Smiths of Smithfield

Smiths of Smithfield

Excellent and lovely…

In general always a let down no matter how many times I visit.

It doesn't seem to matter which level I eat on, I never feel like I have had either an enjoyable meal or value for money. The food is okay but nothing more.

Sadly, it is close to where I work and therefore gets used for client lunches as a last resort. There are certainly better restaurants in the area and perhaps that is why getting a table here does not seem to be that hard…

Having been invited to lunch at Smith's i was looking forward to a good hearty steak meal, JT on TV judges other peoples cooking with some degree of criticism but the standard in his establishment is left wanting. the sirloin ordered rare came over cooked, which must have been left on one side only consquently cook through the underside had no sign of being griddled, it was dreadful and a complete waste of good meat,(Devon red) cooking and time eating.

The wine list is left wanting and more middle priced reasonable wines need to be included.

All in all a great disappointment.

Last night we returned to Smith’s of Smithfield for a second wonderful meal. On around the same date last year, our friend Hannah invited us there for her birthday dinner, having had a real trauma trying to find a good restaurant in London who would accept a booking of ten without a deposit and/or set menu. SOS though were happy to oblige us with a lovely large table in their second floor dining room, and so we returned again this year for Hannah’s celebrations.

Adam and I are self-named ‘ethicureans’ and only eat free range meat, and fish that’s line caught and responsibly sourced, so dining out for us is often a disappointment as we forego the amazing looking meat and fish dishes in exchange for a vegetarian meal which fits in with our rules. When we first heard we were going to SOS though we checked out their website to find out a little more about their ingredients and sourcing, and then after a quick phone call we found that all their meat is in fact free range….not just ‘British’ or ‘outdoor bred’. One waiter even said to us ‘I wouldn’t work here if they served any less’.

So, that box ticked, we arrived to the buzzing ground floor bar for arrival drinks before heading upstairs (in the trendily red-quilt-lined lift) to our table situated between the open kitchen and a vast well overlooking the floor below. These, and the other busy tables made for a great atmosphere in what is actually a pretty large restaurant (130 covers), and the attentive and knowledgeable staff certainly helped too.

Last night, having nearly spoiled our dinner on a rather-too-large lunch, Adam and I opted out of starters….although I couldn’t resist a few excellent Rock Oysters with sherry vinaigrette (£2.20 each) whilst everyone had their gorgeous looking Dorset Crab & Cox Apple on Toasted Sourdough (£9) and Cream of Cauliflower with Cheese Puffs (£5). Onto mains though and ‘eating light’ soon went out of the window as we were determined to make the most of our meaty feast. Adam chose the South Devon Rib Steak (Aged 21 Days), with Chips & Mayo (£17.50) which was served beautifully pink and perfectly succulent. For me, it was the Rosé Veal in Egg & Parmesan, with Rocket & Anchovies (£16) and although it wasn’t a pretty plate (I’m not a rocket person, and the veal was completely covered in the egg like a sort of omlettey schnitzel) the veal was tender and tasty….as was my side order of wonderfully silky mash (£2.50).

We were too stuffed for puddings, but opposite me, Greg’s Sticky Toffee Pudding (£7) made me very envious as the smell of the hot toffee was almost enough to make me place a late order. Adam settled for an espresso whilst I finished my wine (slow drinker) which he tells me was very good. And by the time we’d finished chatting the place was nearly empty, but with no less atmosphere for it….. and so we left pleasantly full and rather jolly, vowing not to leave it so long until our next visit.

Yesterday evening with my father. 5 stars; Without doubt the best Chateaubriand Ive ever had. Cooked to perfection at the Top Floor restaurant. Bang on. Frienly staff and relaxed atmosphere, the top floor also offers a impressive view across this historical part of London.

I love the restaurant and it is esp enjoyable in the summer months when the glass dorrs are open and the sun is setting. You are nestled in the rooftops of Clerkenwell, it is very Mary Poppins with all the chimney tops! Add to this setting the great food and wine list and attentive service and you really cannot go wrong.

One slight problem is that the atmosphere can sometimes be a bit flat… but hey when you've steak this good that is a secondary factor!

Poor service,
Worse Food.
Very nice bottle of Cabernet Sauvingon.
Won't be back

Smiths is a cool concept, one that caters for everyone in a kind of culinary version of Dante’s Circles of Hell. I’ve long grown out of the 200 decibel ground-floor bar and diner: I adore the calm and civility of the top floor with its attentive and understated service, and memories of the most perfect (and most expensive) sirloin steak I’ve ever eaten.
Meeting friends from Hong Kong recently I decided to check out the limbo that was neither ground-floor nor top-floor: it styles itself the Dining Room. It’s still pretty noisy (there’s a hole in the centre of the room that lets the sound float upwards), but it’s got a nice, lofty vibe and, as the sun sets, the light (especially now that London Transport have razed the surrounding buildings to the ground) is wonderfully atmospheric.
Our friends were hideously late so a couple of gin martinis kept us going. When we finally ordered, the menu offered something for everyone: a nicely international influence with an emphasis on meat and fish. I had a flavoursome Thai Beef Salad (£7.25) which had a nice kick and some suitably zingy notes. Also consumed were a beautifully smooth chicken liver and foie gras parfait (£6.50) and a nicely textured risotto of summer vegetables.
For a main I had a simply grilled whole bream (£16.50) – nicely cooked with a crisp skin – though the accompanying salad of fennel, endive and radish was a bit drab and non-descript. Elsewhere salt beef seemed to please, and a slow roast piece of belly pork looked terrific. We washed it down with a perky Bordeaux pink that went under the deliciously camp name of Marilyn. The bill came in at £186, fair enough but the experience wasn’t particularly special. Definitely worth considering paying for an upgrade!

On a weekday evening, a beer downstairs in Smiths of Smithfield is a busy affair. Lively pinstripes and romancing couples crowd the entrance and ground floor, drinking from the bar and choosing from the reasonably pricey Ground Floor Menu. In the bottom right-hand corner of the menu is the following text: “John Terodes’s ‘BEEF’ and other bovine matters – pick up your very own signed copy (£15)”. Terode is, of course, famous for presenting Masterchef and coining some silly catchphrases along with his shorter market stall trader counterpart. You know, him, erm… Greg Wallace! Terode is also the head chef of SOS and this imperative – pushing his book to you like a carefully orchestrated political campaign – appears throughout the restaurant, on menus, walls and posters. “Buy me, buy me, buy me…”

The towering building has a New York loft apartment-feel with large arched windows and timber beams. There’s blasted brickwork and honey sunbeams leaking in through each aperture. Logistically, it’s nestled perfectly, a stone throw away from Smithfield Market and a mile or so walking distance for those bankers in their Church brogues. In the neighbourhood of St. John’s and Hix, it’s certainly in good company. But there’s nothing cosy and local about SOS; it’s bustling with an eclectic ramsham of shippers, shoppers, tourists and Masterchef enthusiasts. There are four floors that seem to rise from ground floor to top on a class system, or at least a ‘how heavy is your wallet?’ system, judging from the menus.

Terode is clearly serious about sourcing quality, local ingredients though and this is backed up in the restaurants statement on the website: “Simple food from simple ingredients”. The meat comes from named suppliers, the ageing time is given and you can choose whether your steak is pan-fried or grilled. There is also an epilogue of thanks on the menu to the “Suppliers, Farmers and Growers who work so hard to meet our needs and deliver us the highest quality produce from around Britain.”

On the second floor you’re able to peek into the kitchen as chefs dirty their whites and prepare the grub. Flaming steaks leave the kitchen smelling deep and fatty and I know some who say the best they’ve ever eaten were served in this very room. Maze Grill, Gaucho’s, and the likes, may argue with this, but on the tingly nose sensation I experienced, they could be on to something.

For a starter I ordered the lucky squid, chilli jam and Chinese broccoli (all starters are priced £7.50), which was an absolute delight. The squid was thick cut and dressed with a tangy chilli jam. Other starters range from tomato-and-basil soup with cheese on toast to lobster and sweetbread ravioli, spring onion, coriander broth; or seared tuna Szechwan pepper crust, black bean dressing (for seared read raw, and served with a selection of differing seaweed, great textures complimenting elusive seaside flavours). And then there it was on the menu again: “John Terodes’s ‘BEEF’ and other bovine matters – pick up your very own signed copy (£15)…” Calling out: “Buy me, buy me, buy me…”

Our waiter, a tall, skinny Camden-type (these include the multi-coloured sleeve tattoos, the rolled up sleeves – above the shoulder – part shaved head, part wavy, greasy comb-over, and one of those ear piecings – or ear stretchings – that exaggerated aperture in the ear the size of tea coaster), informed us that the special was pan-fried sea bass. Almost starving, I enquired the size of the fish, to which he replied, “Well, they’re all different sizes. Some are bigger than others. I think they’re big today, about the size of my dick.” Yes. That’s what he said. “Erm….right. Okay. Thanks,” I responded, quickly drawing an eye away from the specials and to the meats. So there I was, scanning the meats with a semi-proposal from my waiter. Right, enough about “meats” and semis”. What did I choose…?

Being the excited consumer of animal that I am, I had the power plate of braised lamb shoulder and sweet potato with green peppercorn sauce (£15.00), and like our other main of crisp belly of pork and mash potato with green sauce (£15.00), it had that now ever familiar restaurant presentation of a typical juicy main with a dollop of creamy mash potato (sweet potato here) at the centre and the chosen meat (lamb for me and pork for him) placed painstakingly central on top, the accompanying sauce drizzled precisely around the plate like Jackson Pollock splurges. It’s a trim and orderly presentation but one that has become commonplace, and rather monotonous.

The second floor space is large and handsome, but loud, with a break-void through the core of the building punctuating each floor. Whether each person is having an enjoyable time or in an instrumental pitch competition, I couldn’t tell, but there’s a murmur that swiftly reaches fever pitch and I found it strenuous to hold conversion (to the frustration of my partner, I’m sure).

There’s a good selection of red, white and dessert wines, all very reasonably priced. Some punchy reds to accompany meat dishes, with £43.50 being the top-end price. We revelled in a bottle of Santa Rosa Merlot from Chile priced at £17.50. And then had another.

From the Sweet Tooth menu I had sticky toffee pudding and ice cream (£5.50) that was both ‘sticky’ and ‘toffee’ and excessive in sweetness. The vanilla cheesecake with rhubarb and PX sherry shot (£5.50), received positive feedback.
Leaving, we took a crimson padded lift to the ground floor – bloated on our own greedy indulgence – and exited past the stair foundations and ‘Terode Corner’, where we are reminded, for the final time: “John Terodes’s ‘BEEF’ and other bovine matters – pick up your very own signed copy (£15)…” “Buy me, buy me, buy me…”

First time at SOS after a few pleasant reviwes from friends. First impression of the bar downstairs was cold and uninviting. My husband and I had a drink and then made our way up to the 2nd floor for dinner. Took ages before anyone came to take our drink order. My husbands starter (practically thrown at us by the waitress) was so good (Lucky Squid), I had the Portuguese Salt Cod Fritters – have to say I struggeled to taste any salt cod – my mum is Portuguese and hers are the best, so maybe I have been spoilt with hers!!! Ours mains were nice but nothing special. Dessert was ok too. Overall it was an average night. I wouldn't rush back.

Beware of the guy downstairs with his clipboard tyring to get you a minicab – we were quoted a silly fare and got a black cab for half the price instead.