Marianne's Reviews

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.

Café Pacifico in Covent Garden is the best place for tasty genuine Tex-Mex in London. At peak times it’s almost impossible to walk in off the street and get a table and they don’t take bookings, but most people are more than happy to while away the wait for a table with a highly alcoholic cocktail from the bar. Decor is themed and conditions can be cramped, but the fresh, high quality, reasonably priced food consisting of all the usual Tex-Mex suspects cooked extremely well and relatively fast, more than make up for this. The pico de gallo spicy tomato dip accompanying the complimentary nacho chips is very hot but delicious!