Smollensky's on the Strand

Have been there twice. First was OK / average. Recent visit the quality of the steak was awful. Tough and tasteless ....very tough and it was a ribeye! Overall experience was ok...decent service, nice atmosphere, respectable wine list, but if you are looking for a good steak, keep looking!
Comment on this reader review

4 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 1
Thursday, July 21, 2011

Walking past on my way to lunch at a mexican place in Trafalgar Square. The cow outside caught my eye.

So pleased we went in. My son had the time of his life with the magician, balloons etc.

At £12 for 2 courses my friend and I couldn't complain either.

We were there for much longer than I had intended, and spent more too, but it was well worth it!

I shouldn't be saying this as I also work in a Covent Garden restaurant but I

highly recommend you take your kids here on a weekend.
Comment on this reader review

9 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, July 05, 2011

Wow, what an amazing experience. We were going to the theatre and didnt have much time, but all the staff were really accommdating and put our order on priority. We even managed to have a dessert. The Peanut Butter Cheesecake is absolute must. The Happy Hour cocktails are absolutely delicious. I would recommend Smollensky's and I will definitely be going back very soon.
Comment on this reader review

10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Friday, May 06, 2011

Saturday night at Smollensky's was fantastic! We had cocktails on arrival and delicious steaks accompanied with a bottle of Rioja! Loved the pianist Ed. This place is a must.......Great atmosphere.
Comment on this reader review

DT
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Sunday, March 20, 2011

I had dinner at Smollensky's on Friday evening and had an amazing time! It is a typical American! Loved it! Fab steaks and great cocktails followed by a bottle of the Californian Pinot Noir! Service was skilled and friendly! Will be back for sure to try the BBQ Ribs as they looked amazing on the table next to our!
Comment on this reader review

TC
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Sunday, March 13, 2011

I havent been to Smollenskys for a few years, its changed. The food was never amazing but at least it had small booths where you could sit and an atmosphere. Now all that has been ripped out, its a canteen! and an expensive one. The food was truly truly awful. Two of my children had nuggets and chips, usual frozen fare, two of us had burgers with coleslaw (i thought that went with prawn cocktail starters years ago) the cheese on the burger was a cheap slice you get in fast food joints, the meat was poor and the bun was not very fresh. My third child, he's 13, had salmon with vegetables. I refused to pay for his dish as all the vegetables were completely uncooked and Im not exaggerating. They initially wanted to charge me £2.50 less to cover the price of the uncooked potato (and there was just one). A bit of advice for the owners, get rid of the cow in tatty fancy dress on the door (not sure of its relevance) and give your staff something to feel proud about. The look on their glum faces wasnt a surprise they are obviously embarrassed having to pass off this slop as food in a cold souless room and to people to disheartened to complain.
Comment on this reader review

Rory
1 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Saturday, December 18, 2010

I went to Smollensky's the other day with my friends to celebrate my birthday after a friend of mine recommended me this place.I have to say that the cocktails were amazing! We arrived just in time for the happy hour and the bartender offered us a selection of fruity and refreshing the drinks that I never tried before(I recommend The Cubanesque Cocktail).

Once we sat in the restaurant area we started with a goat's cheese and portobello mushroom starter dressed with pesto and basil.Absolutely georgous!

Then I had a Sirloin SteaK with a creamed spinach wich I will definetly have again next time a go back there.The meat was soft and juicy.

And if you still got room I recommend you the peanut butter cheesecake.

Our waitress was lovely and helpful without trying to pretend patronize us.
Comment on this reader review

Naomi
10 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Saturday, October 23, 2010

I had a fantastic night @ smollenskys on the strand; food very good, atmosphere brilliant, service excellent!

i will definetely comeback again.....
Comment on this reader review

john murphy
9 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Saturday, October 23, 2010

I dined at Smollensky's last Friday and I have to say it's one of the worst restaurants in London.

My starter was a fish cake with a few rocket leaves. The fish cake was obviously frozen not fresh, contained virtually no fish and was tasteless. The rocket was brown and limp.

The main was 'cumberland sausage' and mash. The sausages were cheap frozen sausages, wrinkled up and shrivelled, with virtually no meat in them.

It's a shame to see what used to be a good restaurant has cashed-in on its previously good name and reputation and is now serving cheap food to the unsuspecting public.

Avoid at all costs.
Comment on this reader review

1 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, October 05, 2010

We took ourselves and our four children (16,14,12 and 7) to Smollensky's on the strand after a show last weekend. We wove our way through covent garden, alive with buzz and atmosphere, ignoring all the wonderful eateries because we had booked. Well, as we walked in the empty restaurant, we felt the atmosphere change, and, to be honest, if it had just been my husband and I we would have walked straight out again! However, four hungry kids needed feeding, so with huge trepidation we sat at the table given to us and bit our tongues.The waitress was harassed for some reason and not really with us,The 16 year old (who looks like an adult) was given a kids menu with colours!!However we just thought this was hysterical and moved on. The kids menu was depressing in its complete lack of imagination and, as my 12 year old said it was very patronising!! My monkfish was delicious and the creamed spinach was gorgeous! my discerning 16 year old said his medium rare burger was one of the most succulent he had ever tasted and my husband found the steak "surprisingly" good.The taped music was excellent, and even though they tried to charge us for the two kids free meals...... generally a good result. However nothing would get me to go back with all the wonderful choice so close by. Just shows how important atmosphere is!!
Comment on this reader review

Naomi Carr
4 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 3
Friday, September 03, 2010