St. JOHN

On my list since I first moved to London, St. JOHN is that quintessential British restaurant. With a menu that changes daily, customers can expect to see Eel, Trout, Turbot, Welsh Rarebit, Jersey Royals, Gem Lettuce, Eton Mess, Eccles Cake and much, much more on offer. The restaurant holds a Michelin star, and is a rather pared back affair; situated in an old smokehouse, the walls are white, floor uneven, and lighting hangs low from the ceiling over tables dressed in a disposable white dressing. St. JOHN exudes an informality that is not often garnered by restaurants where the food is this good. And good it certainly is.

For my visit, I have the Turbot with tomatoes and gem lettuce for the main course, Welsh Rarebit for my starter (usually offered as a side), and a raspberry Eton Mess for dessert. The Welsh Rarebit is one of my favourite British dishes, a decadent assemblage of Mustard, cheese and Worcestershire sauce on toast. This iteration was good, albeit as hot as the sun and not particularly elevating.

The turbot on the other hand, was exceptional; a clean and economical dish where everything worked on harmony. 

While not a huge fan of an Eton Mess, the one I had at St. JOHN stole the show. Smooth, velvety cream laced through with meringue and raspberry, the slight tartness of the latter cutting through the sweetness of the sugar. As well as the food, I also had a St. JOHN lager, which was crisp and slightly fruity, though I wish we in the UK cooled lager to the same icy temperatures as they do in warmer countries. 

Value for Money? £65 for three courses including service charge. Most definitely. 

Would I return? Yes! The menu changes so often that I would be remiss not to.