Sweetings

Classic and old school. An institution.

Wonderful staff and fish.

I reminder of how wonderful it was in the last century for the priveliged few.

Sweetings is a immovable stalwart of the City scene and you get the impression that nothing but nothing would ever be allowed to stand in the way of the daily lunch service that has been running for decades. They do not accept bookings but after a short wait at the bar the efficient and unflappable staff manage to find seats in what usually looks like an impossible circumstance, often at communal tables sharing with other customers. Conditions can sometimes be beyond cramped but the freshest fish, served simply cooked and fast is so worth it. Prices are reasonable enough for the City and service is dedicated and from the old school end of the spectrum, presumably to match the decor which has not been updated forever but nevertheless suits the ambiance. School dinner style deserts such as spotted dick and custard round off the meal and coffee is not served to ensure rapid table turnaround. All this amounts to a delicious, speedily achieve d City lunch experience.

A strange restaurant which seems to cater to public schoolboys who want to be reminded of school food. Mass produced sliced bread and butter is the only bread available; no individual tables – just shared benches; cheap and nasty crockery and glassware; no coffee (or tea) is available etc etc. From a very limited menu, the prawn cocktail starter was a real 1970s throw-back with cheap marie rose sauce. The fish pie wasn't at all bad. Veg were plain boiled and boring. Overall not somewhere I would visit again.

Great food – in quirky surroundings. Would definity go again for the superb fish!

BE CAREFUL WHEN ORDERING WINE AS THE ONE IN THE ICE BUCKET ON YOUR SHARED TABLE IS NOT HOUSE WHITE IT IS THE WINE OF THE MONTH.WE WRONGLY ASSUMED WE WERE DRINKING HOUSE WHITE WHEN THEN BILLED WAS PRESENTED WE HAD CONSUMED 2 BOTTLES AT £48.00 PER BOTTLE.ALSO BREAD AND BUTTER CHARGED FOR BUT ON YOUR SIDE PLATE FROM ARRIVAL,1 1/2 PORTIONS OF FRIES AND 2 SMALL DISHES OF SPINACH CHARGED AT £23.50 and £4.10 PER PINT PRE DINNER DRINKS.TOTAL RIP OFF DONT GO THERE SPEND A FEW MORE POUNDS GETTING A CAB TO A BETTER RESTAURANT.I COMPLAINED AND HAD THE SERVICE CHARGE REMOVED TO BRING THE TOTAL CHARGE DOWN A LITTLE .