I would have my first grouse of the year, and for that matter, my first grouse ever so far as I can remember. I knew that this bird has a very pronounced flavor, and I hoped I would like it. I was delighted to see that when I cut into the meat, it had been skilfully cooked â¬ perfectly reddish-pink in the middle. It did indeed have a strong flavor, which is quite hard to describe if youâ¬"ve never had it. Gamey and rich, I did enjoy it but didnâ¬"t fall in love. It does have a wonderful texture to it, though. I liked it best when eaten with some bread sauce (I needed that sweetness), and while Iâ¬"m sure youâ¬"d be hard pressed to find a better grouse that was better cooked in the UK, I just donâ¬"t think this bird is my bag. Saying that, the accompanying little slice of crispy toast with grouse pÃ¢tÃ© was divine, and they were right to only include one as it was insanely rich. I will give it a 7/10 because I think it was a well-executed dish but one whose main component wasnâ¬"t really to my taste.

Main Course 2: Braised Hare & Mash
Of her main course, Mrs. LF said: â¬SI chose this dish because I love rabbit, and since I never had hare before I thought that it would have similar taste to rabbit but in a more gamey way, which I imagined Iâ¬"d like. And like it I did. It had that raw, rural feel to it that reminded me of French boeuf mode (although not with beef!). The hare was perfectly braised, with the meat threading off the bone, and the rich sauce with its bits of carrots and onion was rustic and just right. 9/10.â¬

After being mildly disappointed so far, more with my menu selections than with the cooking itself, I was looking forward to those glorious puddings even more.

Dessert 1: Poached Plums & Spiced Ice Cream
After much heated debate, I had finally opted for the poached plums. After the success of last weekâ¬"s dessert, I was again a little let down with this course. Not that it was bad, far from it. It just didnâ¬"t deliver that punch I had been expecting. The plums were well poached and had a nice sweet and sour flavor about them. The ice cream was pleasant if a bit forgettable, and the toast was a good vessel for soaking up the juice of the plums. But the real reason for my mild state of depression was that Mrs. LF was going on about how great her dessert was. So, being me, I started to pillage and plunder, which didnâ¬"t go down too well. I would give the plums 7/10.

Dessert 2: Baked Egg Custard & Blueberries
Yes, now this was the business. This is what I had been dreaming about, another proper pudding that could hold its weight against last weekâ¬"s finale. The custard was thick, sweet and extremely more-ish. This was especially the case when you ate it in tandem with a little bit of the sweet blueberry compote. And those shortbreads were back again, there for dipping, dunking, defiling. As the little dog from the Churchill ad says, â¬SOh, yesâ¬. So we had our happy ending, the meal had been pulled back from the brink of slight disappointment. 9/10.

Parting Thoughts & Shots

Despite the fact that I didnâ¬"t particularly like some of what I ordered on our second visit, St John now holds a special place in both my, and my fair ladyâ¬"s, heart. We love the simply prepared and delicious food and the placeâ¬"s complete and utter lack of pretence. As I mentioned before, you get the best of what these often modest ingredients have to offer at St John. And if you like one of the meats or fish in particular, they are almost guaranteed to make a great dish out of it for you. I think their puddings deserve a special mention, because they are just so satisfying â¬ no tricks, gimmicks or unnecessary components, just plain good combinations.

One thing we did discuss at the end of our second meal was the fact that while most people think of St John as a thoroughly British affair, weâ¬"re not quite so sure. Of course, Henderson is a British chef, and some of the ingredients (i.e. the grouse I had) are native to the British Isles. But Mrs. LF reckons that the majority of the cooking techniques in the kitchen are, at their heart, those of good French home cooking. To wit, the flawless vinaigrette on my parsley salad, the hearty potages and the sauces. And she was also quick to point out that Britain is not the only country that utilizes a wide range of cheaper cuts of meat in its menus, as French country and bistro cooking does as well. Sure, the puddings are mostly British, but I think the woman makes a good point.

Another thing one might consider is the fact that some people reckon that St John is the 14th best restaurant in the world. While I would say it is probably a unique restaurant in my experience with London dining establishments â¬ and maybe the wider UK â¬ I think that, if true, this is a very sad fact.

Again, Mrs. LF piped up with some insightful thoughts, saying: â¬SYes, it is unique, but it shouldnâ¬"t be. There should be loads of places like St John all over the country. Itâ¬"s not rocket science after all. Not everyone wants poncy fine dining, but people should have ready access to this kind of food â¬ theyâ¬"re not cooking foie gras, caviar and truffles, are they? Every single town in England should have a place like St John â¬ I mean, why donâ¬"t British pubs, those ancient symbols of tradition, serve food like this? St John represents the things that are disappearing from our lives (not just in Britain, but in France too), where once upon a time you could eat like this every day, even at your family table. I mean, this is the kind of food youâ¬"d go to get at your best Auntieâ¬"s or Grandmaâ¬"s house.â¬

And this is unfortunately what makes St John unique; it is exactly that kind of amazing home cooked food that we should all be having much more of, both at home and when we decide to eat out.

But whatever the case, what is clear is that St John is surely worth a visit. For my money, I canâ¬"t imagine a better place to enjoy a leisurely Sunday lunch in the din of winter.

And one last thing. If you do believe it is the 14th best restaurant in the world, it is certainly pretty easy to get a table here compared to some of the others on that list. So go already.

Rating

Ambience: 8/10

For full review go to: http://wp.me/pwXBH-tC

St John â¬ Twice as Nice

The gist of it: St John serves simple, honest, delicious food that brings out the best of what its often humble ingredients can be. The dining space mirrors head chef Hendersonâ¬"s paired down philosophy and is reminiscent of a posh school canteen for grown-ups...in a good way. The thing about St John is that, while itâ¬"s brilliant, there should be places like this in every town across the UK, where you can find well-cooked everyday dishes that wonâ¬"t blow the bank. Itâ¬"s the kind of food you might have gotten at your Nanâ¬"s or Auntieâ¬"s house in days gone by, and itâ¬"s not rocket science, after all. If you havenâ¬"t been, by all means go, if only to taste the marrow and sample one of their brilliant puddings. I just canâ¬"t believe there arenâ¬"t more places like this in London and elsewhere throughout Britain.

Sundays at St John

St John had been on my hit list for a long time â¬ too long. So, when the weather began cooling and the days got darker, and when my stomach began craving for heart-warming comfort food, I happily discovered that St John was open for Sunday lunches. What a brilliant idea, I thought, and promptly booked myself in for the upcoming weekend.

I think that most readers of this blog will already know as much (or more) about St John, and its head chef Fergus Henderson, than I do, so I will spare you all of the literally gory details here. Suffice to say that the original outpost is located just opposite the Smithfield meat market in 1994 and that the building was formerly a smokehouse. Henderson is well-known for his â¬Ünose-to-tail eatingâ¬" philosophy (in fact, this was the title of his first cookbook), and the interior of the restaurant mirrors his style of food: it is paired down, simple and honest.

In 2003, Henderson and his business partner Trevor Gulliver opened a second branch, imaginatively called St John Bread and Wine, near Spitalfields market (spot the trend?). The original restaurantâ¬"s baking operations had outgrown its existing baking capabilities, so this new site took care of the new baking needs and also housed a smaller, less formal restaurant serving food and drink throughout the day.

As you will read further down, Mrs. LF and I so much enjoyed our first visit to St John that we immediately booked Sunday lunch for the very next week upon leaving. So this review comprises two meals on two consecutive Sundays.

Meal 1: Initiation

It was a typically bleak autumn afternoon as we made our way East to the City of London, gliding stealthily beneath its dragon-crowned gates in the anonymity of the Circle Line. I had only ever seen St John from the outside, and didnâ¬"t realize there was a little bakery and bar on the ground floor, with the main restaurant on a slightly raised level up a small flight of stairs.

We made our way up and found the place to be about half full but with a nice but quiet buzz about it. Our waitress took us to our little table for two, which was nestled very cosily against the right wall. After being given the paper menu (a good deal of the dishes change every day, with only a few fixtures/signature dishes such as the infamous marrow), we were served some bread. It was a wonderful loaf of sourdough with a great crust and bags of perfect sourdough flavor. We loved it. And one of my unofficial rules that normally holds true in restaurants is that, if the bread is excellent, there is a very good chance youâ¬"re in for some good food, too.

We eventually ordered and took stock of the place. It is pretty much what I expected. Stark, basic, and mostly white. Industrial looking light fixtures, bistro-style wooden chairs, paper table cloths on top of the real ones, silverware that you can tell has been well used, waiting staff in kitchen whites. But most importantly, all of the diners there seemed to be genuinely having a good time. It was a posh school canteen for grown-ups.

After attempting to turn my eyes into binoculars while peering past the pass in the kitchen, to see what offal tricks these culinary wizards were conjuring, and soaking everything in, our efficient waitress came back with our starters.

Starter 1: Roast Bone Marrow & Parsley Salad
And what a starter. Phwoah â¬ just look at those bad boys! This was the signature dish I had been waiting to order. Despite my expectations being ridiculously high for what is after all a very simple dish, I was not let down one bit. This was one of the best and most satisfying things Iâ¬"ve shoved down my gob in recent memory. It just worked on every level. The marrow was rich and smooth, with a half liquidized fat texture. Spread across the perfectly toasted bread (which was the right thickness for the dish), sprinkled with a bit of that chunky gray salt, and topped off with a good dose of fresh parsley and onions (with a faultless vinaigrette), I was eating way too fast. You had richness that was accented by salt and shot through the heart with fresh green acidity; you had smooth, you had crunchy you had chewy. It was all thereâ¬¦for about 2 minutes that is. Mrs. LF concurred and, had she been able to stomach it, would have had much more of it than she did (thank God she is slim and didnâ¬"t have the stomach for it!). No doubt, 10/10.

Starter 2: Split Pea Soup
Meanwhile, she was slurping up another wonderfully simple and rustic dish, a bowl of split pea soup. And what it lacked in looks, it certainly made up for in taste. It was one of the best pea soups Iâ¬"ve had, hands down. Pure sweet pea flavor, perfectly seasoned, with a great thick but not-too-thick texture, we couldnâ¬"t really fault it. Mrs. LF informed me that when she was growing up in the Normandy countryside, they often began their meals with a simple vegetable soup, and she thought it a great start to the meal. 9/10.

Main Course 1: Ox Heart, Carrots & Aioli
For my main course, I ordered something I had never eaten before â¬ we were in St John, after all. The ox heart had been masterfully cooked, being seared on the outside but with a very soft and buttery core (zoom in on the second photo to see what Iâ¬"m talking about), and I loved the way it felt in my mouth. The taste was quite full-on; after all, it is a frigginâ¬" heart weâ¬"re talking about. It is quite a lean meat (being a muscle), and you can taste its high mineral content on your palate (itâ¬"s high in both iron and copper), but not unpleasantly so. It had a nice little accompanying sauce and a lovely aioli on the side, which was good because it needed a little kick from time to time. I could see how eating the meat itself could become monotonous after a while as for me it wasnâ¬"t like a sumptuous steak youâ¬"d keep coming back to again and again without relief. For this reason the aioli and the simply cooked sweet carrots were well thought-out partners. Overall, I was really glad I tried this dish and enjoyed it. Would I order it again? Not necessarily, but it was well worth the experience. 7/10.

Main Course 2: Smoked Eel, Beetroot & Horseradish
Mrs. LF couldnâ¬"t believe how good her dish of smoked eel was, and neither could I when I tasted it. She commented that it had a â¬Srich and strong taste of eel, yet it was perfectly balanced, so flavorsome and distinct and unlike any other seafood dish Iâ¬"d had. The beetroot, which I never really loved before, was outstanding; it was as if they had marinated or cooked in some kind of vinegar, and that sharpness was the perfect accompaniment for the intense taste of the eel. I truly enjoyed this dish for its authenticity and honesty. 10/10.â¬

Dessert: Plum Jelly & Shortbread
The puddingsâ¬¦oohâ¬¦the puddings. My god, they all sounded so simple, so satisfying, so good. But alas, as one of Catherine Tateâ¬"s characters might say, â¬Swe was well fullâ¬ by then. So we decided to split one and rolled the dessert dice. Thank God we came up trumps.

We simply loved this dessert. It was a perfect jelly â¬ firm yet with a bit of wobble â¬ whose creators had achieved the miracle of blissful balance between the sweet and tart. But jelly on its own is not a proper pudding. Luckily, the good folks at St John agreed, and provided some cooked plums on the side, as well as a dollop of thick cream and two of the best rectangles of homemade shortbread Iâ¬"ve had. Just like the marrow, salad and toast â¬ it just all worked together. We wanted another one, but in the end, we were good little adult canteen goers. 9/10.

Meal 2: Conversion?
With an overwhelmingly positive first meal at St John, we were back the next Sunday, same bat time, same bat channel. But could Fergusâ¬" kitchen charm us twice?

Starter 1: Squid & Tomato
I had also heard good things about their calamari, and as they were on the menu that Sunday, I went for it. I was a bit underwhelmed. They were a little firmer than I thought they should be, but had good, sweet flavor and were well seasoned (like everything else at St John). The peppery rocket and sweet tomato provided good contrasts in both taste and texture, and I ate it quite happily though it was nothing compared to those towers of shins the week before. 6/10.

Starter 2: Pea & Ham Soup
Given Mrs. LFâ¬"s previously mentioned predisposition for a simple potage as the opening to the show, she again opted for the pea soup, although on this day there was some ham too. It was again an extremely satisfying soup which did everything it could possibly have. 9/10 once again.

Main Course 1: Whole Grouse with Bread Sauce & Grouse PÃ¢tÃ© on Toast
Being bang in the middle of grouse season, I thought I would have my first grouse of the year, and for that matter, my first grouse ever so far as I can remember. I knew that this bird has a very pronounced flavor, and I hoped I would like it. I was delighted to see that when I cut into the meat, it had been skilfully cooked â¬ perfectly reddish-pink in the middle. It did indeed have a strong flavor, which is quite hard to describe if youâ¬"ve never had it. Gamey and rich, I did enjoy it but didnâ¬"t fall in love. It does have a wonderful texture to it, though. I liked it best when eaten with some bread sauce (I needed that sweetness), and while Iâ¬"m sure youâ¬"d be hard pressed to find a better grouse that was better cooked in the UK, I just donâ¬"t think this bird is my bag. Saying that, the accompanying little slice of crispy toast with grouse pÃ¢tÃ© was divine, and they were right to only include one as it was insanely rich. I will give it a 7/10 because I think it was a well-executed dish but one whose main component wasnâ¬"t really to my taste.

Main Course 2: Braised Hare & Mash
Of her main course, Mrs. LF said: â¬SI chose this dish because I love rabbit, and since I never had hare before I thought that it would have similar taste to rabbit but in a more gamey way, which I imagined Iâ¬"d like. And like it I did. It had that raw, rural feel to it that reminded me of French boeuf mode (although not with beef!). The hare was perfectly braised, with the meat threading off the bone, and the rich sauce with its bits of carrots and onion was rustic and just right. 9/10.â¬

After being mildly disappointed so far, more with my menu selections than with the cooking itself, I was looking forward to those glorious puddings even more.

Dessert 1: Poached Plums & Spiced Ice Cream
After much heated debate, I had finally opted for the poached plums. After the success of last weekâ¬"s dessert, I was again a little let down with this course. Not that it was bad, far from it. It just didnâ¬"t deliver that punch I had been expecting. The plums were well poached and had a nice sweet and sour flavor about them. The ice cream was pleasant if a bit forgettable, and the toast was a good vessel for soaking up the juice of the plums. But the real reason for my mild state of depression was that Mrs. LF was going on about how great her dessert was. So, being me, I started to pillage and plunder, which didnâ¬"t go down too well. I would give the plums 7/10.

Dessert 2: Baked Egg Custard & Blueberries
Yes, now this was the business. This is what I had been dreaming about, another proper pudding that could hold its weight against last weekâ¬"s finale. The custard was thick, sweet and extremely more-ish. This was especially the case when you ate it in tandem with a little bit of the sweet blueberry compote. And those shortbreads were back again, there for dipping, dunking, defiling. As the little dog from the Churchill ad says, â¬SOh, yesâ¬. So we had our happy ending, the meal had been pulled back from the brink of slight disappointment. 9/10.

Parting Thoughts & Shots

Despite the fact that I didnâ¬"t particularly like some of what I ordered on our second visit, St John now holds a special place in both my, and my fair ladyâ¬"s, heart. We love the simply prepared and delicious food and the placeâ¬"s complete and utter lack of pretence. As I mentioned before, you get the best of what these often modest ingredients have to offer at St John. And if you like one of the meats or fish in particular, they are almost guaranteed to make a great dish out of it for you. I think their puddings deserve a special mention, because they are just so satisfying â¬ no tricks, gimmicks or unnecessary components, just plain good combinations.

One thing we did discuss at the end of our second meal was the fact that while most people think of St John as a thoroughly British affair, weâ¬"re not quite so sure. Of course, Henderson is a British chef, and some of the ingredients (i.e. the grouse I had) are native to the British Isles. But Mrs. LF reckons that the majority of the cooking techniques in the kitchen are, at their heart, those of good French home cooking. To wit, the flawless vinaigrette on my parsley salad, the hearty potages and the sauces. And she was also quick to point out that Britain is not the only country that utilizes a wide range of cheaper cuts of meat in its menus, as French country and bistro cooking does as well. Sure, the puddings are mostly British, but I think the woman makes a good point.

Another thing one might consider is the fact that some people reckon that St John is the 14th best restaurant in the world. While I would say it is probably a unique restaurant in my experience with London dining establishments â¬ and maybe the wider UK â¬ I think that, if true, this is a very sad fact.

Again, Mrs. LF piped up with some insightful thoughts, saying: â¬SYes, it is unique, but it shouldnâ¬"t be. There should be loads of places like St John all over the country. Itâ¬"s not rocket science after all. Not everyone wants poncy fine dining, but people should have ready access to this kind of food â¬ theyâ¬"re not cooking foie gras, caviar and truffles, are they? Every single town in England should have a place like St John â¬ I mean, why donâ¬"t British pubs, those ancient symbols of tradition, serve food like this? St John represents the things that are disappearing from our lives (not just in Britain, but in France too), where once upon a time you could eat like this every day, even at your family table. I mean, this is the kind of food youâ¬"d go to get at your best Auntieâ¬"s or Grandmaâ¬"s house.â¬

And this is unfortunately what makes St John unique; it is exactly that kind of amazing home cooked food that we should all be having much more of, both at home and when we decide to eat out.

But whatever the case, what is clear is that St John is surely worth a visit. For my money, I canâ¬"t imagine a better place to enjoy a leisurely Sunday lunch in the din of winter.

And one last thing. If you do believe it is the 14th best restaurant in the world, it is certainly pretty easy to get a table here compared to some of the others on that list. So go already.

Rating

Ambience: 8/10

Fabrizio - Frabizio knows his stuff by Dot01

Dot01 — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:06:03 +0000

Review by Dot01

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7430 1503

Website: http://fabriziorestaurant.co.uk

Tags: italian, good value, family & home feel

I went here for lunch and it was lovely. The maitre d was passionate about what he offered (he could talk about any dish or wine on the menu extensively) without being overwhelming. It was relaxed but busy for lunch. I agree that I wouldn't like to have been sat downstairs though. I like the decor but then I do go for rustic charm!

I had the spicy scallop and lentil salad which was not as I would describe a salad as there were a lot of lentils and a few salad leaves. But it was absolutely delicious and something I would cook for myself for dinner if only I knew how!I went here for lunch and it was lovely. The maitre d was passionate about what he offered (he could talk about any dish or wine on the menu extensively) without being overwhelming. It was relaxed but busy for lunch. I agree that I wouldn't like to have been sat downstairs though. I like the decor but then I do go for rustic charm!

I had the spicy scallop and lentil salad which was not as I would describe a salad as there were a lot of lentils and a few salad leaves. But it was absolutely delicious and something I would cook for myself for dinner if only I knew how!

Fish Central - No brainer - come here for perfect battered fish by ilovelucy

ilovelucy — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:24:12 +0000

Review by ilovelucy

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7253 4970

Website: http://www.fishcentral.co.uk/

Tags: lively, seafood, good value

My parents were coming to visit me at work one Friday afternoon and I asked them what they fancied to eat for lunch. "Its a Friday so Fish and Chips of course!" Dad replied. I set about searching for reputable fish and chips in the vicinty and luckily came across Fish Central which was not too far from my office and had really excellent reviews. We were not disappointed. The restaurant looked great. I was expecting a greasy spoon cafe, with bolted down chairs along sticky tables. It was not at all like that. Although there was the familiar lingering smell of a chippy the restaurant had an air of minimalist class - white walls, white chairs - interesting artwork though it carried no airs and graces. The menu was extensive with fried fish dominating it and specials adorned the blackboard. There was a lunch specials menu for Â£10 - 3 courses i think however my dad opted for the cod and chips, and mushy peas. I went for the special - hake and chips and mum chose the other special of grilled turbot with roasted winter vegetables with a creamy tarragon sauce. It was pricier that your average eat-in fish and chips shop - with our dishes ranging from Â£9 to about Â£13 (mum's) but apparently their fish is sustainable and the quality was probably was the best we had tasted in a long time. The fish was really fresh and kept its shape well. The batter was perfect, very light, not too thick. The portions were huge - my hake was about a foot long! Unfortunately the chips weren't so memorable as the fish was the real star of the plate. Mum enjoyed her turbot too. What I also liked about the place was that it wasn't poncy, I had to look at the menu again when I saw tea priced at 65p! If you're looking for a great fish restaurant with good prices and really fresh fish I'd really reccomend you travelling out of your way to Fish Central.My parents were coming to visit me at work one Friday afternoon and I asked them what they fancied to eat for lunch. "Its a Friday so Fish and Chips of course!" Dad replied. I set about searching for reputable fish and chips in the vicinty and luckily came across Fish Central which was not too far from my office and had really excellent reviews. We were not disappointed. The restaurant looked great. I was expecting a greasy spoon cafe, with bolted down chairs along sticky tables. It was not at all like that. Although there was the familiar lingering smell of a chippy the restaurant had an air of minimalist class - white walls, white chairs - interesting artwork though it carried no airs and graces. The menu was extensive with fried fish dominating it and specials adorned the blackboard. There was a lunch specials menu for Â£10 - 3 courses i think however my dad opted for the cod and chips, and mushy peas. I went for the special - hake and chips and mum chose the other special of grilled turbot with roasted winter vegetables with a creamy tarragon sauce. It was pricier that your average eat-in fish and chips shop - with our dishes ranging from Â£9 to about Â£13 (mum's) but apparently their fish is sustainable and the quality was probably was the best we had tasted in a long time. The fish was really fresh and kept its shape well. The batter was perfect, very light, not too thick. The portions were huge - my hake was about a foot long! Unfortunately the chips weren't so memorable as the fish was the real star of the plate. Mum enjoyed her turbot too. What I also liked about the place was that it wasn't poncy, I had to look at the menu again when I saw tea priced at 65p! If you're looking for a great fish restaurant with good prices and really fresh fish I'd really reccomend you travelling out of your way to Fish Central.

Club Mangia, The Punch Tavern - Great friendly pub! by KellyMcAuley12

KellyMcAuley12 — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:56:27 +0000

Review by KellyMcAuley12

Rating: 4.00

Tags: breakfast, good value, cheap eat

Lovely British Food!Lovely British Food!

The Modern Pantry - Perfect Brunching... by kymhamer

kymhamer — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:54:31 +0000

Review by kymhamer

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7250 0833

Tags: lively, good value, expensive

3 of us discovered this gem on the morning after a rather 'food and drink' fuelled hens night. Perfect, perfect coffee, gorgeous cooked breakfast and the most amazing blueberry pancakes with creme fraiche...quite busy and we only had the table for an hour but staff looked after us but never made us feel rushed...highly recommend...3 of us discovered this gem on the morning after a rather 'food and drink' fuelled hens night. Perfect, perfect coffee, gorgeous cooked breakfast and the most amazing blueberry pancakes with creme fraiche...quite busy and we only had the table for an hour but staff looked after us but never made us feel rushed...highly recommend...

The Well - the well by LittleIsla

LittleIsla — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:45:59 +0000

Review by LittleIsla

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7251 9363

Website: http://www.downthewell.com

Tags: french, smoking, special occasion

I really enjoy a post work drink here. It has a nice atmosphere, lots of lovely old wooden chairs and tables, and a great drink selection. They have some really nice beers, wines, and cocktails, or tasty juices if you are being good. The other end of St Johns Street, is all a bit much for me after work..I really enjoy a post work drink here. It has a nice atmosphere, lots of lovely old wooden chairs and tables, and a great drink selection. They have some really nice beers, wines, and cocktails, or tasty juices if you are being good. The other end of St Johns Street, is all a bit much for me after work..

The Commissary - worth the walk.. by HelenR

HelenR — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 19:28:15 +0000

Review by HelenR

Rating: 4.00

Tags: good value, british

This is a nice little hidden away place near Old Street, but just far enough away that it's not stupidly busy like most places in the area. It's along the canal too, which is an added bonus. :)This is a nice little hidden away place near Old Street, but just far enough away that it's not stupidly busy like most places in the area. It's along the canal too, which is an added bonus. :)

Pho - herb heaven! by charlottalot

charlottalot — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:24:57 +0000

Review by charlottalot

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7253 7624

Website: http://www.phocafe.co.uk

Tags: vietnamese, cheap eat, lively

I have a confession to make.. I have an addiction.. The bun chicken with spicy sauce at this little cafe. It is delicious! It's a great mix of noodles, salad, a sprinkling of peanuts, and lots and lots of lovely fresh herbs. It's great.. You gotta try it..I have a confession to make.. I have an addiction.. The bun chicken with spicy sauce at this little cafe. It is delicious! It's a great mix of noodles, salad, a sprinkling of peanuts, and lots and lots of lovely fresh herbs. It's great.. You gotta try it..

Ginnan - Disappointing Monday night buffet by samantha_tan

samantha_tan — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 01:06:43 +0000

Review by samantha_tan

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 020 7278 0008

Tags: japanese, good value, family & home feel

For the full review including course-by-course pictures please see my blog at:

http://bakecookeat.blogspot.com/2009/06/ginnan-japanese-restaurant-monday-night.html

As a huge lover of sushi, I am always on the hunt for all-you-can-eat offers which allow me to eat truckloads at a time. Unfortunately in London these are few and far between- the Hi Sushi chain fills a hole, although mainly with salmon and not much else-unlike Malaysia where lavish Japanese buffets are all the rage. As such, I was uber excited to discover upon some Google research that there was apparently a place called Ginnan in Angel with an all-you-can-eat deal on Mondays between 7pm-8.30pm for Â£15.50, consisting of various maki, nigiri, katsu, noodles and rice.

Now as far as I'm concerned, all-you-can-eat automatically implies a buffet-style service where all the food is spread out for you to help yourself. Not so with Ginnan; what they actually mean is that they will serve you the food omakase style, course-by-course in a set order. For us who went there primarily for sushi, this meant over an hour of sitting impatiently, getting increasingly annoyed, as they brought us plate after plate of food we didn't want before the sushi finally made an appearance. It was obviously structured to save the restaurant money: fill the customer up with lots of cheaper carbohydrates so that they're no longer hungry by the time the more expensive stuff comes!

To be fair, I believe if Ginnan had described this offer more accurately as a course-by-course sampling of Japanese cuisine rather than a buffet we would have enjoyed it more. The hot food, despite us not really wanting it, was tasty all round and the sushi fresh and delicious when it eventually arrived (although again, somewhat limited in variety). And whilst one waitress was moody and seemed indifferent to our presence, we were pacified slightly in the end when another nicer one obliged with several more plates of nigiri and maki upon demand, even beyond 8.30pm.

Whether or not Ginnan's buffet is good value depends entirely on what you are looking for. If all you desire is a hot dinner that's filling and tasty, then Ginnan could be your thing. If however, like me sushi is your priority, then my advice would be to steer clear and go elsewhere for your fix.
For the full review including course-by-course pictures please see my blog at:

http://bakecookeat.blogspot.com/2009/06/ginnan-japanese-restaurant-monday-night.html

As a huge lover of sushi, I am always on the hunt for all-you-can-eat offers which allow me to eat truckloads at a time. Unfortunately in London these are few and far between- the Hi Sushi chain fills a hole, although mainly with salmon and not much else-unlike Malaysia where lavish Japanese buffets are all the rage. As such, I was uber excited to discover upon some Google research that there was apparently a place called Ginnan in Angel with an all-you-can-eat deal on Mondays between 7pm-8.30pm for Â£15.50, consisting of various maki, nigiri, katsu, noodles and rice.

Now as far as I'm concerned, all-you-can-eat automatically implies a buffet-style service where all the food is spread out for you to help yourself. Not so with Ginnan; what they actually mean is that they will serve you the food omakase style, course-by-course in a set order. For us who went there primarily for sushi, this meant over an hour of sitting impatiently, getting increasingly annoyed, as they brought us plate after plate of food we didn't want before the sushi finally made an appearance. It was obviously structured to save the restaurant money: fill the customer up with lots of cheaper carbohydrates so that they're no longer hungry by the time the more expensive stuff comes!

To be fair, I believe if Ginnan had described this offer more accurately as a course-by-course sampling of Japanese cuisine rather than a buffet we would have enjoyed it more. The hot food, despite us not really wanting it, was tasty all round and the sushi fresh and delicious when it eventually arrived (although again, somewhat limited in variety). And whilst one waitress was moody and seemed indifferent to our presence, we were pacified slightly in the end when another nicer one obliged with several more plates of nigiri and maki upon demand, even beyond 8.30pm.

Whether or not Ginnan's buffet is good value depends entirely on what you are looking for. If all you desire is a hot dinner that's filling and tasty, then Ginnan could be your thing. If however, like me sushi is your priority, then my advice would be to steer clear and go elsewhere for your fix.

The Clerkenwell Dining Room & Bar - Top drawer by AlexWoods

AlexWoods — Fri, 29 May 2009 16:36:25 +0000

Review by AlexWoods

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7253 9000

Website: www.theclerkenwell.com

Tags: french, business, international

Now then. The Clerkenwell is probably at the top end, price wise, of eateries in the area and I have to admit that were it not for taking advantage of the 50% off TT deal, I probably wouldn't have suggested lunching there with my colleagues. Having done so, I would not hesitate to go again, discount or no discount.

The restaurant itself is lovely. Deceptively large, very well appointed, modern, fresh and comfortable. The music was a little loud, to the point of being intrusive, which was a great shame, but otherwise very nice indeed.

The menu I like. Varied, balanced and interesting, I was torn between several delicious sounding dishes. I settled for chicken liver parfait, carrot and garlic chutney to start. The parfait was delicious â¬ creamy, rich and silky smooth! The chutney was a real high light though. Iâ¬"m a bit of a sucker for a good chutney anyway, but Hubba hubba! Sweet, sour, savoury, crunchy and crowned with a bushel of oh-so-very microgreens â¬ tres chic donâ¬"cha know?! Colleagues enjoyed seared scallops, aubergine pakora and curry spices, which just looked and smelled (and, I was assured, tasted) heavenly, and field mushrooms, crisp polenta cake, balsamic and pomegranate glaze, which looked very handsome indeed.

Choosing an entrÃ©e was a challenge but eventually I was won over by the hake (or rather by the squid, mussel, red pepper and pesto potage it came with) and man was that a good idea! A perfectly sized and cooked piece of fish was topped with a generous smear of tart pesto and swam in the most delicious, sweet seafood potage. The microgreens made another appearance in quantity, and a welcome element it was too!

We didnâ¬"t have dessert, but they looked delicious, and we were treated to some delicious dark, bitter truffles with the bill.

I was impressed by the wine list. Pretty Old World, but very varied, and at least a dozen reds and whites available by the carafe, which I applaud! More carafes, Restaurants of London! More!

The service we thought could have been a little sharper. We lunched, not necessarily by choice, at a leisurely pace which was made all the more frustrating by the rather dopey young man who kept wandering past tables with out really paying much attention to what was actually going on. He was however, like his colleagues, charming and I do think being a nice waiter can disguise, up to a point, some short comings in efficiency.
Now then. The Clerkenwell is probably at the top end, price wise, of eateries in the area and I have to admit that were it not for taking advantage of the 50% off TT deal, I probably wouldn't have suggested lunching there with my colleagues. Having done so, I would not hesitate to go again, discount or no discount.

The restaurant itself is lovely. Deceptively large, very well appointed, modern, fresh and comfortable. The music was a little loud, to the point of being intrusive, which was a great shame, but otherwise very nice indeed.

The menu I like. Varied, balanced and interesting, I was torn between several delicious sounding dishes. I settled for chicken liver parfait, carrot and garlic chutney to start. The parfait was delicious â¬ creamy, rich and silky smooth! The chutney was a real high light though. Iâ¬"m a bit of a sucker for a good chutney anyway, but Hubba hubba! Sweet, sour, savoury, crunchy and crowned with a bushel of oh-so-very microgreens â¬ tres chic donâ¬"cha know?! Colleagues enjoyed seared scallops, aubergine pakora and curry spices, which just looked and smelled (and, I was assured, tasted) heavenly, and field mushrooms, crisp polenta cake, balsamic and pomegranate glaze, which looked very handsome indeed.

Choosing an entrÃ©e was a challenge but eventually I was won over by the hake (or rather by the squid, mussel, red pepper and pesto potage it came with) and man was that a good idea! A perfectly sized and cooked piece of fish was topped with a generous smear of tart pesto and swam in the most delicious, sweet seafood potage. The microgreens made another appearance in quantity, and a welcome element it was too!

We didnâ¬"t have dessert, but they looked delicious, and we were treated to some delicious dark, bitter truffles with the bill.

I was impressed by the wine list. Pretty Old World, but very varied, and at least a dozen reds and whites available by the carafe, which I applaud! More carafes, Restaurants of London! More!

The service we thought could have been a little sharper. We lunched, not necessarily by choice, at a leisurely pace which was made all the more frustrating by the rather dopey young man who kept wandering past tables with out really paying much attention to what was actually going on. He was however, like his colleagues, charming and I do think being a nice waiter can disguise, up to a point, some short comings in efficiency.

St Germain - Good food, drink and ambience by ilovelucy

ilovelucy — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:53:30 +0000

Review by ilovelucy

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7336 0949

Website: http://www.stgermain.info

Tags: french, lively, good service

St Germain is a nice place - run by nice people. Cocktails are 2-4-1 from 5pm to 7pm, Monday to Friday and you can usually get a table for drinks. I went for dinner using the Tastelondon card the other night and it was very pleasant. I really enjoyed my black pudding, quail's egg salad and my sirloin steak was huge and flavoursome. This is the type of place you can meet a group of friends for dinner and like the French - you can stay there the whole evening...St Germain is a nice place - run by nice people. Cocktails are 2-4-1 from 5pm to 7pm, Monday to Friday and you can usually get a table for drinks. I went for dinner using the Tastelondon card the other night and it was very pleasant. I really enjoyed my black pudding, quail's egg salad and my sirloin steak was huge and flavoursome. This is the type of place you can meet a group of friends for dinner and like the French - you can stay there the whole evening...

Volupte - Way too much hype by Fiona_HH

Fiona_HH — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 17:18:17 +0000

Review by Fiona_HH

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7831 1622

Website: http://www.volupte-lounge.com

Tags: live music, cocktails, bar

I have to wonder if the good reviews on here are for the same place. Mediocre food, so-so show, miserable service.I have to wonder if the good reviews on here are for the same place. Mediocre food, so-so show, miserable service.

Gaucho Smithfield - Fabulous steaks by SallyYSP

SallyYSP — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 16:47:07 +0000

Review by SallyYSP

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7490 1676

Website: http://www.gauchorestaurants.co.uk/restaurants/restaurant.php?id=smithfield

Tags: steak, argentinian, argentinian steaks with great service

Great food here and excellent service. You are presented with the meat options at your table before cooking.

Lovely for a long lunch meeting.

(Go for the chorizo stake with garlic dressing)Great food here and excellent service. You are presented with the meat options at your table before cooking.

Lovely for a long lunch meeting.

(Go for the chorizo stake with garlic dressing)

Kurz & Lang - by Sami

Sami — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:42:48 +0000

Review by Sami

Rating: 4.00

Website: http://www.kurzandlang.co.uk/

Tags: cool, lively, lunch

Excellent sausages and sauerkraut. Well priced, friendly service, and a couple of tables outside. Not much to say as it was a quick lunch meal, but I would definitely return again.Excellent sausages and sauerkraut. Well priced, friendly service, and a couple of tables outside. Not much to say as it was a quick lunch meal, but I would definitely return again.

No. 1 City Road - by CrazyLittleMe

CrazyLittleMe — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 16:42:37 +0000

Review by CrazyLittleMe

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7065 7177

Tags: good value, business, east european

Have to agree ladies!! I was taken for a first date to No1 City Road and I have to tell you, that night I fell in love! Unfortunately my affection took to the restaurant and not the guy!! I completely love the atmosphere and couldn't have asked for better service..I will be continuing my love affair with No.1 City Road for the forseeable future!! xxxHave to agree ladies!! I was taken for a first date to No1 City Road and I have to tell you, that night I fell in love! Unfortunately my affection took to the restaurant and not the guy!! I completely love the atmosphere and couldn't have asked for better service..I will be continuing my love affair with No.1 City Road for the forseeable future!! xxx

The Breakfast Club - A very enjoyable breakfast by willcritchlow

willcritchlow — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 11:02:47 +0000

Review by willcritchlow

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7226 5454

Website: http://www.thebreakfastclubsoho.com/

Tags: american, breakfast, family & home feel

Very friendly with excellent breakfast.

I went with a good friend who was over from the states. Both the eggs royale and the full English breakfast rocked.

They only lost marks for being a little slow getting us drinks (coffee and tea arriving after we'd waited for the breakfasts) and giving confusing advice when we were trying to choose between two items on the menu.Very friendly with excellent breakfast.

I went with a good friend who was over from the states. Both the eggs royale and the full English breakfast rocked.

They only lost marks for being a little slow getting us drinks (coffee and tea arriving after we'd waited for the breakfasts) and giving confusing advice when we were trying to choose between two items on the menu.

Dollar Grills & Martinis - Dollar delight by Debbie23

Debbie23 — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 15:47:23 +0000

Review by Debbie23

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7278 0077

Tags: american, lively, expensive

Dollar dinning is a favorite pastime of mine. I always have a great time the staff are friendly and helpful.
The place has got so much appeal the main attraction for me has to be the steaks, arguably the best in London at a steal of a price. I love my steak with a terrific bottle of red, they always look after their wine list and I never get bored of the ever changing eclectic choice. Theyâ¬"ve got a gambling theme going but it a win, win situation ever time.
Dollar dinning is a favorite pastime of mine. I always have a great time the staff are friendly and helpful.
The place has got so much appeal the main attraction for me has to be the steaks, arguably the best in London at a steal of a price. I love my steak with a terrific bottle of red, they always look after their wine list and I never get bored of the ever changing eclectic choice. Theyâ¬"ve got a gambling theme going but it a win, win situation ever time.

Smiths of Smithfield - Great by ONscotland

ONscotland — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 18:38:03 +0000

Review by ONscotland

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7251 7950

Website: http://www.smithsofsmithfield.co.uk

Tags: british, lively, crowded

I visited Smiths of Smithfield, having read a fairly mixed bag of reviews.

You can't reserve a table for breakfast, so you just turn up and hope that a table is available, and although today I was in luck, there does seem to be quite a fast turnover of tables given that it's just breakfast.

The staff were very good, and I really enjoyed the food.
If you like people watching this is also an entertaining venue, and there were all kinds of people here - all ages and all seemed to be having a good time.

There is a lot of communal tables, and lots of breakfast favourites like HP Sauce and Heinz Ketchup. Tea and coffee is served in white mugs with the spoon in.

I had the full English (Breakfast 3) but I don't eat black pudding but they offered immediately to substitute another meat in it's place. Without having to be asked. They also passed my egg test: I cannot abide eggs that are runny in any way, but love eggs all the same. And restaurants seem to have a hard time understanding that I need them cooked hard! But Smiths of Smithfield was the first place that has actually cooked the egg just the way I like it. This kind of thing is important to me.

I thought I got great value for money - yes, it's pricey, but not London hotel pricey, the service was fast and I would definitely go back.I visited Smiths of Smithfield, having read a fairly mixed bag of reviews.

You can't reserve a table for breakfast, so you just turn up and hope that a table is available, and although today I was in luck, there does seem to be quite a fast turnover of tables given that it's just breakfast.

The staff were very good, and I really enjoyed the food.
If you like people watching this is also an entertaining venue, and there were all kinds of people here - all ages and all seemed to be having a good time.

There is a lot of communal tables, and lots of breakfast favourites like HP Sauce and Heinz Ketchup. Tea and coffee is served in white mugs with the spoon in.

I had the full English (Breakfast 3) but I don't eat black pudding but they offered immediately to substitute another meat in it's place. Without having to be asked. They also passed my egg test: I cannot abide eggs that are runny in any way, but love eggs all the same. And restaurants seem to have a hard time understanding that I need them cooked hard! But Smiths of Smithfield was the first place that has actually cooked the egg just the way I like it. This kind of thing is important to me.

I thought I got great value for money - yes, it's pricey, but not London hotel pricey, the service was fast and I would definitely go back.

Malmaison Bar & Brasserie - A brasserie too posh, sorry by Cedric

Cedric — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:38:47 +0000

Review by Cedric

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7012 3700

Website: http://www.malmaison-london.com/

Tags: french, expensive, brasserie

This brasserie under the lobby of design hotel Malmaison induced high expectations. A dark bar, design furniture, French-inspired menu, some cosy couches here and there... And yet, neither the food nor the service is on par with the high-standards of the bespoke environment.

I know you are not supposed to rate a book by its cover, but in that instance the cover is over-promising. I am not saying that the food was not good, nor that the service was poor. Both were totally acceptable and would rate probably higher in most restaurants. I was just slightly disappointed in light of my previous experiences with Malmaison/Hotel du Vin venues (Liverpool, Brighton).

Personnaly I would not cross London to get there, but would certainly book a table if I am around Farringdon and were looking for a table for a business dinner. It is impressive, looks great, tastes OK.This brasserie under the lobby of design hotel Malmaison induced high expectations. A dark bar, design furniture, French-inspired menu, some cosy couches here and there... And yet, neither the food nor the service is on par with the high-standards of the bespoke environment.

I know you are not supposed to rate a book by its cover, but in that instance the cover is over-promising. I am not saying that the food was not good, nor that the service was poor. Both were totally acceptable and would rate probably higher in most restaurants. I was just slightly disappointed in light of my previous experiences with Malmaison/Hotel du Vin venues (Liverpool, Brighton).

Personnaly I would not cross London to get there, but would certainly book a table if I am around Farringdon and were looking for a table for a business dinner. It is impressive, looks great, tastes OK.

Chilango - Speedy service, good fresh food - spot on... by oogywawa

oogywawa — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 16:25:51 +0000

Review by oogywawa

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7353 6761

Website: www.chilango.co.uk

Tags: mexican, good value, lively

When a company fulfills a mission statement then that's good for me. Fresh, fast food is what they boast and when I popped into their Fleet Street eatery for a takeaway Chicken Burrito that is exactly what I got.

A soft supple warm tortilla was swiftly dispatched through seemingly more sets of hands than "that" Barbarians try against the All Blacks. Each added an ingredient - be it "Hot Chicken", "Black Beans", "Sour Cream", "Cheese", "Rice", "Salsa"...try in the corner by Gareth Edwards - er no - where was I...!

This Burrito was the size of a loose head prop and what better manner to devour it than watching a lunchtime concert in the tranquil surroundings St Dunstan's Church just 100 yds away. Bliss.When a company fulfills a mission statement then that's good for me. Fresh, fast food is what they boast and when I popped into their Fleet Street eatery for a takeaway Chicken Burrito that is exactly what I got.

A soft supple warm tortilla was swiftly dispatched through seemingly more sets of hands than "that" Barbarians try against the All Blacks. Each added an ingredient - be it "Hot Chicken", "Black Beans", "Sour Cream", "Cheese", "Rice", "Salsa"...try in the corner by Gareth Edwards - er no - where was I...!

This Burrito was the size of a loose head prop and what better manner to devour it than watching a lunchtime concert in the tranquil surroundings St Dunstan's Church just 100 yds away. Bliss.

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