Smiths of Smithfield (bar)

Dined on the ground floor on Sunday – NEVER AGAIN – rude staff, tiny portions, rubbery eggs, soggy chips and supposedly thick cut ham was actually thinly sliced bacon. Not what you'd expect from such an expensive restaurant after an hours wait.

I am a regular at Smiths of Smithfield.. or was. I've had my company Xmas dinners there and entertained clients and friends. It was an easy place to go to for lunch, looks appealing and had a good atmosphere.

However took two friends for lunch at Christmas , and left with a bad taste in my mouth. We were rushed to order virtually as soon as we sat down, told that we were entitled to one bottle of free water, and then would have to pay for the rest. So that was 500ml between 3 adults! We ordered lunch which was fine, my daily special of fish and chips was fresh and crisp so it was a shame that they could not provide a decent tartare sauce to go with it. We finished and ordered mint tea, which was brought with no sugar despite spoons on the saucers. Then, at five to two were told that we would have to leave becuase the table was booked. We were then told again five minutes later. I did feedback to the Australian staff member that this was fine – but just for their feedback, if they had told my PA when they booked we would have moved with a little more haste. I was curtly told as he walked away from me that “all staff are trained to that, so I'd check with your PA if I were you”. He was so dismissive I was gobsmacked.

Lucky that there are a number of good restaurants in Farringdon that may be less funky but what I really like is good service and you don't get that here. I, my colleagues and staff will keep going to the Bleeding Heart which is more delicious food and vastly more pleasant staff, or St Germain, again which has very nice people running it and the food is great.

I have eaten at the resaurant and have found that to be fine, what I object to is the telephone manner when phoning the restaurant. Each time I get through I get a ‘can you hold please’ I then have to listen to the on hold music, sometimes for nearly 5 minutes, today the person that answered the phone seemed rather harrased and not very polite, when she was checking something for me I could hear all their conversations as well. I phoned again today to see if my Boss had left and I was asked to hold twice, I put the phone down in the end. This kind of service needs to be looked at.

We have just repatriated to the UK from Hungary, so are delighted to be staying in Smithfield, the ‘meat area’ of London. We felt a little deprived of steak when we were abroad. We came across Smiths of Smithfield walking along the street and decided to try it; it’s bound to have a menu bursting with meat choices we thought, we went to the 1st floor restaurant for our meal.

When we looked at the menu, we were shocked to see a restaurant in one of the most famous meat markets in the world, had one steak! My husband had the steak, I was not persuaded, besides I could try his.

The atmosphere was cold and there was no smell of food. Even when food arrived for other customers, it did not fill the air with that aroma that wets you appetite further as you wait for your own to arrive.

It was only after gazing around the restaurant and seeing piles of John Torode cookbooks for sale, that I asked the waitress if he owned the place. She replied yes. Being a fan of Master Chef, I asked her if he cooked here, she replied no, he is too busy! I am a little surprised at the demands he puts on the contestants when they are cooking on Master Chef, his menu could be a bit more adventurous!

Despite the great Eggs Benedict I had, I will not be going back. Not worth the money!

Great value for lunches, in particular the pies and scrumptions macaroni cheese topped with with smoked haddock. I have been again and again and will keep on going.