Hix Oyster & Chop House

Most recent visit July 2011, and our (circa) 20th since the place opened. We love the professional but very friendly and usually charming service. When combined with the décor and furnishing, it gives the place a very relaxing and informal atmosphere, where you can be equally comfortable in jeans or a suit.

The focus is on very high quality British ingredients; so no olives – but some great “local” alternatives ! Their meat is always extremely good quality & very tasty. On past occasions, we've eaten superb quality porterhouse steak, tasty grouse and crispy succulent pig. They are also adventurous enough to have a go at something different – we had some very gamey squirrel on one visit. Most recently, we had very simple but incredibly fresh and tasty watercress soup, followed by beautifully lean and tasty rack of venison. Accompanying vegetable side orders are always incredibly fresh and tasty. High quality simple and unfussy dishes – but very tasty. The ingredients are the very best, with cooking and preparation designed to bring out the flavour of the food, not to smother it. A pleasant change to go to a restaurant that is not working to the maxim that using more ingredients must be better.

Sunday lunch is also very worthwhile, and especially suited to a bigger group of friends / family. Normally have a very good roast of the day. A great way to spend a sunday afternoon.

Seems to work out at £90 for 2 for 2 courses, inc service ex all drinks – but we do tend to choose the more expensive dishes (eg fab Porterhouse steak @ £65 for 2). Total bills including £40-£60 on wine average £180 for 2. Its not cheap, but quality costs (as anyone buying food at Borough Market knows), so I consider it very good value.

One of our current favourite London restaurants. Strongly recommended. Difficult to criticise if you're looking for simple but great tasting food and friendly service in a characterful and relaxing environment. The cooking, decor and service are perfectly suited to the Smithfield location.

My wife and had a very poor meal at the Smithfield restaurant in October. The service was incredibly sloppy: we had to wait a while to be seated; my wife ordered lobster and was told some time after that it was off the menu; the waiter forgot our wine and we had to re-order onion rings after our meal had arrived as he had forgot them too.
The food was really average – a lamb chop that was just a lump of meat and skate that was slightly over-cooked. The best thing by a mile was the pork crackling. Unfortunately, the atmosphere also resembled a City pub at chucking-out time.
The maitre-d' acknowledged the problem by taking the onion rings and service charge off the bill. We certainly wouldn't have been giving a tip after that experience anyway.
We were looking forward to coming to Mark Hix's restaurant, but were sadly disappointed.

An excellent restaurant that doesn't take itself too seriously but still serves seriously good food. I been looking forward to going here for some time having seen the owner on a couple of cookery TV shows. I was not disappointed.

The room looks excellent and had a fantastic atmosphere the evening that we went. The menu is very ‘meaty’ but why shouldn't it be – it is after all described as a chop house. The wine list is very reasonable and has a good range. The warm loaf of bread and butter were lovely and we were offered filtered water immediately!

I had a rib eye steak that cooked too perfection with the right amount of chew and flavour. It was huge and therefore despite appearing expensive on the menu not too bad value. The side orders were all excellent and exactly what you would have wanted. The bearnaise sauce was delicious!

It is expensive but I think is just about worth it.

The pudding selection was slightly limited but really again isn't the focus of this restaurant.

The service was attentive and friendly. We had a charming young waitress who was working there to save money to go travelling and was an absolute credit to the restaurant.

This place is ideal for a group of friends or a ‘boys’ night out.

We have just repatriated to the UK from Hungary, so are delighted to be staying in Smithfield, as we have never been here before. We came across Hix Oyster & Chop House by chance walking along the street. My husband being an oyster lover, we thought we would look at the menu. It offered a wide range of choices for oyster and non-oyster lovers. So we decided to try it out.

When we took our seats, to my joy the waitress asked if we would like water; still, sparkling or tap! Tap, how good is that? Stop the snobbery with water I say! We ordered tap.

We know it is not the done thing, at a time when the government is telling us to watch our fat in-take, but while we were choosing our food we had a serving of pork crackling. Wow! It can’t be good for you it tastes so great!

The atmosphere was buzzing, which surprised us for a Sunday evening. It became so busy we were pleased we got in before the rush.

The waiter put an individual tiny loaf straight from the oven on the table with butter, which was both cute and delicious!

My husband had a selection of oysters for a starter, this enabled him to see which was his favourite, so next time he could order just those ones. After the bread and crackling, I felt I could forgo a starter. For main, he had the lamb cutlet with spring greens and I had the Pollock fish fingers and mushy peas with asparagus and green tomato. The lamb was tender and soft, with the spring greens with a bit of crunch, wonderful. The fish was firm with a light coating, and the ‘mushy’ baby gardens peas were wonderful.

We accompanied our meal with an Argentinean red. Smooth, full-bodied, heavenly, perfect!

We will be back to Hix Oyster & Chop House; we have found a little treasure. I am debating whether I should tell you all now; we might not get a seat so easily in the future!!!

Honest food, cooked well with the focus on the quality of the ingredients…service was unpredictable but friendly. I liked the simple interior and silver hotelware for veg dishes…makes a change to over-designed ‘silliness’ (aka…Bob Bob Ricard – what is that about? see my review on this place). Talking of ‘silliness’, prices at Hix are over the top…I know ingredients are ‘top notch’ but this is too much. Half your prices and this place would be the perfect local. But what do I know, Hix is ‘hot’ and the ‘great and the good’ pack the place out.

I don’t see what the fuss is about this place. Decor is plan and like a cross between an All Bar One and St John. Food is also reminiscent of St John and very hearty with duck hearts and other gory treats if you like that sort of thing. Alternatively it feels just old fashioned and not very exciting.

What arrived on the plates was fine but nothing special. Service particularly infuriated. In order to stop being the invisible man, I had to become a drowning man, waving my hands over my head to get my order taken.

Went to Hix on a Wednesday night for dinner. Hadn't expected it would be so hard to obtain a booking mid week in a recession but still we were made to promise when booking to give the table back after 2 1/2 hours, and also, once booked, found the time impossible to change by half an hour (thanks to a logic defying bookings policy that allows sittings only at half past the hour). Once there, and having spotted Mark Hix at the bar trying to blend in as a punter, we were encouraged. Service was definitely better for having the boss watching, although they still forgot to bring some items out. Food was generous and well sourced. Wine was good too. Atmosphere buzzing and chatty and perfect for a catch up with friends. However – here is the big problem – we felt a little stung afterwards. Dinner came to £170 per couple – for 2 courses with wine and water. A sirloin steak came in one size only – huge – and cost £32 with no accompaniments. When this place opened 6 months ago I believe the sirloin was on the menu at £24. Yes food prices are increasing but all I can say is that the size of the bill did not for us reflect the experience of the evening and we felt it was too much to pay for simple food. Admittedly there were cheaper items on the menu but a massive gap in pricing. Beef and oyster pie was £15 or so, the cheapest steak was a similar price but basically a thinly sliced minute steak. Sirloin, Fillet and Porterhouse came in at £32 – £35 each. With a couple of sides, the main courses came to £40 a head so our wallets were doomed from the start I suppose.

Incorrect starters served which set the tone for the evening. One pleasant female staff member, unfortunately let down by the overall experience. Dessert served late and pressured to finish quickly because staff wanted the table cleared. Also neglected to serve cheese and biscuits until prompted, despite it being written on the bottom of the menu. Manager was rude, negligent and incapable of listening to the above. Presumably exhausted from performing in a Saturday matinee somewhere, such was the level of unnecessary drama, colourful language and theatrics on show. Avoid.

Keeps to Hix's magic formula, simple food done well. The best pork scratchings ever too. Despite observations to the contrary the service was efficient and attentive, although did wane a little as it got busier.