St John

British classic

Pig cheek and dandelion

If you were asked to name a high-quality, classic British restaurant in London, St John would be one of the very first places to come to mind for most Londoners. Opened by the legendary chef Fergus Henderson, a British pioneer in championing nose-to-tail cooking,St John's style of cooking takes a no nonsense approach; you wouldn't see any fancy presentation or combinations of creative ingredients on the menu, it's just very British-style cooking that emphasises quality ingredients.Even the restaurant itself is somewhat plain and simple with its decor, which means that unless you've done you're research on its Michelin star you could miss this.

St John Smithfield 

Brown crab on toast

The pig cheek salad got us off to a solid start, it was bold in seasoning and very crispy, which acted as a good contrast to the lightness of the edible dandelion. The brown crab meat on toast was very rich and creamy and still retained its fresh from the sea flavours. The weakest dish on the day was the pigeon with pea and bacon; it could have been moister and served a little more pink to fully appreciate the tenderness of this meat, but the seasoning was spot on. The roast pork was what a proper roast meat should be, the meat was moist and packed with flavours, while the carrots on the side offered a hint of sweetness which paired well with the meat.

Pigeon, pea and bacon

Middle White roasted pork

My meal at St. John had its high and low moments. In my own Michelin star bench-marking, it's hard to understand why St.John has a star considering the quality of its cooking level is matched by so many less-recognised restaurants out there right now. Without a doubt, the food was very solid but it was far from exceptional. Having said that, the service was excellent and charming and l thought the wine list was fairly-priced and affordable. Funnily enough, I was actually a great fan of its simple and high ceiling interior, as it reminded me of my old boarding school's dining room. St.John would definitely be a recommendation for people who are into classic British cuisine.

Food 3.5/5

What I paid: 
£50 per head with wine

Average cost without drinks and services:
£40

26 St John St, London EC1M 4AY

https://www.stjohngroup.uk.com/