Harden's survey result
Summary
“Still love the place…” – Trevor Gulliver and Fergus Henderson’s icon of British cuisine coined the concept of ‘nose-to-tail dining’ and hasn’t missed a beat since it opened in 1994, in a “stark-but-chic” ex-smokehouse, near Smithfield Market. Known for its “sometimes challenging menu (not least for its selection of offal dishes)”, it continues to deliver “totally brilliant”, “straightforward” dishes (“the cuts may be humble, but the results are of the highest grade”) from “good old-fashioned recipes” in its distinctive “white-walled, down-to-earth” setting, whose ultra-utilitarian style is livened up by “entertaining” service that’s “very kind and personable”. Top Menu Tip – “puddings are to die for (I don’t have a sweet tooth but this is the only restaurant where I ALWAYS have a pudding)”.
Summary
“Not for the faint hearted… you need to have some courage to eat at St John with its challenging menu and stark industrial aesthetic” (complete with “harsh acoustics”). But the “uncompromising ethos” of “nose-to-tail eating at its very best” is what’s carved the international renown of Trevor Oliver and Fergus Henderson’s ex-smokehouse near Smithfield Market. “No wonder many of the best chefs in the UK are alumni of this amazing kitchen”: fans feel “this is the only place that treats every part of the animal with respect” and it remains an “all-time favourite” for very many diners (“been going for over 25 years, faultless food and personally I love the minimalism of the décor too”). Ratings did slip quite a bit this year, though, with one or two reports that “menus have been more routine of late, with execution below old standards”. Perhaps the general strain of these post-Covid and post-Brexit times?
Summary
“Uncompromising in all respects… and worth a visit” – “the original nose-to-tail restaurant” has become “a pure London institution” for very many of those who take part in our annual diners’ survey: “timeless… fabulous!” The top draw is the “hearty”, offal-filled menu (“dem bones, dem bones are to die for!”) which is “heaven on a plate” for more adventurous palates. But the masochistic appeal of its “stark, white, industrial interior” has also achieved iconic status over the years – the atmosphere it creates being pepped up considerably by the very professional and personable service.
Summary
“The original nose-to-tail flag-bearer, and still a joy!” – Trevor Gulliver and Fergus Henderson’s “stark” ex-smokehouse in Smithfield has won fame with “top quality, distinctive British cuisine” (“using unusual cuts”, most famously offal), and “although they might have started the trend, they still lead from the front with exciting, innovative and surprisingly delicious food”. It’s “honest, skilful cooking that puts the produce front and centre” on “an uncompromising and sometimes challenging menu”; and the “hearty-yet-nuanced” results are a case of “simple things done well”… “perfect”. With its brutally “simple and stylish”, “whitewash-walled” interior (“deafeningly loud” at times) and “relaxed but attentive service”, it remains “a must-go” (“what a place to take visitors to show off London’s restaurant scene”). Top Tip – “Eccles Cake with Lancashire Cheese is outstanding”.
For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at St John Smithfield?
26 St John St, London, EC1M 4AY
Restaurant details
St John Smithfield Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Simply superb! Staff are second to none!"
"Finally a visit to the home of nose-to-tail - and a satisfactory enough one if not stellar. There are some star dishes you can tell the restaurant made its name from, while others are evidence of unevenness in standards of imagination and technical cookery - has complacency crept in? I feel like the improving standard of other starred restaurants may be leaving the grand old dame trailing slightly behind. The wine list, though, is excellent, an army of white-tuniced staff nicely pitches the service, and the matching stark white room still has a Scandi-chic feel - but oh so loud! Maybe the worst acoustics of any restaurant I've visited. "
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £35.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £4.00 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £3.90 |
| Service | 10.00% |
26 St John St, London, EC1M 4AY
| Number of Diners: | |
| Required Time: | |
Opening hours
| Monday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 6 pm‑10:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 6 pm‑10:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 6 pm‑10:30 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 6 pm‑10:30 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 6 pm‑10:30 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 6 pm‑10:30 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑4 pm |
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