Smiths of Smithfield

I went for dinner on the top floor of Smith's just before Christmas. The restaurant was very quiet that day, and the staff were friendly and welcoming. Unfortunately a good start was let down by our four £35 Chateaubriand steaks coming out cold from the kitchen (we asked for them to be medium so they should have been hot at least on the outside). We sent them back, but even when they came back they were still cold. We were really hungry by that stage so just ate them anyway. There was NO apology from the staff, which I was shocked at, and nothing taken off the bill to compensate. I have been a waitress myself and I would be mortified to be charging people £35 for a steak they could not enjoy. Very disappointing - I won't be going back.
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thedarkhorse
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 2
Saturday, January 09, 2010

How disappointing it was. The food was very poor, the salt beef was a curly tasteless lump, the bagel bar in Brick Lane, or Selfridges would put this excuse for a restaurant to shame, and how can you mess up a falafel, they did. All three pudding eaters left at least half of their apple and blackberry crumble, which speaks volumes. Don't waste your money, and you will need a lot to waste. The atmosphere is not nearly good enough to make up for the food shortfalls.

Avoid this restaurant like the plague.
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Lenweed
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 2
Monday, January 04, 2010

Having been to SOS over a year ago and endured poor service, badly-cooked steaks and a generally sour taste in the mouth I booked again for a pre-Christmas party.

I must be a glutton for punishment - nothing has changed. Again Mr Torode was swanning about the place with little regard for the inept waiting staff and the appallingly slow service. Our party of 12 were seated promptly but had to wait an hour for our starters to arrive. At 4pm we had only just finished our main courses when we were asked to leave as they needed to prepare for evening service. We promptly pointed out that, having already spend over £800 we expected to have dessert and coffee.

Again, everyone's steaks were cooked the same regardless of how they asked for them, oysters were served warm as there was no ice and the food in general was unspectacular.

I mean it this time - I will not be going back.
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Vestan Pance
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 5
Monday, January 04, 2010

Went for a work Christmas party on Friday 11th December. 12 of us having dinner on the second floor.

Service was fairly good, I think taking into account the size of our table and the remainder of the restaurant being full. I'd say they could have done with at least one more waiter.

Food. The rabbit papadella was lukewarm by the time it was served and lacked a little flavour. Salt cod fritters were pretty tasty though. Burgers were described as truly excellent. I had the 9oz rib steak which was excellent too. One thing that disappointed me was the accompaniment, a pot of mustard mayonnaise. Maybe it's just me but for a steak that size at £14.50 I might have hoped for some bearnaise, or even the option to pay extra for it… I didn't ask to be fair though. Some fairly nice wines on the wine list, though the better quality seems to begin at £30+ a bottle.

Atmosphere was good, buzzing but not too loud. I'd say the value for money was pretty good. Though someone else was paying, so not sure how I would have felt paying for it myself.
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James Holden - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, December 22, 2009

I had a set meal at SOS, very expensive, small portions, indifferent staff. Never again.
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pat
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 0
Thursday, December 17, 2009

If you judge a place by how busy it is, and how long the queues are to get in, Smith's is stellar, in spite of its dreadful website.

The place is confusing to a newcomer, with four different restaurants on four different floors, not particularly clearly signposted. The IT system was unable to keep up with the internet booking, and the receptionist on the ground floor unsurprisingly struggled to keep up with the weight of customers and the broad range of her duties.

Each floor appears to be more expensive than the one below. The prices on the menu are written pretentiously (eg '4 1/2 pounds') but that is not a life-threatening criticism. I was told that the ground floor is first-come, first-served.

I visited to the top floor, which has a balcony and a nice view, and seemed calm, helped by white tablecloths. We ate lunch on the floor below the top floor - a hamburger and today's fish - and the food was fine. The sparkling water was home-bottled and therefore, I hope, free (I wasn't paying), which is a major plus. The service was friendly and pretty efficient, considering how busy they were.

I have no complaints (although I was glad to have missed the canned music on the ground floor), and, if you are looking for a lively time, it is definitely worth considering. I will try the top floor next time.

But I gather that you have to plan ahead, although Christmas is doubtless particularly frantic and therefore possibly unrepresentative of normal noise levels.
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James - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Friday, December 11, 2009

I visited SOS a few weeks ago with 6 friends who were visiting me in London. I had been to the restaurant a few years ago and remember it being reasonably good - so thought I'd give it another go.

There is no doubt that the place looks good and I have no complaints about the staff at all. However, all of us were very disappointed with the food. There was nothing wrong with it as such - but it was like something you'd get in an average pub. The steak was sort of OK but we all concluded that the chips must have been frozen - no doubt in fact! I expect something a little better than that from a restaurant with such a good name. My other half had something from the vegetarian menu and couldn't eat it as it was so bland. We ended up leaving without desert as I think we sort of felt that hey didn't deserve anymore of our money!

I have probably been pretty kind in this review to be honest and don't think I would ever visit there again.

PS. This is the first review of a restaurant I have ever written!
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David Turner - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 3
Friday, November 20, 2009

Had a stunning meal at SOS top floor last night. All of the food was superb. Wine was excellent. Service was even better. Just a stunning venue with the overall experience to match. We started with a beer downstairs, moved up a floor, had a glass of wine and then moved up to the top floor for dinner. The place was buzzing and full, no suprise there as everything about the place is class.
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Rob - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Went again today on the top floor for Sunday lunch, it was great, the beef was the best we have had for a long time, the staff were fantastic, would recommend to all. We had rib of beef for main and chocolate brownie for desert and great wine.
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Pat Barron
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Sunday, October 25, 2009

Went for the first time on 20th October 2009 lunch time downstairs, I had the steak pie and my husband had the chicken, we were both very pleased and will be going back next time we are in London. Staff were great, we waited a while for the meal; but they were packed and very busy, so no problem.
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Pat Barron
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, October 22, 2009