Smiths of Smithfield Top Floor

I have been eating here for over ten years and returned to the top floor expecting the usual good time - it was not forthcoming.

No greeting on entry, a cloakroom attendant too busy to bother with guests (who had to be hailed by the maitre d before she paid any attention).

The service was bizarre. The menu has not changed for years and the food was boring, bland and not very well cooked.

On the way out, everyone said goodbye as if they had delivered a night worth remembering. Sadly that was not the case - it was too little, too late. My (business) guests were distinctly unimpressed

I will not be back until it changes hands, or the owner decides to take an interest.
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2 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 2
Tuesday, February 08, 2011

Decided to take a friend out for a meal and was out to impress, so selected Top Floor at SOS on the basis of strong recommendations from friends and colleagues.

I note that quite a few of the older reviews mentioned issues with staff. This has clearly been seen, reviewed and actioned.

The service was excellent. I cannot stress enough how good the staff were; Friendly, attentive, polite, helpful... these people went out of their way to make us feel comfortable.

The food was superb. I had the halibut with lobster mash, which was beautifully presented and very tasty. I had the pastel de nata with raspberries for dessert which, as someone who has consumed a lot of egg custard tarts in their life, was *perfect*.

Everyone remembers this place for the view, and even with a seat from the back of the room it's quite something.

Wine on the top floor is expensive, but like everything else on the top floor - you get what you pay for.

The total was just over £100 for two of us (two courses, dessert, bottle of wine and coffee), which, for a premiere resteraunt in central London, was pretty much expected.

****Highly recommended****

(A warning - the bread comes with no bread plate. It's 'rustic' apparently. The uptight might find the prospect of holding a bit of crusty bread frightening. It's OK to drop crumbs. Really. Your mum isn't watching.)
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Richard Newstead
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Awful experience, sadly. I had used Smiths before for an event and wanted to try the top floor. I went with a mate who was keen to try it too. It was a Sunday and as soon as I walked in I knew it wasn't going to go well. Screaming kids were running everywhere and using the reception chairs as a playground. My starter of Spaghetti clams was tasteless with hardly any clams. Both our mains were very good and my mate enjoyed his starter. Food caught alight in teh kitchen so we had the smell of burning fat and the sound of staff clattering dishes and washing up was unbearable. My red wine was ice cold and had a tablespoon of residue at the bottom. I mentioned my lack of enjoyment of the starter to the waiter (who was nice) and he just smiled. He offered to replace my wine but as I was driving I declined, it was still on the bill though. The cloakroom assistant was brusque. In short, it was everything I hate about a restaurant.
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Dan Doherty
3 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 4
Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Was really looking forward to eating here as a friend had been a couple of weeks before and had loved it. First thing that struck me was how noisy it was - we were only a table of two and we struggled to have a normal conversation. We ordered some drinks and some wine asking for the drinks first - the wine arrived first and we had to ask another two times for our drinks.

The bread waiter came round - where we were asked to pick out our bread and then we had no where to put it but on the table as there was no seperate plate. Ten minutes later (i.e. after we had finished our bread) they put a little dish of olive oil on our table - we were offered no more bread.

We wanted to order but our (very friendly) waiter was pretty over-run. Eventually he came over to tell us what they didn't have - and it was quite alot. Luckily it was nothing that we were going to order,

I had the squid - flavour was nice but a bit rubbery and lukewarm - my friend had the pasta with clams - again tasty but not hot enough.

We shared a rib of beef for main and that was beautiful - tender, perfectly cooked melt in the mouth meat - however - and I know meat rests before it is served - it was just not hot enough - so much so that the pats of herb butter that they provide would not melt on the meat. Chips too - cold - nice tomato salad and herb salad.

We shared a chocolate cherry dessert which was probably the richest pudding I have ever had but was very nice.

All in all it was OK - but if they put a few simple things right it could be really nice,
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TF
5 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 5
Thursday, December 24, 2009