A friend and I headed over here to fill a cream doughnut craving -- and ended up with a cheese and bread sampler and about 6 donuts between the two of us. The cheese board had bleu, brie, Lancashire, and one other squidgy one (to use slang I've picked up recently) -- and came with an interesting cheddar-based sesame cracker and two slices of crusty raisin bread. We also had doughnuts filled with what I think was a toffee or butterscotch flavored cream. It was all well-priced and very delicious! All in all, mission accomplished. read more

More informal than the main restaurant in Smithfield, the Spitalfields branch nonetheless shares the 'nose to tail' ethos and emphasis upon great ingredients. It's open for breakfast, when superb bacon sandwiches are a highlight, alongside a traditional section including toast and porridge. Elevenses are catered for with a signature option of seed cake and madeira. The lunch/dinner menu has a range of varied dishes, so you can have anything from a light snack to a generous selection of shared plates; the choices always include vegetarian options. Dishes change daily: check out the menu on the website. The quality and standard of the meals is excellent, and service is really helpful and pleasant. There are always unusual ingredients to try alongside more familiar favourites, and I've always found staff willing to explain any mystery items on the menu. Surroundings are casual and stripped-back, in a homely rather than minimalist way. One of my favourite features of the restaurant is the bread counter. Even if you don't want to eat here, you can pop in to buy the outstanding loaves, alongside cakes including my favourite, the eccles cakes. All are made onsite. read more

Many people have this 'thing' against Spitalfields Market. It's not what it once was hey say. Sneering at the Islington-esque sprawl of homogenous looking restaurant chains that have encroached upon this once bustling hub of eccentric stalls, stacked with the wierd and wonderful. Luckily some of its gaudy charm hasn't been bulldozed just yet, and nowhere is this more eviden than at my favourite stall of the moment; Rainforest Creations. I feel a traitor to admit as someone with West Indian ancestry, I have never really liked the West Indian food served in UK restaurants; too stodgy, too overcooked. This, by way of being a raw stall, is completely the opposite. You'll spot them easily; the red yellow and green stall is surrounded by plump green coconuts, cakes, luminous-looking sprouts and viburatly coloured sauces. I treated myself to a divine-tasting flan with bell peppers, carrots, pumpkin and plaintain; raw bread wraps (yes,it is actually possible) that taste 'just doughy enough' without giving you carb gut; and guilt free cakes crammed with superfoods, so you can make up for that rancid hangover with some cacao, or maca root, if you so desire. read more

A derisory stomp past the grockles queueing outside Wagamama and The Real Greek brought up Commerical Street and a cheeky sidestep into St John Bread & Wine. It was like diving into a cool outdoor pool on a hot summer's day. The high white walls are reminiscent of a butcher's shop from bygone days and the tiled floors, piles of bread and high windows remind me of my grandmother's pantry. The casually efficient staff glide between the close parked tables with insouciance and slot us neatly into a spare two top. Owned by Fergus Henderson and sister to the splendid St John in Farringdon, this, the smaller restaurant, is a more casual spot, opened some seven years ago when they needed room to expand and moved the bakery operation down to Commercial Street. The food arrived as it was ready, looking like it could have come from the rose tinted pantry of my childhood. Potted pork with sweet pickled gherkins was creamy and moreish, with a salty kick and a pleasing bite. It was an enormous portion for the price and perfect spread on the rapidly diminishing pile of sourdough. This was followed by thin sliced Middle White ham, served with a side of crisp, tart and mustardy piccalilli and the light lunch finished off with thin slivers of a nutty and slightly sour Ticklemore goats cheese, served with freshly shucked raw peas and topped with peashoots. Food of champions. read more

For the quality you get, this place is actually very affordable! The rabbit and crispy pork are the way to go. The foie gras was my favorite appetizer but the crab was also very tasty. I decided to be adventurous and try the Ox Heart and it was really interesting! I wouldn't say it was the best thing we ordered because the Rabbit and Pork were much better, but I had to try it. read more

Absolutely delicious and inventive small plates, lovely wine, great ambience, caring friendly service. If I could afford it, and lived nearby, I'd eat here all the time. Will be a regular stop on London visits. read more

The informal setting, the bare and noisy dining room contrast nicely with the fine food coming your way. You enter what feels like a cantina and end up having a delicious meal. The portions are big, the dishes are of the st-john rustic/nose-to-tail kind of taste and so well balanced (like the Beetroot and Goat's curd salad I had last night). I was really impressed with the wine list in terms of choices and price point. Ok I will say something bad about this place: the bread isn't of Moro's quality if you ask me and the menu may feel a little succinct. Having said that, this is one of the best place in London for a date or a good catch up between foodies. read more

Just got back from lunch at the Spitalfields St John and I can barely move. I've been for breakfast before and have blaphemously avoided the bacon sarnie in favour of everything else on the menu. However, the bacon looks great and the other things are tasty too - the pikelets with golden syrup being an especially favourite thing that I've not see in there for ages. I went for my first lunch there today and was very pleased with the outcome. A nice bottle of wine for a reasonable price accompanied by a number of smaller dishes (as most of the menu seems to be) shared between 3 of us - corn on the cob, excellent pigeon with cob nuts, fried sprat, puffball mushroom with duck egg and, my favourite, salt hake on toast with a boiled egg. We wrapped up with desserts - a pair of the famed Eccles cake with Lancashire cheese and an evilly dense chocolate terrine. All very good with friendly service and coming in at about £25 per head. We then added it to it with 2 dozen madeleines to take back to the office, freshly cooked and delivered to our table still warm as we were leaving. As the others have said above, the bread's pretty good and available to take away, as is all the wine on the list, sold at off license rather than restaurant prices when it's not with a meal. Recommended. read more

I'm not sure what happened here, especially knowing how good the other St John restaurant is. We arrived and were quickly seated but that's the last we saw of our waiter until I flagged him down and asked for him to take our order about half and hour later. He didn't talk us through the specials on the board and only when I enquired did eh point the board out. No one seemed to be in charge of making sure the diners were attended to. We had several dishes, all were very small plates and didn't have much taste and substance. Wine list is extensive and expensive. Small glasses of mediocre wine that cost too much for what they are. It's sad to know that St John started out so well and with expansion the name has started to struggle to deliver... read more

Old school country style British food with duck, quail, lamb, pork and sweetbreads on the menu. Some dishes, notably the quail, were really good, others (ox heart) interesting, others, like the rabbit, a bit bland. A good selection of wines, even though only French ones. Nice, helpful waiter, warm ambiance and hands down the best Madeleines I've ever had. read more

Best bad bacon sandwich in london. Something to get your teeth around! read more

St. John Bread & Wine - Bakeries Near Me - London, XGL

St. John Bread & Wine has a large, open plan dining area, with a spartan decor of white walls and coat pegs. We were a party of three, booked in for Saturday lunchtime. Place had a bustling, lively atmosphere, so all the signs were good. Instead of going for mains, we just shared six or seven starters and a bottle of wine, then followed it up with several choices for dessert. We had a fried duck's egg on a bed of pig's cheek and potato; a beetroot and goat-curd salad; duck's liver and fois gras on toast; braised ribeye of beef; white faggot and sweet potato mash; ox's heart salad; and smoked mackerel. For dessert we had a rum baba (sponge soaked in, er, rum and sugar syrup, topped with cream); rhubarb meringue; apple sorbet; gingerbread loaf and toffee sauce; and toasted almond cream with biscuits. Reading though that list, you're going to need an adventurous palette to dine in here. And vegetarians will most certainly have cause to take offense. But it's worth taking the plunge; the food was incredible and delicious. Incredibly delicious, even. Plus, at the most basic level of trade descriptions, I can attest that the bread and the wine were fabulous also. Service was efficient and came with a smile. The bill made us smile also. We didn't hesitate to leave a generous tip. So, after a three hour gastronomic odyssey, we waddled out of the restaurant, blinking into the afternoon sunlight. The food is spectacular, every bite was a delight. A return visit is made doubly likely by the fact that the menu is changed daily. read more

I had been dying to go here after the couple that started this business produced some recipes for Bon Appetit (many of which I've made around holidays). The restaurant itself is incredibly simple. Wooden tables, wooden chairs, simple glasses and dishware. The food speaks for itself. I started with salted mackerel with potatoes, creme fraishe and watercress. It was like jumping into the ocean while wrapped up in a giant cozy blanket all at once. My husband ordered the mussels which were equally as delicious. For our main course, I ordered the duck leg with bacon and dates. My husband ordered the grouse. The duck leg was amazing. It fell right off the bone and was complemented by fatty pieces of bacon and the sweetness of the medjool date. I was in duck heaven. My husband (who admittedly wanted to order the duck but didn't) was not as enamored by the grouse, but only due to the gaminess of the meat. A definite must go if you're in London (and if you manage to get there early enough, there was an awesome artisans fair occurring across the street - a nice date and dine experience!) read more

They have an innovative menu, with lots of fascinating specials every day. Arrive early if you want to make sure the specials are still available. Also, they have this Wednesday wine deal that is super cheap and amazingly good. read more

Probably the fanciest food I've ever eaten. And really affordable. Mussels were the best I had in my life. Foie grass and madeleines were also amazing. This was for lunch, I'll try to have breakfast once. read more

Great cafe. The menu required some translation. I did not know what a Scotch Woodcock was or blood cake. The seeded bread was nice but I passed on the blood cake but was told it was good. Portions are small and not very filling. read more

My favorite meal in London. If you can, order EVERYTHING. Such an understated space with great service. Don't sleep on the ice cream!!! They do food the way I wish it was done everywhere else -- with great respect, care, but also not too self-serious. read more

My grandma always told me "Try everything twice, because the first time you might have had a cold". I love that. It means I'm pretty open-minded when it comes to food. Having said that, if I'd seen the menu at St John's before I was taken there, I doubt I would have chosen to eat there; not least because, let's face it, it ain't in my budget. So it's pretty good that I was dragged along (I say dragged, I was hardly kicking and screaming) for a client lunch, at which I wasn't paying, and had categorically no say in the location. Because this food is phenomenal. I mean actually phenomenal. They're doing their very best to bring all those traditional bits back to the British public at which we usually turn up our noses; liver, kidney, heart, and all those other inner-body bits that we frequently eat in the form of McDonalds or turkey twizzlers, but here they taste bloody lovely. You can even have a bit of brain. Yeah you heard me, the old thought-box is on the menu, nestled somewhere between an intestine sandwich and a liver lollipop. Ok, I made up those two. But you really can chow down on grey matter. It's weird really, because those bits ought to be cheap (after all, nobody else wants them) but here they're really not. But they're also so very, very delicious. We ate an awful lot of loveliness but the one which deserves the biggest round of applause was the untouchable pork cheek. It was a smidgen of perfectly-cooked meat topped by a gigantic crust of flavoursome fat and HEAVEN ON A PLATE crackling which . . . oh god, it cracked so good . . . just the right amount of crunch . . . with the intensely divine fatty flavour underneath . . . I nearly had a Meg Ryan moment at the table. Which would have been incredibly inappropriate due to aforementioned presence of boss and client. My mum makes the world's best roast pork and I had to tell her that this crackling was better. Can you imagine that? Better than your mum's cooking? No jokes ladies and gents, this is the real deal. I just have so much love for people who've taken the bits that people normally ignore, or actively shun, and shown us just how delicious they really are. In China they eat these parts first and the meaty, non-bony bits are the cast-offs. This is British cooking at its original and best and it makes me proud to come from this tiny island. I want all foreign visitors to pay a visit to St John's so that they can see the realities of our culinary genius. With all of this in mind, the best part was actually the journey home when my boss mused "you know it's funny, I never would have thought you'd get that much fat on a pig's cheek. Their faces look really small". "Um, yeah . . . " I replied, somewhat cautiously, "I don't think it's *that* cheek we were eating . . . " Actually now I think it probably was. But still. My boss is under the impression that we ate a pig's bum, and it doesn't get much better than that. read more

My boyfriend took me here last night for my birthday treat. We ate, like, really ate... Grilled Sardines - so simple but incredible. Ox Heart & Celeriac - my favourite dish! Not offaly! Married perfectly with the grated celeriac. Foie Gras & Duck Liver Toast, - good but (and I didn't think this was possible) too much foie gras! My boyfriend absolutely loved it though. Quail and Aoli - Insane. Safe, simple flavours done perfectly. New Season Garlic Soup & Snails - probably the weakest dish we had. I found the garlic overpowering and felt I'd missed the point of the snails being there (delicious though they were). Also there was a bit too much of it, it was super rich. Blood Cake & Duck Egg - unbelievably rich, with big bits of pork fat in amongst the blood. I just can't get over the 'soil like' texture. I don't mind the taste. Try it, some people think it's life affirming. Smoked Mackerel & Pickled Red Cabbage - like a soft mackerel pate. I love smoked mackerel. I love red cabbage. I loved it. St John Bread & Wine is one of those rare restaurants that makes me want to throw my fork down and just eat with my hands. Maybe take some of my clothes off too, or at least loosen my belt a bit. I know this is morbid, but when I die, I think I want to be buried under the floor here... It's offal but I like it! read more

The food was excellent but unfortunately, the service was absolutely horrendous. We were served by Laura, who is possibly the rudest and most miserable waitress I have ever had the displeasure of meeting. When asked what was special about a specific menu item, she simply shrugged and said, "I don't know what makes it special. It isn't. I have no idea what else you guys want to know." Moreover, before our wine glasses were even half empty, she unceremoniously placed the bill down at our table and kept walking up to us with the PDQ machine in hand. St John is an institution that I was extremely excited to visit. However, when the staff, who are an extension and representation of the restaurant, have an attitude and disposition that leaves much to be desired, the experience can only be subpar at best. Hopefully when anyone else visits, their time at what would otherwise be an excellent restaurant will not be marred by what can only be described as shit service. read more

I had dinner at St. John Bread & Wine in Spitalfields and it was very lovely. The restaurant has a very classy and elegant feel. The service was a little bit slow but polite and nice non the less - nothing to rave about, but good. I don't eat meat at the moment so I ordered the Mackerel. The fish is served whole so the dish looks pretty impressive and the skin of the fish was perfectly seasoned. The dish comes with some nice red cabbage and horseradish. If you would rather go full on carnivore then you might be interested in their Whole Suckling Pig that feeds 14-16 guests. For this delicacy you would need to give them one week's notice and the piggy will set you back £360. Sounds pretty primal, delicious and fun to be honest ;) For pudding I had pear on top of a brioche (I think it was) and ice cream - a perfect dessert actually. I also enjoyed my white wine very much. Their wine selection is quite impressive. So all and all I had a nice experience and will most likely go again. read more

St. John Bread & Wine - The Mackerel :P - Bakeries Near Me - London, XGL

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This really is a restaurant that calls for applause. The bacon sandwich is delicious, a simple construction of ham on toasted bread with ample serving of butter. The smoked mackerel was nearly flawless. You must pick out the bones yourself but it fits the food's spartan style. Just fish, butter and your taste buds. And oh the donut. Some say it's the best in London. So airy and fresh, the dough is complimented by a sweet but restrained custard. The food and the aesthetic inside are a pair, too. An elegant yet bare interior with supple lighting matches a menu trying to spark your imagination with flavor but not leave you overwhelmed. read more

Fabulous and curious in equal measures. I had a squirrel a pheasants egg and shared a pie. What a dining experience. Oh and the bread is incredible! read more

great lunch, good wine selection on the menu and reasonably priced. Good value and intimate venue for right near spitalfields market!

The meal we ate here was literally one of the best meals I've ever had. Their bread is fresh and delicious and the wine list is varied and reasonably priced. The atmosphere is sophisticated, simple, and casual and the staff is knowledgeable, helpful, and articulate on both food and wine (and pairings). The menu offers modern interpretations of classic British fare, but the food is so far beyond what one would think of as typically British. The cold pea and mint soup was absolutely incredible, so flavorful and unique...I could have eaten bowls of it! The beets and pork cheek were both outstanding! Everything was of the highest quality and perfectly prepared. I wish I could remember more details of this meal, but I suppose I'll have to go back to London to give it another try. And seriously, I would go back just to eat at St. John Bread and Wine. read more

I took a couple of friends here during their visit from Paris. We all loved it. We shared a selection of plates (pork terrine, cod roe, mutton, artichoke, pigeon and quail); all were excellent and have inspired me to try using these ingredients myself. We couldn't resist the desserts and had rhubarb eton mess and blood orange jelly. We left with our bellies full and surprised out how good value it all was. I can't wait to visit again. read more

Delicious food and good service. I was encouraged to make a reservation, and I'm glad I did. The interior is decorated in a very unassuming fashion, very simply. The food was reasonably timed, and well prepared. I would have preferred more sides on the dishes, as the rabbit had very little on the plate in addition to the rabbit, and it was a 'main' aka a larger dish. That being said, my dining partner and I ordered 3 small dishes and one large between the two of us and we were perfectly satisfied by the end. If you're just after a tasty snack, their take-away bakery is good to know about too. On another occasion, I have stopped by to purchase a take-away honeycomb and custard doughnut from their bakery. The doughnuts are AMAZING and always sell out, especially on Sundays. I know this as I went back yet another week for another doughnut on a Sunday but they were sold out by 6pm. So I tried a brownie instead. Still excellent, but it was no doughnut. ;) I will be back for both the baked goods and the dining. read more

Went here in Aug 2011 with my girlfriend (we are Americans, had read about the place on some foodie blogs). Ambience: perfect. Cool neighborhood, cool vibe inside, perfect for a casual but gourmet meal, very un-pretentious but you know you are at a cool spot. The Food: Fantastic. Truly fantastic. Sardines and foie gras were incredible. The Service: Great, very personable staff, seemed like they were excited we were there even though this is obviously a crowded place every night. The price: what you'd expect for a great restaurant, not unreasonable. Overall: Great date spot, not too uppity (don't need to be dressed up). Will definitely be back when we are back in London. Thanks St. John! Keep up the great work! read more

I had been to St John's before and while there are more consistent solid Nose to Tail options I was entertaining a group and we wanted to go to nearby spitafields market this past Saturday. We stopped into St johns at 2pm for lunch - the restaurant was half empty but the rather rude (wanna be cool) host told us it would be an hour.. no worries as we had no reservation. We stopped in an hour later and the same half of the restaurant was still empty! - and he had the nerve to say it would be another 30 min. Traditional British fare is not supposed to include Berkely Hotel blue Bar attitude.. Happily we found a new fantastic restaurant on the other side of Spitafields and will NEVER return to St Johns.. read more

I'm afraid that my overall impression was cramped, overpriced and disorganised. I haven't been back. This was around a year ago so there may have been changes since. Food was of course very pleasant but is small and expensive for what it is. It is one of those places where they try to market an inconvenience as a benefit, as in "its all very relaxed so the food just comes when it's ready". Sorry did I just trip and fall into wagamamas? No, my bill tells me otherwise! The tables were so close together that I knew every move made by the man behind me, because his chair scraped against mine. I was also highly aware that I could hear every word of his conversation and no doubt he mine. Not great for romantic sweet nothings. I've heard it's good for breakfast but I can't recommend it for dinner. read more

Best Bacon Sandwich of my life! Discovered this place from a local food tour. Went back the very next day for some more. Incredible spot with a great vibe. Would recommend over and over and over again! read more

St. John is an unmissable stop for carnivores. The offerings of offal are unrivalled, and cooked to perfection. I'm not much of a meat eater myself, but even I couldn't resist trying the marrow and heaping platters of smelts. There's a reason St. John and Fergus Henderson are so celebrated -- the quality and service are outstanding. read more

This is purely on their bread, as I have been an irregular purchaser of their sourdough for a while now. Whilst the bread is good, I am always torn as to the price of said loaf. It's definitely a Sunday treat, unless you are rich of wallet. read more

Excellent food and wine with friendly service! I really enjoyed the jeruselum artichokes and the cheeses.

Probably because it is opposite Spitalfields, I always considered it for tourists. I went there tonight with a friend for a light dinner, and we both LOVED the food here. The place is quite unassuming, looking like a bakery/diner. The plating wasn't the prettiest you can imagine, but the ingredients and flavor combinations are so surprisingly delicious. My favorite dish was Jerusalem Artichoke Salad. Jerusalem artichoke looks and tastes nothing like your normal artichoke. It is kind of a starchy root vegetable. They somehow cooked it with butter and the taste was amazing. Foie Gras and and duck liver mousse on toast was another must try. The dessert we tried needed to be mentioned as well. We had Eccles Cake & Lancashire Cheese, which was a balled shaped pastry filled with currant. It is so well balanced with the saltiness of the cheese cutting the sweetness of the filling. It makes for a perfect ending to a meal. I can't wait to come back when I am more hungry to try another dishes. read more

St. John Bread and and Wine is one of the most traditional British restaurants in London. With its minimal decor and simple approach to cooking, St. John is a favorite among foodies. The menu consists of small plates which includes sprouting broccoli, smoked mackerel, and langoustines to name a few and which are all favorites of mine. I always take out of town guests here or to its sister restaurant St. John and they are always quite pleased and impressed by the food as well as the service. I love this place and would suggest it to anyone who wants the best of traditional British fare. read more

I am a worthy disciple of the St John restaurant. And I will follow their leaders anywhere. So far it's taken me only to St John Restaurant (mothership), St John Bread & Wine and Hereford Road. Up soon I hope is Rochelle Canteen (run by the wives of the St John men with a chef from St John B&W). The original St. John's ethos of "nose to tail eating" has literally transformed British cuisine as it's taken the consumption of no-frills, meaty, offally and locally sourced plates to another level. While still part of the clan, St. John Bread & Wine is the "light" version, serving adventurous dishes but not quite at the same intensity - and their bakery is a highlight (the source of St John's lovely, lovely, LOVELY bread). The baked goods and fresh ingredients are so amazing that even a veggie friend claims St John B&W as one of her favourite restaurants around. It's best for breakfast or lunch as the space is bright, sparse and casual. I can't quite give it 5 stars - mainly because it must sit in the shadow of St John. read more

Lunch - Empty restaurant which I don't mind but didn't add to atmosphere. Had whelks and bacon, whelks very overcooked, bacon very salty. Then squid in red wine - tender but the wine and the aioli reduced the squid to just a texture. Service was professional but not attentive - distracted even though there were only three seated tables. I really liked the menu and was excited to be there but left feeling deflated and like I could have spent my money better elsewhere :( read more

A very unique restaurant. Had the Potted Shrimp, which was good but a bit strange for my yankee tastebuds, and the Goose which was excellent! The kitchen seemed a little slow though, which seemed unusual for the time that we went (not very busy) but overall a very good meal was had. read more

Great food prepared with care and thought. Portions are on the small side of course, and prices are on the high side. Well worth it.. the service is a bit vexing and sluggish even when the place is only half full, so forget a speedy lunch and sit back. read more