Flashy to the forum!
Got 2 nights in The Smoke a the end of July and would like to take the good lady for a nice meal or 2. We're staying just off Clerkwell Road and so somewhere walkable would be preferred if possible.
Price but too much of an issue though I'm not thinking Michelin stars. Previous years we've eaten at Clos Maggiore, Barbecoa and Pasternosters amongst others so I'm pretty open to ideas on food type.
Chop houses seem to be the thing in that area - Smiths of Smithfield (?is the name?) Hix ?
There are alot - ones I have always enjoyed for various reasons, St John, Club Gascon, Bleeding Heart, Moro and Quality Chop House.
Smiths of Smithfield is pretty good as an all evening venue
Drink in the bar on the ground floor, pre dinner cocktail on the second floor, go up another floor to eat...then back down again post dinner or head to one of the many local bars around it.
But all the others are good
Quality Chop House, Hawksmoor, Bills (the chef not the chain).
Polpo on Cow Cross Street is always good.
Ate at [url= http://www.foxlow.co.uk/clerkenwell/ ]Foxlow[/url] recently and their beef shortrib was amazing.
Bird of Smithfield (ex-Ivy head chef) worth a look too.
Had a decent meal at Hix Tramshed this week. The Hirst cow in a tank wasn't to everyone's taste though.
Apologies for the delay. This post coming from the sun drenched balcony at the Delta lounge in ATL!
As mefty already suggested,
May as well house the thread down now.
St John
Cheeky little bump for any other suggestions before I book somewhere. Sadly Bleeding Heart is booked up already for the date we want so St John is looking likely.
Smiths of Smithfield is pretty good as an all evening venue
it’s full of city tossers and people from essex, the food is mediocre compared to other fine restaurants round there like StJohn, Foxlowe, The Modern Pantry, Moro, Quality Chop house, Hix etc.
and lets face it being owned by John Torode is a good enough reason to avoid.
you will not go wrong with any on that list but the Quality chop house or StJohn are on my regular list of posh meals out. i did spend £250 for 2 at QCH but i went a bit silly on the wine, you can eat well for £40 per head.
edit: and a cocktail at Zetters town house though you may have to book
and lets face it being owned by John Torode is a good enough reason to avoid
Why didn't somebody say that sooner ? 🙁
Could be worse, I suppose, and be owned by Greg Wallace!
On a Masterchef theme, has anyone eaten at Marcus Wareing's place? Is it worth the (very substantial) bill?
and lets face it being owned by John Torode is a good enough reason to avoid.
Why? Genuinely. met him at an event a couple of weeks back and seemed a genuinely nice bloke. Bit 'Aussie' but he's an Aussie after all.
Just seen this.
IMO none of the suggestions above are in the same league as Clos Marjorie
Bleeding Heart is one of my favourites, bistro upstairs restaurant downstairs
Its ages since I ate there but the Gary Rhodes in Tower 42 / Old Nat West building has a great view and cool after sun goes down. Bar at the top is good for a pre-dinner drink (pricey)
Smiths can be excellent, more of a pub diner than a restaurant imo
With all the Hipsters hanging out in Farringdon/Clerkenwell I am sure there are numerous cool places there now
Clos Marjorie
Which is all well and good but not in the right area.
Its ages since I ate there but the Gary Rhodes in Tower 42 / Old Nat West building has a great view and cool after sun goes down. Bar at the top is good for a pre-dinner drink (pricey)
Obviously because it has closed down.
With all the Hipsters hanging out in Farringdon/Clerkenwell I am sure there are numerous cool places there now
Its 2016, they moved on years ago.
Could be worse, I suppose, and be owned by Greg Wallace!On a Masterchef theme, has anyone eaten at Marcus Wareing's place? Is it worth the (very substantial) bill?
😀 The grocer from Carlise
Yes but a while ago, it was excellent. It was a client invite so didn't pay. Not sure I'd go back as I have an aversion to places owned by chefs on TV a lot as they are not in their restaurant working.
On a Masterchef theme, has anyone eaten at Marcus Wareing's place? Is it worth the (very substantial) bill?
I ate there several years ago, the week after he escaped the evil empire and it changed from Petrus to Marcus Wareing at the Berkeley. Food was excellent. Like any Knightsbridge gaff the majority of customers are elderly couples not talking to each other and looking as miserable as sin. Show the slightest bit of interest and the staff will probably offer you a tour of the kitchen. Marcus was lovely, hairiest arms I've ever seen on on man though.
Clos Marjorie
Which is all well and good but not in the right area.
OP said he'd eaten there so a benchmark
Obviously because it has closed down.
Fair enough, suggested as the view was worth it and only such place in the area.
Its 2016, they moved on years ago.
My three daughters like it there (22, 25, 27) two live in Peckham one in Brighton so the hispter vibe they like
With all the Hipsters hanging out in Farringdon/Clerkenwell I am sure there are numerous cool places there now
you have to cross Goswell road where hipsterdom starts at Look Mum no Hands and carries on all the way to Shoreditch but you are no longer in Farringdon/Clerkenwell, the only real hipster hangout is Workshop coffee (who also do good food)
it’s full of city tossers and people from essex, the food is mediocre compared to other fine restaurants round there like StJohn, Foxlowe, The Modern Pantry, Moro, Quality Chop house, Hix etc.
Totally agree. Totally overrated. And I am from Essex.
I haven't worked there for quite some time, but my all-time favourite place to eat in the area is The Eagle, heading north on Farringdon Rd towards Kings Cross: http://www.theeaglefarringdon.co.uk Get there early as it gets busy.
Otherwise there's a lot of great little places; I just wouldn't include SOS in there.
it’s full of city tossers and people from essex
I'm both 🙂 that's why I said .... pretty good.
Which it is, for a one stop shop.... sometimes after spending all day criss-crossing town, you don't want to be doing the same during the evening.
But hey what do I know? .... I base my restaurant experiences on the people I'm with rather than the food thats served
I'm both that's why I said .... pretty good.
😆