Restaurants

  • St John Bread & Wine

     
  • © John Deehan

  • We confess – we’re fans of the St John take on Brit cuisine. We love the food, like the lack of fuss and pretension in both menu and decor, and welcome the casual but well-informed service. Yet we’re also aware the white, bare room won’t suit all tastes, and the pared-down dishes won’t please those who like lots of everything on their plates. This branch is slightly more casual than the original Smithfield restaurant, but the basic style is the same, and there’s plenty of dish-crossover. The distinction between starters and mains is a little blurred: skate and fennel salad was substantial and flavourful; roast quail was succulent; cold mallard, watercress and pickled walnut just-so; and beetroot with curd and sorrel was comfortingly good. Even the green salad is a treat – minty, refreshing, we think it’s just about the best in town. Puddings can be hefty (eccles cake and lancashire cheese) or light and palate-cleansing (apple sorbet and russian vodka went down a treat). Coffee is excellent. Bread, cakes and wine are sold from a counter by the semi-open kitchen. If you like this you’ll also appreciate St John and Rochelle Canteen .

  • Time Out Eating & Drinking Guide 2009

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  1. Posted by Tdickson on 23 Apr 2009 17:20

    Love this place. Always have a great menu, seasonal and so fresh! Food is cooked to perfection...service is fantastic, the waiters are so helpful and will always guide you! I travel quite some distance to eat here, and would kill for something like it in my neighbourhood. Just thought to mention, about comment below...correct me if I am wrong but is it not St. John does the bone marrow and parsley salad? Not St. John Bread and Wine...

  2. Posted by Jseah on 31 Mar 2009 23:26

    The food was really enjoyable and was good value - but more attention to detail could have been provided. For example providing better tools and lots of napkins for enjoying the bone marrow. For a michelin star restaurant, the service was painfully slow and sloppy. The waitress forgot our order for a second glass of wine (and did not apologise) and my dessert was served when I was away from the table. I would return for the food but the thought of enduring the awful service will make me rethink the need to return at all.

  3. Posted by franky on 04 Feb 2009 12:16

    Been eating there a lot lately. It's so consistent, always has a cracking menu and I have to disagree with comment below...service has been impeccable of late. Some long standing staff now who really know what they're talking about! Should be making a trip in the next couple of days and can't wait...

  4. Posted by mango on 06 Jul 2008 12:17

    always excellent

  5. Posted by beverley clark (registered user) on 16 Feb 2008 16:39

    Recently I had one of the best dinners for a long time at St J B&W. Everything was perfectly prepared, with excellent attention to detail from the kitchen. What a shame the same couldn't be said for the dining room service, absent-mindedly negligent at best, haughty and rude at worst.

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  • Details

  • 94-96 Commercial Street, City, E1 6LZ
  • Area: City
  • Tel: 020 7251 0848
  • Website
  • Category: British
  • Travel: Liverpool Street tube/rail
  • Times: Breakfast served 9-11am Mon-Fri; 10-11am Sat, Sun. Lunch served noon-4pm daily. Dinner served 5-10.30pm Mon-Sat; 5-9pm Sun
  • Price: Main courses £11-£16
  • Credit cards: AmEx, MC, V
  • Services:
    • Child facilities: Babies and children welcome: high chairs
  • Map

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