St. JOHN Restaurant in Islington

Very authentic feeling British spot! The food was overall not that great in our opinion except for the bone marrow which was pretty good and the madeleins which were absolutely delicious. Service was perfect and very friendly.

Outstanding restaurant with friendly cooperative staff and mesmerizing environment. I recently had the pleasure of trying the Roast bone marrow and it literally soothed my taste buds. Highly recommend.

I have been going to St. John for nearly twenty years. I used to live close, but now I live abroad but still make it a point to visit when I’m back in London. Why? Because this place is truly iconic, it knows itself and remains magnificent. Remarkably, it has lost none of its authenticity over the years. If you are not an adventurous eater, it’s probably not the place for you. But if you like eating slightly unusual parts of the animal (marrow, kidneys, liver etc), then commit yourself, get stuck in and enjoy. I just ended a wonderful lunch there: Champagne Madeira Terrine Crispy pig cheek Bone marrow Mallard Calf’s liver and bacon Greens Welsh rarebit Port Calvados Madeleines Expert service, unparalleled freshness of ingredients, and wonderful wine list. This is truly the restaurant I would like to visit the day before I die.

The OG. The modern British food scene started here. Last time I was here we just popped in for drinks, and the saint johns branded wine is really solid. A perennial favourite.

We were lucky enough to score a walk-in table for a long lunch on a Sunday in the restaurant. We had previously dined at the Marleybone restaurant and wanted to return to St John, but this time at the original restaurant, to try the bone marrow and parsley salad. We arrived at opening time and got to enjoy our table for over 2.5 hours, getting to experience the restaurant being quiet with just us to a buzzy and happening place. I was lucky enough to be facing the kitchen and observing the action, yet never did the sounds of the kitchen interrupt or overtake the dining experience. We ordered a selection of food so that we could try a variety of different things. Our favourite dish was the bone marrow and parsley salad - so simple, yet so delicious. Our least favourite dish was the rabbit, it was a little dry and didn’t burst with flavour like some of the other dishes we had. We finished with the bread and butter pudding and a recommended glass of port. A very enjoyable experience and would recommend visiting St John either the original or the Marleybone restaurant, both lovely for their own reasons.

I can see why this was one of Bourdain's favorites (if not his favorites). Paper tablecloths, simple decor on the top of a normal bar. The atmosphere is fun, and casual and light. No pretentiousness. Food was good, but in my humble opinion (I am not a Michelin reviewer, just a schmuck on the internet) it's not one star worthy. If I'm being extremely picky, the bread I believe was over-toasted (it was sharp to the point it was cutting into the roof of my mouth). One of my marrow bones had hardly anything in it. In addition, I believe that the Lamb's Liver was also underseasoned but that may just be my salt-crazed American pallette. In terms of highlights, the Madelines are a must try, they are served hot and fresh and are a real treat. Also the chips with the Lamb's Liver were the best I had during my stay. Staff was friendly and kind. They were very very busy for a Monday so I was dining for a while, but they were extremely helpful.

Terrible experience. They rushed us to order but service was slow, and then they forgot part of our order, which we waited for more than an hour to arrive. We decided to leave before expected. Food is okay. Too overrated. Truly underwhelming as we went for a special occasion. Not going back.

My wife and I are on a rare getaway, in this case to London. On our one night without children, we had the opportunity to visit a restaurant we have wanted to visit for some time-- St John's Unfortunately, we ran into allergy issues-- my wife has a severe, albeit non-anaphylactic egg allergy. We dined at St John's, and from the start of our dinner made sure our waiter was aware of my wife's allergy. Items were crossed off on our menu, on the dessert area in particular. We proceeded through our meal accordingly. Out of the "non-egg" dessert options, our first two choices (cheese and stout sponge) were unavailable so we settled for the jam roll, and ordered some dessert wine. Once it arrived, my wife started enjoying the jam roll, only for us to realize half way through it that it likely had egg in the sauce. It turns out that this was indeed the case. This resulted in my wife being violently ill in the bathrooms at the restaurant, and she is likely to be very unwell for the remainder of our trip as this allergen causes her to be ill for days. One of the wait staff, in an attempt to seem empathetic (???) made some comment about their relative who was egg intolerant. Egg allergies are actual allergies, and should not be minimized like this-- this cavalier attitude toward allergens in retrospect made sense given that allergens do not seem to be taken seriously at St John's.

I'm so disappointed. I came here for my birthday after months since reserving a table. Underwhelming cannot begin to describe our experience. We arrive on time, order some drinks, and after a few moments, told we had better order because there are people waiting for our table. So we quickly order, food takes quite a while. I receive the bone marrow, the most expensive starter on the menu, and barely any of it is edible because it has been overcooked. So that's about £13 for a piece of bread, which was plonked alongside the marrow bones. Afterwards myself and my partner are handed the mutton, a main which was also one of the most priciest on the menu, and the portion size is tiny. Five or six thinly sliced pieces of meat. Mutton is not an expensive cut, I'm not sure what happened with that. Worse, we go to order dessert, and it never arrives. Our table reservation, so coveted apparently, was supposed to be given up at 8:15pm but we are still sat there gone 9pm and we haven't received our dessert. My partner had even asked for a candle to be put into one of the desserts apparently, but still nothing. They eventually offer to take the dessert off of our bill, and we wait longer, but still nothing. It took me to actually get up and walk over to the manager to ask for the bill to leave and get out of the place. I could also mention the state of the bathrooms downstairs, or even trying to get to them, tripping over the bags of the patrons at the bar who had decided to sprawl there goods all over the place, and the bits of toilet paper on the stairs. So we end as I started out - so disappointed, St John. I've waited about 10 years to try your restaurant but never again. I hope that people read this and think twice before deciding to dine with you for a special occasion or otherwise. I also regret paying the service charge, since service was basically non-existent.

St John, the establishment that triggered a British culinary revolution has still got “it”! Getting a table at a convenient time can be challenging but it’s worth the effort. The barebones dining room looks like an East London workhouse given a moderate makeover, and the food is very British Beige, but tasty. The classic bone marrow on toast is great, and I can recommend the faggots and mash. The lemon posset was a bit underwhelming, or else it would have been a 5 star experience. Great selection of wines, though a few more options by the glass would have been nice. Service was friendly and efficient.

St. John was definitely a unique experience. The service was great, all of the staff were lovely and attentive. The pickled mackerel were a standout for us - unreal don’t sleep on it! If it is available get it - trust. The artichokes were also great and so was the bone marrow of course. We tried the devilled kidneys on toast - these were very rich definitely had a particular taste (we were warned they weren’t for everyone) but don’t have regrets about trying them! Only suggestion for these would be to get a side to soak up the sauce or balance the dish more. We got a side of the greens but the dressing was a bit heavy. Side note the St. John Pinot Noir was actually very good as well. Overall it was a memorable experience and we would definitely come back!

The food was simply sad looking. I do acknowledge St John’s impact on the fine dining world, but the food was just not… hitting. The flavours and textures were very understated and frankly, not great. We paid £28 for a crab dish that we had to deshell ourselves and we barely got any meat out of it. We also spotted a mouse on the way to the toilets. Not worth the hype in my opinion. Thankfully, the meal was fairly cheap.

A must when in London. Bourdain said it was possibly his favorite restaurant in the world.

Unique dining experience with amazing food and service.

Bone marrow and rarebit was incredible

Bone marrow is not always available. Portion of main ingredient of the dish isn’t good. Nice flavor but not in value. Madeleine is best when served.

Lovely place to stop in for a quick drink & small plates. Consistently good.

Found it thanks to the various guides because it is not a place recommended by various social networks, however in a very central area and perfect for immersing yourself in real English culture, different from the various markets. There are various restaurants, we went to the former slaughterhouse, dishes we had never tasted before, but with simple products of the highest quality, English service of a high standard, excellent value for money. Daily menu with reinterpretations of the various dishes and ingredients, we had crispy pig's cheek and roast duck and carrots, crazy. A must go there at least once for every visit to London.

Really delicious food. Friendly, attentive service, very simple, basic decor but wonderful, lively atmosphere.

Amazing food, brilliant concept (nose to tail eating), I already have my next visit booked in the diary!

Delicious and so well priced. If I go again I'd skip the bone marrow - first time trying and it's just not for me - and get more pate instead. For the main we shared the pie which was amazing and the rarebit which I loves! Only regret was not having enough space for desert at the end

Toby was an awesome host. Knowledgeable and yet welcoming. We ate and drank very well and left jolly and with big spirits.

Friendly service, banal food, clinical decor. Friendly and polite employees serving a loyal clientele. Food is basic and bland. Ingredients used are of a good and fresh quality but quality ingredients can take cuisine only so far. For the price, I expected more. The interior decor of the dining room is almost entirely white: floors, table linens, employee uniforms and walls. No art or flowers. Obviously intended as a blank canvas for the food and clientele to shine. Also the kitchen needs better ventilation as the dining room (and diners’ clothes after dining here) smell(s) too much of food.

Ordered the crispy pig skin salad, which was delicious. Also had the roast mutton, which was too fatty for my taste but nevertheless delicious! It's a great place for an elevated casual lunch.

I'm sure other reviews say how good their food is. I came here recently, but hadn't been for 10 years, largely because you need to reserve quite a long time in advance, but I managed to get a table for 2 for 9:30 on a Tuesday evening at a week's notice. It's worth it.

It's fashionable. I think people who read KUNEL will like it.

Unconventionally superb! A great selection of food and drinks in an unfussed and friendly atmosphere- one of my top 5 in London.

Fourteen years I’d been waiting for this meal. It all started back in 2009, when I first set foot in Richard Corrigan’s kitchen, fresh from France. Since then, I’ve found myself cooking in Elton John’s house, serving at Buckingham Palace, ladling soup at charity kitchens, and working events for everyone from the glitterati to the average punter. But St. John? That’s always been the gold standard. The birthplace of what food “ought to be.” It’s raw, no-nonsense, and as honest as it gets. Hospitality stripped back to the essentials—simple, unvarnished, and absolutely spot on. It takes a certain boldness to keep things this pure, regardless of years in the game or glowing reviews. After a recent refurb, the place is immaculate, with that classic white-on-white look that feels timeless, almost like a sanctuary. You’re stepping into something iconic here. And what happens at St. John? It doesn’t just stay here. It lingers, following you well after you’re gone. It’s not cheap, but worth every penny. If you truly love food, leave your allergies and dietary worries at the bar, grab a good pint, and let yourself rediscover what proper eating is all about. You won’t regret it.

Great atmosphere and service. Food is delicious. Prices are fair considering the high quality. Although I must say we enjoyed the starters more than the mains!

Would love to come back. Delicious.

One of my favourite restaurants in the world and one of the best arguments for British food I've ever experienced. The staff were incredible, the perfect balance of attentiveness and leaving you to enjoy your food and company. They also advise on how much we should order (they actually suggested that we ordered too many side dishes) as well as wines to pair well with different dishes. The food itself was, as you would expect, exceptional. The famous Bone Marrow exceeded the hype, we had Pigeon and Sole which were beautifully cooked with the perfect accompaniments. This place has made me wish Welsh Rarebit was available as a side in every restaurant. The meal overall was very good value for money considering the amount and quality of what we ate. Absolutely looking forward to going back at the soonest opportunity.

Absolutely stunning restaurant! I was here recently and had some of the most fantastic food. Firstly we were pleasantly greeted by a lovely gentleman (didn’t catch his name but he was super chatty and lovely). And we were seated right by the kitchen which was perfect! Loved seeing the chefs work, one of them was butchering a whole pig at one point - incredible! The food was an easy 10/10. The bone marrow was easily the best dish we had, it’s obvious why they run out of this so quickly. The pork head and broth was so rich and delicious and we loved the lamb and the blood cake too. And how could I forget the Welsh rarebit. So rich and delicious. I want this again! And I’d go back just to have the bone marrow again and again. Highly recommended.

I’d wanted to come here for ages and finally got the chance to go for dinner, but the food was mostly underwhelming. We had a few small plates, one main which was disappointing. The small plates / starters were pleasant, and tasty enough, the stand out dish was the Welsh rarebit.

Travelled from Thailand to this legendary establishment in 2022. I'm a big fan of Anthony Bourdain's No reservation and this place is on my bucket list. The staffs were lovely and the food was execptional. Simple yet elegance no frills British cuisine. Highly recommended.

Fantastic lunch. The service from James was perfect. Food amazing as expected and the atmosphere is great.

Great food served in a quirky decor/set up

Came for lunch on a Friday, the restaurant and bar area were both busy. The food was excellent, with the standouts being the bone marrow starter and honeycomb ice cream for dessert. The service was friendly without being overbearing. Prices were reasonable given the quality of food Can’t wait to visit again!

Second visit this year and it was as good as the first time. I'd pass on the famous bone marrow starter next time - it's hit and miss as to whether you actually get any marrow but what you do get is delicious. The potted beef was as great as I remember it. Pheasant and Trotter pie was excellent as was the Hake and the Welsh Rarebit. All washed down with a bottle of St John Macon. Finished with fresh madeleines and a Fergroni. If you're used to overly attentive service then dont expect that here. The service is good but a few more smiles would not go amiss. We'll be back next time we're in London.

Genuinely disappointing. Had been booked for a while following a friend’s recommendation. Wouldn’t go again. Service was slow at best and poor throughout - the ‘roast Welsh’ made me think I might have had pork from a Toby carvery. Really poor experience. Selling cheap options at overinflated prices. Sadly nothing positive to offer.

Excellent food, wine and service.

Jackson was an absolutely immaculate server. The food arrived promptly and he was fantastic chat and charisma. My sister has a crush on him - send your deets Jack!!!

One of my favourites in London.

Really nice place. Very good service, somewhat casual and delicious food from the less common ingredients (tripes, bone marrow, pork skin, brain, snails etc). Strong wine selection.

We ordered the bone marrow and lamb broth for starters, followed by the roast lamb and plaice. While the starters were decent, both main dishes were disappointing—the meats were tough and lacked flavour. Moreover, the wait time between courses was about 40 minutes, which affected the overall dining experience.

Reservations are required for the restaurant section, we had a pleasant night by finding a table in the bar section. A historic offal shop in London. Different presentations of offal were nice.

Loved my experience here. Place is a London icon. The food is delicious and the desserts are great too. A must try when in London.

Welsh rarebit special, and a fergroni.

Way overpriced; food was overcooked and too salty. We ordered cockles and beef heart for starters plus roast partridge for mains. Cockles - steamed in a buttery sauce. Overcooked and the sauce was way too salty to the point of being inedible. So salty I couldn't even dip bread in it and eat the bread. Beef heart - also rubbery. A few measly slices came served with a sad little pinch of vinegared veggies on the side. I've cooked this at home before (both pan fried and grilled) and know beef hearts shouldn't be rubbery when cooked right. Roast partridge - the one dish that was well executed. But hey, it's hard to mess up rotisserie when your meat quality is good. Nothing special, nothing extraordinary.

British food perfection. I still dream about the pig ear salad, even asked for one to go (but they didn’t have containers). The food is amazing, servers are really helpful, the vibe is friendly. It’s a must in London.

I was lucky enough to get a last-minute booking for their 30th anniversary menu. This restaurant had been on my radar for several years but it was the promotion that finally made try it. I had the famous bone marrow but I have had better bone marrow elsewhere. In my opinion the green salad with parsley, capers and dressing overpowers the flavour of the bone marrow, and it should be served with something else. I ordered two mains, the skate with tomato and aioli and a lamb chop that replaced the roast Mangalitza that they ran out of. I was served both mains at once, which made me a bit stressed about food getting cold. I would have preferred having those served staggered and I am guessing service did not warn the kitchen. The skate was very well cooked and balanced and the combination with the juicy tomatoes and aioli worked perfectly. The lamb roast on the other hand was lukewarm and although it was tasty and tender it was not as interesting. For dessert I ordered the lemon posset and the Eccle Cake with Lancashire cheese. I was indifferent to the former, and pleasantly surprised with the latter. The pairing with the cheese works really well and I enjoyed it a lot. I ordered 6 madeleines to go that came right out of the oven, which is something I really appreciated and should be encouraged in bakeries. Other than the fault with the main dishes the service was very attentive and kind. The ambiance of the place is relaxed and also formal, which I really loved. St. John is a staple in London and it is a must-try. The anniversary promotion made the meal more special and enjoyable , but I am not sure I would have been so happy to pay the full price for all those dishes which could have easily been over £100. However, overall I really liked the variety and quality of their menu and I will definitely come back.

My husband and I were in London for maybe 36 hours on a big Euro vacation from America. We barely saw anything - spent all of our time at the Tates (a longtime dream). At about 1 p.m. we left the Tate Modern and my husband said he would like to try the St. John in Smithfield because of something about Anthony Bourdain. We walked across London and arrived with about an hour left to eat. The restaurant wouldn't seat us without a reservation - of course, no problem. We love a bar, so we sat with people finishing their lunches and ordered from the bar menu. I felt a little underdressed in jeans, a tee and walking shoes, but we ordered wine, beer, rarebit, green salad, and an egg salad sandwich at the bar, so I suppose what I was wearing was just right. People cleared out. It was just us. The restaurant was empty. We watched the cooks wandering into the basement to restock their kitchens. I sheepishly asked the man at the bar if it would be alright to order a dessert. He said "Of course." We ordered another glass of wine and a beer to enjoy with our bread pudding. Later, when I found out there are Michelin Stars involved here, I was relieved, because I would have felt so silly walking in an hour before close in a pair of Levi's - but at no point did the staff make me feel so. They were all lovely, the food was gorgeous, and the St. John (besides maybe the Waterhouse and the Hockey at the Tate) was my favorite memory of London. Thank you so much St. John!

I visited during the sale period for the 1994 price to commemorate the 30th anniversary (the usual price is much higher) and the atmosphere was bright and cheerful compared to the formal service. However, it's a shame that I couldn't eat dessert because the serving time was too long, almost 2 hours. The taste was not as good as expected. I wonder if they will pay the full price and visit. Visited for the 30th anniversary menu so was able to enjoy St.Johns at a considerably lower price. I loved the atmostphere - a bit too loud but bright and casual - but it took so long to get the meal served that I ended up having to give up dessert, which is a shame as I heard a lot of good things about them. The food was somewhat disappointing - I liked their bread and butter, and the Welsh rarebit but their main dishes were quite bland and meat tough. Staff were all very friendly and helpful.

The mackeral was boney and too salty. The duck had quite a lot of shot in it and was a bit tough. The blackberry tart was nice. Service very off hand, was made to feel like it was my fault I didn’t like the food! 🤨

Well established Michelin star restaurant. Celebrating 30 years.

I just want to say oh la la. mackerel, bone marrow, lemon sorbet. mamma mia.

this place use to have an amazing wine list but so much of it now has gone natural no point in showing up.

A culinary experience you won’t forget. Amazing food, service, and atmosphere!

Fantastic food, nice service and a place with great vibes! A hearty meal that will make your heart warm and your stomach full.

Incredible meal. A can't miss in London for some of the best British cuisine you can find. Don't skip the bone marrow.

Wow 🤯 if you haven’t been to St. John’s … what are you doing??!?! I can’t believe this was my first time here and my 1000th time in London, I will definitely be making this a regular. Was quite easy to get an early reservation for lunch. Really enjoyed the concept and overall food experience. The servers were so knowledgeable and are really proud of the animal sources and overall restaurant 10/10.

My partner and I have been wanting to come to St John’s for a few years and we were super excited to go. We orders two started, two mains and two desserts which came up to a total of £122. The atmosphere was great and the service was perfect but the food was very average and not worth the price point. Neither of us will be hurrying back to eat but will never not come back here.

One of the best meals we had when visiting London!

Live this place. From a quick pint to the full nose to tail.eating.

Fantastic restaurant. Pioneers of the new British cuisine. Locality and seasonality An interior that has not changed for more than a decade. Celebrity Chef Fergus Henderson In my opinion, the menu had no failures at all; absolutely everything was delicious. Excellent wine list The service was a little cold, but overall it didn’t spoil the attitude towards the restaurant An absolute must visit in London

1994 menu promo-it was meant to be available to book from 10am today. At 9:55, there was already no availability for September dates when special menu is on. Bs promotion.

St John not only has some of the most reasonably priced cocktails I have had in London so far but also some of the most delicious food as well! I enjoyed their snails and John dory whilst my partner enjoyed their goats curd and tomatoes. We left feeling very satisfied with our meal and will definitely be returning.

The best bone marrow was the best thing I have ever eaten.

While we enjoyed going out for dinner, this restaurant sadly is not worth it for the price you pay in our opinion. We were disappointed firstly with the presentation of the food, very little thought gone in when you are spending £15 - £30 a plate. Across all dishes we found them either to be too salty or sweet and the sauce with the rabbit was watery and lacking in flavour. All in all the balance was off in all dishes in our opinion and for what you are spending you get far better elsewhere. On the plus side our waiter was lovely, and the venue while not to our taste was unique, but sadly we won’t be rushing back.

A London institution for a very good reason. If you know and enjoy good food, never skip on the Bone marrow. We'll be back.

Quintessential London Dining Experience

Fantastic meal and exceptional service from a London institution. Quality British fare at its finest - great ingredients and smart twists on dishes classic and modern. Rustic settings and attentive wait staff. Massive wine & drinks list as well to complement the food.

Good was delicious, service was prompt and friendly. I don’t know how they do it, but I love the way they did their greens. The beetroot was juicy and sweet. Pea mash was heavenly. They also have special menus for the day, would have loved to tried their eel pie. Portion looks huge. Note that there’s an outdoor bakery and a dining restaurant on the inside. Honestly would go back for the dining and tried out their bakes and coffee if back again. Honestly price wise I think it’s reasonable in relation to the food portion.

We were kicked out. We were out all day and didn't have time to get dressed up at the hotel. Since we had a reservation anyway, we figured that wouldn't be a problem. But we were probably wrong, as we entered the restaurant an employee from the kitchen gave us the first disgusted look. It took a few minutes before one came towards us. This man led us to our table, he was the first and last nice employee in this restaurant. After a few seconds, bread was thrown at us without a word, without a plate. The waiter came and condescendingly took the order, then took the butter and bread basket back with him, even though we hadn't even finished yet. After two, maximum three minutes we were served cold lamb with a few cold beans for £30. Cold, not lukewarm. We then paid straight away and got out of there. It's a wonder how this restaurant has one star. We were treated differently at the Savoy and you didn't get the feeling that you would be treated differently there with our "street clothes". So guys, if you're looking for a Michelin-starred restaurant in London, go to Savoy, they also serve warm food if they don't like your outfit.

Went for a Wednesday night dinner and service was amazing! Our waiter was very friendly The bone marrow & sardines were delicious - but the braised beef was slightly too chewy for my liking. The rest of the food was ok. Pavlova for dessert was the best!

This restaurant is amazing, among the best in London for sure, the food is not only delicious but also unique, the duck leg was falling-appart tender but the breast was a bit chewy, Treacle Tart tasted amazing, very sweet and rich but the sauce cuts through the richness perfectly, and the madelines are a must have, totally worth the wait. Service and attention where good too, a bit pricey but worth it

A very nice dining area with white-washed decor and professional staff. Although a bit noisy the day we went due to a large group gathering, it was difficult to hear each other while talking. Nevertheless, I liked the seating and the food options. The fish was great, simply out of this world, cooked to perfection. We also enjoyed our braised lamb, and yes, the sardines were grilled with mastery. Will try bone marrow and ox liver some other day. and yeah they have some good cocktails.

St. John is always a great experience. With its daily-changing menu there's always a lot of excitement surrounding every visit. There's a good selection of wine and usually there are some decent veggie or pescatarian options, but let's be honest, the meat dishes are the real draw. The best advice I can give you is if they ever have pie on the menu, get the pie, and don't even consider getting anything else!

Visited in May during a quick London getaway. Everything was phenomenal. I understand they change the menu seasonally so I won’t list what I had. They take pride in their culinary art and it definitely shows. We took the last dinner reservation yet staff were patient with us

So good to experience excellent British recipes….creative dishes that you wouldn’t normally have, so flavoursome, fresh and vegetables cooked to perfection. Love the chilled out setting. Definitely recommend but book in advance to get a table!!

Absolutely wonderful, one of the best meals I have ever had with lovely staff who were very helpful and clearly very passionate about the food. We went for lunch and found the place to be very unpretentious, it's a place where they let the food shine and stand on the quality of the food. It was an open kitchen and getting to watch the chef was really fantastic. Our group of three had three different dishes, one beef, one with pigs cheek and one with pork belly and trotters, all of them were just wonderful. The green salad as a side was incredibly simple but somehow had such an amazing depth of flavour and the Welsh rarebit was unreal. The dessert menu is very extensive and the date loaf with butterscotch sauce was the best dessert my Mum has ever had while the Madeleines were absolutely incredible, so simple but so good. I also thought for the equality of the food and service the price was very reasonable for a special meal.

Fantastic setting and atmosphere, good service (they messed up with the dessert and we got something complementary on them). Food was excellent but one dish that was uneatable: Poached Hake, fennel and aioli tasted like chewing raw garlic (I should have known better seeing delicate fish and sweet fennel combined with garlic).

Friendly staff, delicious food and interesting ambiance, and the madeleines!!! I love the restaurant’s philosophy of using all parts of food ingredients without wasting. Besides, I loved the long extending hooks for bags and clothes on the walls. British practicality? 👍👍👍Some might find it a bit too pricey but not really so as a Micheline starred restaurant.

Our first time trying traditional English food and I think it’s a little bit pricey for what they offer. Simple food, too heavy. Service is very nice, tho.

Coming from out of town St JOHN was on our list. Accidentally made a reservation for the wrong location and the staff was kind enough to go above and beyond to accommodate the two of us late in the evening. Food and atmosphere are amazing, I would recommend anyone coming to London.

My horrible experience at this restaurant has prompted to write my first google review. It baffles me that an establishment like this has a Michelin star as well as relatively good reviews. It’s made me question my sanity really. I was so excited to dine here because of its Michelin star rating, Anthony Bourdain’s high praise, and overall good reviews. However, I was severely disappointed. My review is due to the poor service and subpar food. St. John has an almost all-white interior. The ambience (or lack of) feels like you're in a mental asylum and sterile. Service: When we sat down, we were served bread and butter right away but were not provided bread plates. Our server knew of this as she saw that we had to rest our butter knives in the bread basket, yet she did nothing about it. Our server did not take the time to run us through a menu that, perhaps due to not being familiar with British cuisine, we did not know half of what was on there. Throughout the meal we were not asked if we were enjoying the meal once and it almost felt like our table was forgotten about. One experience that really tainted the experience was when one of the busy boys placed our appetizers on our table without saying a word, looked at us, and then walked away. This same bus boy was seen touching his phone and then touching the tops of the utensils he was supposed to clean. Ironically there are signs in the dining room that mention to not have your phones out. Food: On top of the service, what truly made this experience horrible was having to pay for overpriced mediocre at best food. This part again really confuses me because everyone seems to like the food here but truly I would not pay for this food at all. We ordered the “famous” bone marrow and pig ear dish. The bone marrow was nothing special and the parsley “salad” was more like a garnish than a salad. Maybe we were served smaller bones or were just not competent in taking the bone marrow out of the bones but I don't think the bone marrow we got even amount to a tablespoon. The pig ear tasted like nothing and the salad was overdressed and way too oily. For our entrees, we ordered the ox tail and the eel. While the oxtail was cooked nicely, you could find better mash at any non-michelin star restaurant. Overall the oxtail was not worth the price. The eel was way too salty, too small of a portion for the price, and its runner beans were watery and just basically steamed vegetables with horseradish thrown on top. We were going to order their medeleines but the idea of waiting 15 more minutes for mediocre overpriced food at this restaurant was unbearable. Overall, the restaurant felt as if it was trying too hard and yet did not deliver on anything. Save your money and try all the other restaurants London has to offer.

We've wanted to eat here for years and it didn't disappoint. Bone marrow on toast was just as good as I imagined. Staff were quirky and friendly

Unfortunately, I have to give a low rating due to food poisoning after a dinner 6/25. I believe it came from their lamb heart special that night. It was our first time at a Michelin rated restaurant and while the service and overall food experience was great this ruined the rest on my trip in London. They also ran out of the paired side dish and had to substitute something else.

Food was excellent and the style felt casual, with the quality shining through each dish. Highly recommend.

To say that I had high expectations going into St. John would be an understatement. This is quite simply one of the best dining experiences I have ever had.

My favourite place in the whole world

The mackerel fish is really delicious, it tastes salty. The salad is fresh when you eat it will taste wasabi. This food is finished until only the fish bones remain. Asian tastes definitely suit this menu. Enjoy

It was a very pleasurable experience

Elevated pub food. Not my taste but good bites. Their bread and madeleine cookies were the highlights.

What a dinner it was! Everything we ate was delicious and staff was lovely. I know they have an amazing selection of wines but we also enjoyed the house wine as well. I had turbot and my dish was excellent. We tried the bone marrow, let me say: the vibe is real. We also had 3 desserts and the madeleines are worth special mention! St John, as of this moment, is a regular 'to go' restaurant for us in London. Thanks chefs.

Superb restaurant, great food and wine, lovely staff

My mom and I had an incredible lunch here. After hearing so many recommend St. John’s, we were very excited. Although the food was amazing, what really made the meal special was our waiter, Oz. He was kind enough to walk us through the menu, ask us about ourselves, and provided amazing service. He recommended we try the bone marrow, poached skate, welsh rarebit, crispy pig skin, and ox heart (special). I loved the bone marrow and the ox heart. The bone marrow on top the sourdough with the parsley was very rich, but also refreshing because of the parsley. The ox heart was lean, but surprisingly quite tender and full of flavor. I ate it with the horseradish that it came with and wow, what a bite (a somewhat painful one haha). For dessert, Oz recommended the ginger loaf and butterscotch sauce, and of course the madeleines. The ginger-loaf was AMAZING. It wasn’t overly sweet, and was so moist and I could eat it for every meal. I would recommend getting a cup of earl gray to drink with it. As for the madeleines, they were warm and light, and oh so delicious. We will definitely return to St. John’s on our next visit to London.

I think the atmosphere is marmite but I love the smells of the bakery and the minimalist, kitchen aesthetic, fits beautifully with the Smithfield area. Food still incredible and their wine list barely ever puts a foot wrong whatever budget. House Cremant highly recommended for value if you're meeting friends for a drink.

Love the changing daily menu. The service and food are spectacular. The place and staff are warm and welcoming. We’ll be back!

One of the best restaurants in London, and a must if you want to try really good English food. And beware, this is a good restaurant for sharing. We saw some couples ordering a small dish as an entrée and then a second large dish, but I think it works best if you order (for two people) 2-3 small plates, 1-2 big ones, a side, and then a dessert or two. Let me review the dishes one by one. First of all, good drinks, I thoroughly enjoyed the Bloody Mary. For small plates, we first got the Salsify, Leeks, and Watercress. This was my favourite of them all, I have never even heard of this vegetable/root before, but I am obsessed. I will be eating this forever now, the way it was beautifully cooked with a delicate salty outside layer and sweetness at the core. It paired perfectly with the leeks and watercress to create a delightful glazy side salad. Second, we got salt beef with mustard and potatoes, which was so full of flavour and beautiful contrasts. Quite simple, and so effective. I love mustard and this felt so earthy and delicious. Lastly, we had the cuttlefish with beans and aioli, which was magnificent, so much taste packed into a cute little plate. I loved the mushy texture of the beans and the saltiness of the fish, wow…. Moving onto big plates. We had lentils with goat’s curd, which was so yummy, with a layer of mustard and lentils with lovely saltiness and herby spice. The goat’s curd, like a mix between goat’s cheese and clotted cream, was addictive!!!!! Then we had the star of the show— braised ox cheek. It melted in my mouth, so sweet and tender and the mashed potato was so hearty and smooth. Probably the best dish of the evening. We paired it with some greens as a side, which were good, but did not live up the ones we had in February at their Bread & Wine restaurant. Still, it’s seasonal which I respect very much, and I enjoyed them. For dessert we had Rhubarb eton mess, ohmygod… so creamy and the meringue was so sticky. The rhubarb’s tartness was so fitting. Would eat 10000 of this. Overall, fantastic experience, would love to go back. Will probably try Marylebone next. I love that they switch up the menus every day! I am sorry that we were so full and satisfied that we couldn’t finish everything, but man did I wish we could…

I have heard so many good reviews about St Johns but it is one of those restaurants that you can't really dine alone. The only item I have tried from them was their doughnut from the Bakery however recently I got hyped on Calves liver because it was done right so found out that St Johns had it too hence went there to have a nosy at the menu. It turns out they also have a Wine bar which is casual featuring smaller plates tapas style which was perfect for me. They also had Ox liver which made my day so I dined there. As well as that, I had the Nettle and Ham soup and the Roasted Bone marrow with parsley Salad. Roast Bone marrow and parsley salad. I ordered this by impulse and definitely do not regret it but looking around everyone else's bones were taller and bigger than mine! Anyway, it was probably for my own good as I wasn't sharing especially all that cholesterol. It is really good how they just baked it like that and did not cut the bone horizontally as you lose a lot of the good stuff like that. This was the best bone marrow experience I have ever had because it was not ruined by garlic or herbs. The parsley salad was a match made in heaven as it was literally soaked in lemon juice which makes it appetizing on the sourdough with the marrow and its grassiness. It would have been nice if the toast was not so burnt because the edges were not edible. Ox Liver, Chicory and Anchovy. After tasting some amazing Calves liver that was done right, I have been trying to go somewhere that also delivers. Most restaurants that I wanted to go mainly do liver and onions or bacons using Calves Liver or Ox. I stumbled upon St Johns which serves this and found out that it was on the daily specials menu so how could I not try. I had the Ox Liver, Chicory and Anchovy which was from the wine bar. It really made my day as it was something different from liver and onions yet it was so tasty. The Ox liver was sliced and tossed with chicory in a creamy sauce flavoured by the anchovies and chopped parsley. It was simply delicious and the texture was beautiful a it was soft and velvety just like pigs liver when it is done right but it does not have that offal taste like pigs liver. I was expecting the Ox Liver to not be as good as Calves but it was just as good. Overall, I was really impressed to try another liver dish served so differently to liver and bacon. Nettle and Ham soup! This was my second time having nettle and again it was blended. The first time was nettle pasta as a sauce and now soup with ham. Basically the nettle was blended. I kept finding white cubes which I thought was potato but it was the fat from the ham which was horrific. There were tiny pieces of ham here and there though.