Birley's Sandwiches in City of London, Westminster

Went the other day for a turkey n cranberry. I used to get these all the time but haven’t been for some years. The two guys making sandwiches cheerfully ignored me for a couple of minutes while chatting with each other. They then eventually asked me what I wanted and started to screw up the order a couple of times while I had to repeat it. I then observed to them that there was virtually no turkey in the (£5.50) sandwich and was abruptly informed “that is the portion”. It was rubbish and not worth the money at all. Couple of thin slices of turkey. Not like the old days when these guys made proper sandwiches worth paying for.

Really nice sandwiches here all @£6/7. Staff are very friendly. Coffee and tea is reasonable. The do salads too. I had the daily special which was chicken and tomato on foccacia and it was delicious. Went back today and got the salami and cheese. i'll be back!

Good concept, flawed execution - orders wrong on two occasions, e.g. ham and cheese with no cheese, or turkey salad on brown bread, which was then served on white sourdough. Attention to detail really needs work - customer service and prices otherwise OK.

Used to be great, so poor now. I have been visiting for many years but recent experiences have been poor and made worse by terrible (in fact non existent) customer service. On recent visits the orders have been made incorrectly, not what you expect after paying a premium. Even on simple breakfast items the chefs unable to get the egg orders correct. Furthermore, on writing customer services you are treated with…..no response. Run by an arrogant bunch who are surviving off a good reputation from the past.

I remember this being the Friday essential, however, sadly in the last 5 visits (had to be sure the greatness had come to an end) my fears were confirmed and this is across all shops not just the cannon street venue!!!! Would rather they put the prices up and keep the bacon in the sandwich as opposed to adding a flake or two of bacon. Time to find a new Friday venue sadly.....

I like to grab a salad or sandwich here when I need to eat at my desk. It is always tasty! Friendly - good breakfast pastries as well.

I remember Birleys as the upmarket sandwich shop in Leadenhall Market I would occasionally visit at the start of my career in the City back in the early 1990s. As a Friday treat, I bought a coffee and bacon sandwich. Coffee was fine, but bacon sandwich was thick doughy brown bread and not of brilliant quality. Bacon was just ordinary. Greggs is half the price and you get a much nicer soft roll. They only have two staff dealing with bulk orders at the front rather than back in the kitchen so the wait can be interminable too.

This place is terrible. I ordered toast with marmite today and I’m not sure the bread had actually been in the toaster. I never go to Birleys, but nowhere nearby open at that time of morning for toast as far as I know. All previous experiences have been poor. I really don’t know how they manage to survive. AVOID AVOID AVOID. Rubbish food, rubbish service.

Salad Ingredients portion sizes have certainly dropped since returning to the office although Prices haven’t dropped tho so still ridiculously expensive. Servers are rude and moody. No care and attention. Management - take note ! You can’t charge extortionate prices for less food. Also lady a pay till, ask for a bag and she just plonks it in front of you. Rude. What’s happened here … sort it out. Last time I part with my cash here

I come to Birley's most days and I love it. It's one of my favourite places to get breakfast and the coffee is pretty good (Rosslyn down the road is far better and a bit cheaper). BUT - few weird things. Even when Birley's in empty, you still end up waiting 10/15 minutes (sometimes longer) for your sandwich. I find this really annoying especially when I'm on my way into the office. I don't know what takes so long every single time? When it's busy, I have waited 25 minutes before and have had to ask 3 times for updates on when it's coming. There is also really inconsistent pricing. For a sausage and egg sandwich on gluten free bread and a coffee, I have been charged £6.20 (breakfast meal), £7.35, £7.00 on the dot and £6.75. I never feel like I can complain about it because I don't understand how the pricing works... I think the lead server behind the counter is fine. She is a bit blunt as the other reviews indicate - but she has never got an order wrong for me and she does sometimes smile if you're nice to her. She's mega busy - leave her alone. All in all - I think it's fine. And they have really nice gluten free bread which is super rare and much appreciated.

Have been many times to this outlet and put up with loud and impersonal service behind the counter (by the lead female server)- because the food is good - but this city business really needs to employ a more personable individual or invest in better training.

Birley is one of my favourite sandwich coffee chain restaurants in the City. Sandwiches are excellent.

This place has always been inconsistent. I'd liek their lentil soup ant try some other soups time to time. And the worst one was the chicken soup. There were hardly any chicken despite it was put from a new batch. This place is loosing its original spirit and no go place for me now. Birley's you lost one of your royal customers by being in consistent and loosing your italian welcome!

I went here for lunch today. The staff are so moody and unpleasant they have zero people skills. Ordered a Ham Salad Baguette (as online it says they do Baguettes). The woman snapped "We don't do Baguettes in here!!", "Oh ok sorry it says on your website that you do" I say. "White or Brown bread" she snaps. "Ok ill take white please. I would like Ham Salad but no lettuce, instead can I have teeny bit of Red Onion?" No response... "Heelllllloooo did you hear me?" I say. "YES......DO YOU WANT LETTUCE WITH THAT" She Snaps. Wow.. okaaayyy lol. "No thanks" I say gritting my teeth. "Can I have a tiny but of red onion please?" "40p Extra" She snaps. Lol. So I get my sandwich which cost over a fiver. She gave me a slither of ham on tiny slices of fresh white bread. Totally not worth the money. RIP OFF! I was still hungry after I finished it so had to go Waitrose and get a lovely generously filled sandwich for half the price. I went in there once before and had the same experience with the rudeness and small portion. I thought it might've been a one off and just the person serving but no they are clearly all like that. Will not be wasting anymore of my hard earned cash in there. The staff desperately need training.

Visited at lunch time as feeling a bit peckish. I have always heard good things about the soup. The queue as expected was out the door, however as we were getting soup we can go straight to the soup counter. Service wasnt great however the soup was amazing. It was so thick and flavoursom. They give you one slice of bread which is no where near enough The portion size of the soup is considerable. Definitely reccomend it and will go again.