Smiths of Smithfield - SOS, indeed (Smiths of Smithfield)

Member Name: elvis42

Product:	Smiths of Smithfield
Date:	23/09/00 (1054 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good food, not outrageously priced

Disadvantages: Trendy, rude

Recently I was taken to Smiths of Smithfield as part of a work celebration. We were told when booking a table for 6:30 that we'd need to be away from the table at 8:45 but this was fine with us, especially as Smiths has a number of bars. On arriving at the ground floor bar, we went to get drinks (the room by the way is huge, very industrial and packed, because of many recent good reviews and the need for people to be seen at the latest trendy hangouts) but were hustled around by bouncers and then told we HAD to take our table immediately or they'd cancel it.

So upstairs we go, to the 2nd floor restaurant, again, very spacious and industrial looking. On our way to the table we were informed at least 5 times that we needed to be gone by 8:45 - and we began to feel a little disconcerted and unwanted.

Initial service was adequate though, with the menus delivered and our orders taken fairly promptly, and allowing for us to choose what we wanted. In the end we all plumped for a steak, with chips and mustard mayonnaise (at £10.50 the most expensive main course). It was brought to the table very well presented and all cooked according to our tastes, garnished with some watercress. And here came the problem. All the watercress on at least 3 of our plates (out of 5) had tiny caterpillars in it.

Of course we pointed this out to our waitress who apologised, brought one of our party a new steak (I didn't feel like a new one to be honest) but didn't seem all that apologetic. But still, they didn't charge us for the two steaks...

The food is good and well priced, don't get me wrong.. I was just expecting a little more politeness and service. It's not a bad place, I simply wouldn't go there again.

Anyway, if you want to check it out, the web site is at http://www.smithsofsmithfield.com/. We alo went to the cocktail bar on 1st floor and that was exemplary, if a little pricey.

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