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✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in ✔️Take out
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Lunchtime institution with fish on ice in the window, for classic dishes and comfort-food puddings.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 39 Queen Victoria St, London EC4N 4SF, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 20 7248 3062
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Sweetings Restaurant
The current website for Sweetings Restaurant is found at: www.sweetingsrestaurant.co.uk/. 39 Queen Victoria Street London EC4N 4SF United Kingdom Tel: 020 7 …
Sweetings – London – Restaurant – 50Best Discovery
Location. 39 Queen Victoria Street, City of London, London, EC4N 4SF. EXPLORE. Places nearby. Explore other great venues in the area. Hotel. The Ned London.
Reviews
londoner2304
Sweetings has been a fixture in the city for decades. I visited for lunch on a Thursday. Knowing it’s a very popular place that doesn’t take reservations I arrived just after opening time at 11:30am, but in hindsight this was too cautious as it only started to fill up at around 12pm (and was totally full by around 12:15pm). The layout is a bit unusual with the majority of seating being along a series of counters, apart from one section of regular tables at the back. The counter seating is quite uncomfortable being on backless stools while there isn’t really any space for your legs under the counter, so you basically have to sit further back and then lean forward while eating your meal.
I ordered a few of their headliner items, starting with the prawn cocktail, followed by the fish pie and then a sticky toffee for dessert. The prawn cocktail was fairly standard in flavour but nice enough, and was a strikingly large portion for a starter. I found the fish pie to be rather bland. The fish itself was fresh and well cooked but there was a lack of seasoning throughout and it was also a variant of pie with no pastry casing, but rather topped with a potato mash layer. The sticky toffee was pretty solid and my favourite item of the meal.
Service was very friendly. The bill for my meal came to £57 including an £11 glass of white wine. Overall I came away underwhelmed given the reputation and popularity of the place. Service was good and prices seemed fair given the generous portions, however the food itself was average and seating arrangements not great. It does get some credit for the “experience”, being a rarity of an old school British establishment which probably hasn’t changed in decades. But definitely a tick the box one for me, and I don’t see myself returning.
… moreI ordered a few of their headliner items, starting with the prawn cocktail, followed by the fish pie and then a sticky toffee for dessert. The prawn cocktail was fairly standard in flavour but nice enough, and was a strikingly large portion for a starter. I found the fish pie to be rather bland. The fish itself was fresh and well cooked but there was a lack of seasoning throughout and it was also a variant of pie with no pastry casing, but rather topped with a potato mash layer. The sticky toffee was pretty solid and my favourite item of the meal.
Service was very friendly. The bill for my meal came to £57 including an £11 glass of white wine. Overall I came away underwhelmed given the reputation and popularity of the place. Service was good and prices seemed fair given the generous portions, however the food itself was average and seating arrangements not great. It does get some credit for the “experience”, being a rarity of an old school British establishment which probably hasn’t changed in decades. But definitely a tick the box one for me, and I don’t see myself returning.
Rittick Talukdar
One of those places where if you know, you know. The scallops wrapped in bacon was just perfectly cooked! Excellent fish pie. Oysters were fresh. The wine list is great. Perfect for a quick nice afternoon meal! Make sure you come early or you won’t get a seat. And whatever you do, don’t miss the sticky toffee pudding! One of the best I’ve had recently.
… moreBonsai Ninja
Such an institution and I was only able to visit this place as I had a day off on a weekday! The place is buzzing from the moment it’s opened and you must go there early to make sure that you get a table or wait for a while. We started off with the famous black velvet (champs and Guinness) and oysters. The service is very slow up until you finish your starter so don’t get there too hungry! The food quality is top notch especially loved the generous serving of salmon and eels. The mains were also cooked well. I definitely recommend a visit once in a life time!
… moreP B
I was excited, but also a tad apprehensive to try this historic joint. Some places can be historic and still deliver to an exceptionally high standard whilst others are delivering mediocre food trading on their history.
Unfortunately, Sweetings falls into the latter category.
The whitebait felt mushy and the scallops might well have been a monkfish pretending to be scallops.
The worst, however, was the lobster mac and cheese. I mean, how can you get something so simple so wrong? There are only three ingredients.
This version was seriously lacking the cheese, was watery and included some sort of weird barbecue sauce.
I held my breath for two very traditional desserts, apple crumble and spotted dick. However, even these were disappointing. The spotted dick tasted like plasterboard with a micro portion of custard that might have helped it to redeem itself if they’ve been enough of it.
If historic Sheekeys in Soho can continue to do great food and a historic location I don’t know why this place can’t.
… moreUnfortunately, Sweetings falls into the latter category.
The whitebait felt mushy and the scallops might well have been a monkfish pretending to be scallops.
The worst, however, was the lobster mac and cheese. I mean, how can you get something so simple so wrong? There are only three ingredients.
This version was seriously lacking the cheese, was watery and included some sort of weird barbecue sauce.
I held my breath for two very traditional desserts, apple crumble and spotted dick. However, even these were disappointing. The spotted dick tasted like plasterboard with a micro portion of custard that might have helped it to redeem itself if they’ve been enough of it.
If historic Sheekeys in Soho can continue to do great food and a historic location I don’t know why this place can’t.
Christopher Brown
Haven’t been here in 25 years but was disappointed to remark that the quality of food hasn’t improved with the times. Starters were fine but nothing incredible and we ordered the lobster mac and cheese and it was awful. Over sized macaroni, watery, with a weird brown sauce that was sweet and savoury, which masked the lobster and the tell tale sprinkling of dried onion on top. Barely noticeable cheese. Just a weird recipe that hasn’t evolved and could easily be done better. The decor and vibe is great and I dearly want to support these historical establishments but think they need to modernise the recipes. Not change the menu, just make better versions of what they are currently offering.
… moreAdam Lakhani
This had been on the list for a while and did not disappoint. Taking advantage of an early meeting in the city, I was there for 11:30 on the dot. I was one of 2-3 other people to be first seated, and well worth it, seeing the place before the rush starts is also an experience. The team were warm and welcoming.
Oysters were fabulous and very large. Fish pie to follow was meaty and creamy. This was all washed down with a black velvet. Lunch was around £63, expensive, but a treat. By 12:15 the place was heaving and I was thankful to be finishing up. It gets busy!
If you haven’t been I would highly recommend! I will be back when possible!
… moreOysters were fabulous and very large. Fish pie to follow was meaty and creamy. This was all washed down with a black velvet. Lunch was around £63, expensive, but a treat. By 12:15 the place was heaving and I was thankful to be finishing up. It gets busy!
If you haven’t been I would highly recommend! I will be back when possible!
Alison Taffs
A City institution- no bookings so turn up early to snag a seat as they are busy. I’ve been a couple of times and it’s great fun. Untouched and unaltered by time, the service and style are all their own. You must have a tankard of the Black Velvet and the white wines by the glass are good. We also enjoyed glasses of very decent dessert wine. Stick to the classics : fish pie is no frills but super tasty.
… moreAshley
Old school spot. Still hosting a finance lunch crowd/and a bunch of old guys drinking Guinness. Kind of awesome. Excellent fish/shell fish. Menu is simple and you can’t go wrong with whatever you pick! Service is very good. The interior is beautiful. Stool seating is so uncomfortable but if you got a good back, you’ll be fineeee. Picture: fried haddock + chips + Sancerre
… moressg
The best potted shrimp and classic prawn cocktail at Sweetings.
I have been meaning to dine here.
Finally made it, sadly many years later when the place is surrounded by new builds etc.
The menu is slightly more modern as I could not find roe on toast nor have I seen it posted on their google reviews or recent social media posts by diners.
Anyway, the plaice was sold out so had the prawn cocktail and potted shrimp as planned.
The potted shrimp was the best ever, sweet seasoned brown shrimp with a lovely moreish spiced golden butter on top.
The prawn cocktail tasted just like mums and served in that nostalgic glass and silver bowl with silver cutlery.
I love the way they give you proper bread which is satisfying.
As for the ambiance, it was amazing, I loved how it is mostly the same from 1889.
At the reception you have this gorgeous booth and then you have traditional brollies hanging on the wall.
I felt like I was in a Bond movie served by this waiter who is part of the movie with Roger Moore.
I fell in love seats on the corners where one would have to go under the table to sit there.
… moreI have been meaning to dine here.
Finally made it, sadly many years later when the place is surrounded by new builds etc.
The menu is slightly more modern as I could not find roe on toast nor have I seen it posted on their google reviews or recent social media posts by diners.
Anyway, the plaice was sold out so had the prawn cocktail and potted shrimp as planned.
The potted shrimp was the best ever, sweet seasoned brown shrimp with a lovely moreish spiced golden butter on top.
The prawn cocktail tasted just like mums and served in that nostalgic glass and silver bowl with silver cutlery.
I love the way they give you proper bread which is satisfying.
As for the ambiance, it was amazing, I loved how it is mostly the same from 1889.
At the reception you have this gorgeous booth and then you have traditional brollies hanging on the wall.
I felt like I was in a Bond movie served by this waiter who is part of the movie with Roger Moore.
I fell in love seats on the corners where one would have to go under the table to sit there.
David Mott
Not been here for many many years and it was like stepping back in time in the most fabulous way. We arrived quite early on a Friday lunchtime and were pleased to see the place already busy with city workers and tourists. We would have preferred a table but they were already full so had a couple of stools. Difficult to make a choice but in the end I plumped for the whitebait for starters whilst my wife had the prawn cocktail. Both were delicious. For mains I had the breaded haddock and my wife had the fish pie. Again we both enjoyed. Washed down with a couple of glasses of nicely cooled Medoc. Fantastic service and very reasonably priced for a City lunch. Will try not to leave it so long before our next visit!
… more