As we enter 2017, it’s time to wave goodbye to what was a fantastic year for London’s thriving restaurant scene. Before the year was out though, we managed to sneak in a handful of dinners, and it seems our readers did too; diner reviews, which can be left on our site by any budding gourmands, always make for entertaining and informative reads, helping our site to be a one-stop shop for all hungry Londoners. This is our chance to highlight your views, as well as a way for you to see the experiences of other diners in the capital.
To beat the January blues, we’ve also got some great prizes to reward you with. We’ve teamed up with Lavazza to bring you the glorious gift of coffee, among various other treats. Find out how to get involved at the bottom and you could be our next big winner…
Words: Eamonn Crowe
The City might be known for its high wages and tailored suits, but there is a thriving food scene under the glossy surface. Luncheon Vulture was thrilled by Jason Atherton’s recent arrival Temple & Sons (above), enjoying the “lipsmackingly good” game and truffle sausage roll, concluding that Temple & Sons is a “fantastic addition” to the area’s food scene. Karen H also dined in the area, trying out Smiths of Smithfield Cannon Street, where she enjoyed the “good quality” food and “reasonable” prices. However, slow service didn’t work so well for a City site – with a bit of fine tuning, we think this Cannon Street site will be a success.
London’s melting pot of cuisines continues to entice diners, with international flavours and global cuisines proving just the ticket. In Soho, Lloyd S was enamoured with Jinjuu (above), enjoying the “amazing” Korean fried chicken and “tasty” pork belly tacos. Wowing the crowds in Bloomsbury is Pisqu, which won a great review from Sam G. Sam loved the “exquisite food and service” and was a particular fan of the “delicious corn grain cake”. Finally, Timothy P was impressed by intimate Thai spot Kiln in Soho, commenting that “the glass noodles in a pot with pork and crab were a highlight” and noting that the food is “very good value, with efficient, friendly service”. We agreed, awarding Kiln two Squaremeal stars on our visit.
While most people visiting Southbank will make their way to Borough Market, there are plenty of other culinary options in the area that are not to be sniffed at. Sonya S made her way to Sea Containers at the Mondrian (above); although there were some hiccups with service, she was impressed by the “lush” views and “friendly” staff. Guy V also dined in the area, testing out Caravan Bankside, where he loved the “great food” and “child-friendly” atmosphere. Finally, Diane A was satisfied by Skylon's “superb” food, calling the experience “a real treat”.
Register with us here to join in, search for a restaurant and then leave your comments. We’re constantly rewarding our diner reviewers with prizes: next up, you could win a Lavazza coffee machine such as the Èspria Plus (above), and a £250 meal in a restaurant of your choice. Every week, we also pick out the best comments submitted to the site and give away cookbooks, bottles of fizz and more. Check out #SMDinerReview on Twitter for the latest.
This article was published 5 January 2017