Award-winning

St. JOHN Smithfield

Name: St. JOHN Smithfield
Address: 26 St John Street, London, United Kingdom, EC1M 4AY
Telephone: 020 7251 0848
Price range: £41 and over
Rating: 4.8

4.8

3748 Reviews

£41 and over

British

Top Tags:

Fergus Henderson’s original home of “Nose to Tail Eating” opened in a former smokehouse around the corner from Smithfield Market in 1994.

Celebrating the finest of indigenous British produce and making the most of what is seasonally best whilst applying straight forward cooking techniques, St. John is now celebrated as one of the 50 Best Restaurants in the World and in 2009 was awarded its first Michelin Star.

Nose to tail eating means that, where appropriate, every part of the animal should be put to good use in the kitchen and so along with Roast Beef and Lemon Sole, diners will find Rolled Pig’s Spleen, Kidneys and Ox Heart, Liver and Chitterlings as well as the Roast Bone Marrow & Parsley Salad, something of a ‘signature’ dish.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Dec 8, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 32 times today

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
£41 and over
Cuisines
British
Hours of operation
Lunch Mon–Sat 12:00 pm–3:00 pm Sun 12:00 pm–4:00 pm Dinner Mon–Sat 6:00 pm–10:30 pm
Phone number
020 7251 0848
Website
http://www.stjohnrestaurant.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Steve Darou
Private party facilities
The Private Dining Room can accommodate up to 16 guests (terms and conditions apply). St. JOHN bar and restaurant is available for private hire. Please contact amelie@stjohnrestaurant.com for details.
Private party contact
Amelie Andre: 020 7553 9844

Location
26 St John Street, London, EC1M 4AY
Award-winning
1. MICHELIN 1 Star 2023
Neighborhood
Farringdon
Parking details
None
Public transit
Farringdon Station, Barbican Station
Additional
Banquet, Bar Dining, Beer, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Popular dishes

What 3,748 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8

4.8 based on recent ratings

4.7Food
4.7Service
4.7Ambience
4.5Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

City of London
Best Overall
City of London
Best Food
City of London
Best Service
City of London
Best Ambiance
City of London
Best Value
City of London
Innovative
City of London
Good for special occasions
City of London
British

3,748 Reviews

DL
DarrenL
Los Angeles
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
Overall3Food1Service5Ambience5
Underwhelming food at every course, however space and service was great
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MH
MelvinH
Sydney
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 2 days ago
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Still and will be one of our whole time favourite. Everything was just amazing and nothing was over the top. Just wish we could have stayed longer 4h is never enough at St John. Thank you
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Dinner was wonderful! Wait staff and managers were excellent and very helpful.
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E
Expat
St. Louis
104 reviews
5.0
104 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience4
The food quality has remained exceptional over the years, and the prices are reasonable considering the quality. The wine list is also very good, and keeps changing, adding good value bottles under the St John label. Service is excellent and servers are knowledgeable about the menu. The menu continues to provide choices involving non-standard meats (recently ox heart and mallard) and fish (recently gray mullet and skate), so interest in such foods are helpful in negotiating the menu. One of our favorites in London.
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w
willp
London
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
fantastic food in a simple, paired back and relaxed environment.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
London
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 7 days ago
Overall5Food4Service5Ambience4
Overall good experience and very professional staff
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Greater Boston
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 7 days ago
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience4
Great meal with interesting choices and good services. Enjoyed the bone marrow and Guinea fowl and am looking forward to coming back
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RB
RobinBroadhurst
London
7 reviews
4.0
7 reviews
Dined on November 30, 2023
Overall4Food5Service5Ambience4
Don’t change. I like everything just as it is. Always enjoyable with an exciting variety of original dishes on the menu.
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e
emcm
Bath
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on November 29, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Fabulous, interesting food and immaculate, friendly service.
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CC
CharlesCarr
London
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on November 29, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Superb as always, real institution. Already looking forward to my next visit. Hazaar
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 28, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Lovely experience. Great food and service. Cheers from Los Angeles.
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JD
JakeD
Cambridge
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 27, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
My friend and I were treated like royalty and had an absolute laugh with Edwin. Both of us had been so eager to dine here and it lived fully up to the expectations. The Bone Marrow was an absolute Knock-out and truly worth the wait. I hope very much to dine here again!
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DE
DavidE
Exclusive
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 27, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Always quietly and understatedly wonderful. See you in the NY.
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JC
JamieC
London
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 26, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Simplicity as it’s absolute finest. A culinary masterpiece. Food, service, wine, environment all perfection. A bucket list restaurant for me, expectations exceeded.
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LC
LucaCullacciati
London
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 24, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Probably the best lunch of my life. incredibile atmosphere, every One was a top performer of his job and the confidence show tò the pubblic was Amazing. Keep pushing like that and continue tò set the level tò achive for every chef and maitre of the world. GIÚ IL CAPPELLO! LUCA and ALESSIA from Italy
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F
Fantastic
London
6 reviews
vip
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on November 23, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Amazing as always - you would have to work very hard to have a bad time.
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WB
WilliamB
London
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 21, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
One of the best in London. A uniquely brilliant dining experience.
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B
Byron
London
5 reviews
3.0
5 reviews
Dined on November 20, 2023
Overall3Food4Service3Ambience4
For the restaurant that all the chefs want to go to, I found it average tbh. Expensive too.
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J
Jane
San Francisco
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 20, 2023
Overall3Food3Service2Ambience4
We were so excited to eat here after coming all the way from the States. We’ve done our fair share of dining at Michelin-starred restaurants and this was unfortunately a miss for me. The food was fine. Service for me was okay but overall a miss—seemingly-harried and then one of our dishes (of course the only dish our son was really interested in) was forgotten or missed or who knows even after it was read back to us. Again, everything was fine but not worth the extra time and effort to get there and certainly not worth the price. Sure, it’s an institution but I expected better. Goes to show that stars aren’t everything.
1 person found this helpful
KK
KonK
London
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 17, 2023
Overall5Food5Service4Ambience5
Dining at St John is a true gastronomic experience. You dont often get the chance to try offals, ox heart or guinea fowl cooked to perfection. Great ambience and relaxed vibe.
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CO
COralcmc10
London
12 reviews
4.0
12 reviews
Dined on November 17, 2023
Overall4Food4Service5Ambience5
We would definitely return, the food was delicious, the pig skin salad being tastier than you could imagine. We shared the Pheasant and trotter pie for two, it was delicious but I could not eat a whole half pie and unfortunately did not have room to try a dessert and the dessert menu looked lovely. The green veg side was okay, it needed a heap more butter and seasoning for my taste. The service was very warm, friendly, accommodating and helpful and the atmosphere was lovely. I would return again and have a lighter main so that we could fit in desserts. The wine menu was immense.
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JU
JimU
Chicago
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 16, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Amazing bucket list meal. We were well attended to and the server curated a great menu for us to ensure we had the best experience possible.
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TL
TobyL
London
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 15, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Brilliant service, delicious food. Faultless. If you haven’t been, go.
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B
Belf
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on November 14, 2023
Overall4Food3Service5Ambience5
Chose the ox heart, radish and aioli, 3 whole radishes that were hard to spear or cut with the cutlery provided, sent with a cream sauce, not aioli but ox heart was delicious. Gurnard for main, couldn't fault it, cooked superbly. Treacle tart for main, fridge cold, would have been better warm. Service impeccable, drinks superb, atmosphere was a lovely buzz with the hum of the bar permeating the restaurant.
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A
Antonio
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 14, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Era da tempo che volevamo venire in questo posto . E finalmente abbiamo prenotato e ci siamo riusciti . Posto fantastico da ritornare
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S
Sean
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 13, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Excellent restaurant, history, great food, great wine. Would definitely visit again.
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GP
GPisola
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 13, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Amazing meal as always.. the legendary Bone marrow salad never lets you down, enjoyed the cured Dexter with prune and horseradish, the anchovy dressing in the venison’s salad was perfect. Incredible selection of wines, service impeccable as always.
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ML
MollieL
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 11, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
The service was impeccable. The best I have ever had in London
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O
Outtolunch
London
25 reviews
5.0
25 reviews
Dined on November 9, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Delicious food, knowledgeable and attentive service. Thank you.
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SK
SarahK
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 8, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Absolutely wonderful experience. I’ve wanted to visit for years and finally made it for a friend’s 40th. Staff were extremely attentive and knowledgeable, it’s a cool, minimalist space and it was quiet enough to have a conversation. The food was stunning - unusual, flavourful, and beautifully presented. We had the best time and will certainly be back.
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CD
CatherineD
Northampton
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on November 8, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Real, honest, hearty food with great service and atmosphere.
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BF
BernardoF
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 7, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience4
St. John is a staple, a must go for everyone interested in modern cuisine and British cuisine. If you haven't been there, stop reading this and go book a visit. Now.
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LS
LunchingSwede
London
10 reviews
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on November 7, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
A glorious, long lunch with friends. Much laughter, Champagne, perfect food and just the best service ever. What a treat!
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JK
JackK
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 3, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Fantastic food, helpful, informative and very friendly service and an excellent dinner! Can't wait to return!
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WF
WillF
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 2, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
St Johns is absolutely excellent. It is classy and cool. The waiters are polite, engaging and knowledgeable; they make you feel at home. The food is simple but delicious and high quality. I recommend it highly to everybody for a special dinner.
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O
Olivia
London
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on October 31, 2023
Overall4Food3Service5Ambience4
overall it was good but the bone marrow was a little bland and the dexter beef not overly special. The smoked cod's roe, squash and welsh rarebit were delicious as was the bread and butter pudding.
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HG
HarryG
New York Area
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on October 31, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Everything was good from the martinis to the desserts. Cooking was as precise as ever and service helpful and cheerful. St John continues to set the standard for the type of British cooking they invented here,
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JJ
JanJ
New York Area
5 reviews
vip
3.0
5 reviews
Dined on October 30, 2023
Overall3Food3Service3Ambience5
The starters arrived about 20 seconds after the drinks. So I had a negroni with my bone marrow, which really is an acquired taste. My friend enjoyed his Tom Collins with his starter whatever that was. I informed the waiter what happened ,to which he answered that the drinks were from "a different station". I told him that I didn't quite understand what he meant by that, but that it was unacceptable to do this. I was about to order the wine, for the main course, but the waiter disappeared huffing and hissing and apparently asked for a new waiter to be assigned our table. So, a new waiter, a very nice one I might add, showed up and I ordered the wine and the evening ended without any other upheavals. Ok, I have been around for a while and done a few restaurants in my life, and I recognize bad when I see it. This was bad! Perhaps it was an "off night" who knows? But no, there was something else, like looking down on the guests, excusing mistakes where there should not be any excuses AND bone marrow bones, with or without Negronis, cannot be too thin - because then there is no bone marrow!! (A hint to the kitchen). The pork dish - and I get it - you use all of the animal, should not consist of 95% fat, not a good idea. Or, perish the thought; Perhaps this is exactly what you serve, a culinary Emperor's new clothes a la St. John!!
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GB
GracchusBabeuf
London
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on October 30, 2023
Overall5Food4Service5Ambience5
Excellent if you want to binge on meat protein. Unsuitable for vegetatarians. Excellent service, staff very helpful. Restaurant was packed on a Monday evening. Quaint premises, converted industrial building. Lots of steps, stairs, unsuitable for wheelchair users, people on crutches.
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JC
JudyC
London
9 reviews
4.0
9 reviews
Dined on October 30, 2023
Overall4Food4Service5Ambience3
Very traditional meaty British food, well cooked. Both mussels starter and lamb kidneys main course were excellent. Surroundings a bit basic but service good.
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Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
- Sealed or wrapped utensils used
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
- Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
- Contactless payment available
Physical distancing
- Limited number of seated diners
- Distancing maintained in common areas
- Extra space between tables

Protective equipment
- Waitstaff wear masks
Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

St. JOHN Smithfield is rated 4.8 stars by 3748 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Dec 8, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 32 times today

26 St John Street, London, EC1M 4AY

Additional information

Award-winning
1. MICHELIN 1 Star 2023
Neighborhood
Farringdon
Hours of operation
Lunch Mon–Sat 12:00 pm–3:00 pm Sun 12:00 pm–4:00 pm Dinner Mon–Sat 6:00 pm–10:30 pm
Price
£41 and over
Cuisines
British
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
None
Public transit
Farringdon Station, Barbican Station
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Steve Darou
Additional
Banquet, Bar Dining, Beer, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.stjohnrestaurant.com/
Phone number
020 7251 0848
Private party facilities
The Private Dining Room can accommodate up to 16 guests (terms and conditions apply). St. JOHN bar and restaurant is available for private hire. Please contact amelie@stjohnrestaurant.com for details.
Private party contact
Amelie Andre: 020 7553 9844

St. JOHN Smithfield

Make a reservation

Additional information

Popular dishes

Roast Bone Marrow and Parsley Salad

Pheasant and Trotter Pie

Green Salad

Menu

What 3,748 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing

Physical distancing

Protective equipment

Screening

FAQs

How is St. JOHN Smithfield restaurant rated?

Is St. JOHN Smithfield currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information