St. John Bread and Wine in Tower Hamlets

Love it! Classic dishes done right. Such a great experience, every time I visit.

Excellent food, great service, delicious wine and surprisingly affordable for a top London restaurant!

Absolutely wonderful dining experience! The server was very helpful and clearly enthusiastic about the food. We shared a variety of small and larger dishes. The Welsh rarebit, cods roe and the veal offal were particular standouts! Great atmosphere as it was nicely busy even at 12pm on a Monday. Food was nicely spaced out so didn't feel rushed. Oh and the date loaf was a spectacular end to the faultless meal!

One of the the best lazy late lunch places in London. Superb.

Absolutely delightful. Had potted rabbit and cold roast hereford, never had either, but they were prefection and hands down the best British meal I enjoyed during my stay in London. Red wine was recommended, and paired perfectly. Location is very busy, so make sure to make a reservation ahead of time if possible. Though walk ins are accepted as well, so I had no trouble.

Popped in randomly Amazing food Deliciousness and Simplicity at it's best Cheese on toast will never be the same at home again

St. John was recommended to me as one of London's best "tip to tail" restaurants. I was fortunate to find a reservation on the last night of my stay and it was absolutely worth it. Without a doubt, the best dish was the smoked cod roe, egg, and cress. The roe is pureed, but unbelievably flavorful. Paired with the creamy egg yolk, the tang of the cress, and salty crunch of the layered potato pave, every bite was delightful. The house-made sourdough and pickled mackel on rye were also fantastic. The main entree was a special of the day - lamb heart with horseradish and carrots. The flavors of this dish were lovely, but lamb heart is a tougher cut of meat. The chocolate terrine with brandied prune was silky smooth, but a bit strong on the brandy for my taste. Overall, a fabulous meal. I'd absolutely go again, but with additional people so that I can try even more of their locally sourced dishes.

It was hard to get a table here and with reason, the food is phenomenal. They offer very interesting takes on English classics with fresh and quality ingredients, and an extensive wine list (try their in house Pinot Noir) immersed in a "communal long table" setting (it's one big room). Hard to pick a favourite but the treacle tart was sublime. What sets this place apart however is the service, kindest and most attentive I found in London, without pretence. Would definitely recommend this place for a cozy dinner date but also to a family.

The food was first class. The service left a little to be desired. We were informed while ordering that the food would come out in the order the chef deemed appropriate. Having been frequent patrons of San Francisco's Chinese restaurants--of which I expect a whole lot less than St. John's--this usually means the cook waits until he has enough orders to make a big pot or pan, which is worth his/her while. This is acceptable for a hole-in-the-wall Chinese restaurant in San Francisco, most of which are very good, but not for St. John's. As a result, we did not receive our salad until our last dinner item, the Hereford beef, came. And only because we asked for it. I am certain that if I didn't mention it, the staff would have forgotten the salad. Overall, service was very assembly-line. Not bad. But it did not seem as though anybody cared.

Lovely English food with daily seasonal specials. Be aware that bathrooms are down a flight of stairs.

It was ok - we’ve lived in the area for four years , saying we must go ! But, No music No atmosphere Waiter was good , noticed he had the same banter for each table. Food - ok 80% vegetables 20% main meat. My partner ordered brisket and beets - proportionately it was beets and brisket. & His bone marrow , was more coriander salad than bone marrow. you sit on single tables of two linked to another table - not sure why we needed to be so close to the next table they could split tbh. Just a bit vanilla. I’m not a massive foodie - so needs to capture my attn , sadly this was pleasant but underwhelming

This place never disappoints. A institution in the ever changing London’s restaurant scene, it serves up the most hearty and interesting food with the added bonus of knowledgable and friendly staff. And bone marrow was on the menu this time! My favourite! Thank you so so much for another wonderful evening

10/10 great staff. Friendly and Knowledgeable. Can’t wait to get back to London to visit again!

— "St. JOHN Bread and Wine" - Michelin Guide London recommends affordable dining! Top 100 Michelin-starred restaurants in the world St. JOHN This restaurant was founded in 1994 The interior decoration of the restaurant is mainly white, with wooden tables and chairs that are simple and comfortable↓ The large blackboard will write today’s chef’s special meal This time, in addition to dining in, I also took out bread.

This place was pretty underwhelming. The service was just okay, and the food was nothing special. They serve cheaper cuts like tongue and tail, trying to pass them off as something fancy, but it really doesn’t live up to the hype. I get that these dishes might have had their place in the past, but now you can find much better food for the same price elsewhere. It feels like the restaurant is leaning on its history rather than the quality of what’s on the plate. In a city like London, there are way better options for both taste and value.

Truly amazing experience! Coming back to London just for this.

Superb. Always. Wonderful ingredients, thoughtful and expert preparation. Good, and very fairly priced, wine list. Service is cordial and professional.

An absolute pleasure to eat here- we had the ox tongue, beetroot and horseradish which was absolutely spectacular. The service, food, wine and ambience was perfect for an informal dinner with delicious food after a full on day exploring the city - we will be back!

Excellent food, lovely staff and an atmosphere that makes you want to never leave

Overall this was a tasty meal. However, I expected that. I've enjoyed St John Smithfield before, and had that experience in mind coming here. What I found was the less exotic proteins (which I expected) were not as elevated as the nose-to-tail selection at Smithfield. The Madeleines were as good as I remember, and the Eton Mess was refreshing.

Quite deceptive. Food missed a bit of creativity. Too much butter with the fish!

Great service, food and ambiance! Thank you for a lovely lunch and for taking note of the 30th birthday we were celebrating.

Above and beyond, they even put a birthday candle in my dessert, which was an absolutely lovely touch! Lovely folks and lovely food. Thank you!

This restaurant is in the same series as the Michelin-starred St. John established by celebrity chef Fergus Henderson who advocated "from nose to tail". It can be regarded as a "simplified" (or cute?) version of St. John. From the decoration atmosphere to the cuisine route, it is the same as St. John. . John agrees. It is nose-to-tail and the menu is updated daily. Coupled with the skills of celebrity chefs, it is no wonder that in addition to being recommended by Bib Gourmand, I arrived at noon on a weekday and found that it is very popular. The Bath Chaps I ordered this time, the pork itself is fragrant, and the fat and lean parts are cooked in different ways. The fat part is tender and the lean part is crispy. The watercress and radish that are paired with it have their own flavors and are added with sauce. It is a wonderful combination with pork. The stems and leaves of radish each have their own taste and texture. They can be combined with pork to create more variations, different flavors, and the same deliciousness. Overall, this exquisite dish is a small one, but it has a lot of excitement. The store changes the menu every day, presumably to make full use of the different ingredients and "parts" that are fresh every day. For such a restaurant, if I didn't want to try other restaurants more, I would definitely come back often. Restaurants worth visiting in East London Ps. The nearest tube station is Shoreditch High Street

Well done. Great food experience.

St Johns Bread and Wine is a delight. It's simple and faultless but that doesn't come close to describing the job that their food and hospitality provides.

The atmosphere, the food, the service - everything was 10/10. The restaurant has an authentic feel to it, all the staff were very attentive and super helpful in recommending things. The food was insane - so fresh and tasty. Would highly recommend for a date night or with friends / family (really fits any vibe). And overall I thought it was good value for money - not too pricey considering the amount of food we had and a glass of wine :)

No one can afford to pay for (or indeed should have to abide!) small portions of mediocre, expensive food. Well... no chance of that here! The food is absolutely brilliant, there's thankfully loads of it and it's fantastically served by an awesome front of house team. And don't get me started on their "Fergroni". Oh my God, writing that just now makes me want to stop writing and go there RIGHT NOW for another one... or two... or... who's counting?!? Thank you St. John Bread and Wine!

Food was delicious, very fresh and tasty. Staff were very helpful and good with recommendations. There was a lovely vibe to the restaurant and it had an authentic vibe - and overall good value for the amount of food we had -10/10

Everything was perfect Go and don’t hesitate to order anything

Had the most amazing dinner experience here! My girlfriend had some small dietary restrictions and was all dealt with smoothly and without fuss, felt well looked after. All the food was amazing! So excited to come back!

Some of the best food (and bread!) in London though not sure our server was right to assure us the pie we were sharing was enough for 3. Also would’ve liked something in addition to mushy peas as the only hot green vegetable

Second visit, love it every time. Prefer lunch vibe over dinner. Will be back.

Delightful evening at St John thanks to the lovely staff and amazing food! The food was incredible and all allergy substitutions made were perfect and so considerate—many thanks to the serving and kitchen team for the most wonderful dinner :)

Been to this restaurant and the others many times before and never had any problems. Food as always was amazing but the service really let our experience down this time, Ive never had to do this but we asked for the service charge to be removed. Im sure other waiting staff are very good but we felt that ours plus the manger needs some training before we visit again.

Amazing as always. The best food experience in London so far.

The food is amazing! Flavor bombs in every bite. The wine was a great complement to the meal. Service was cheery and polite, but a bit sloppy (brought a drink to me by mistake, kept me waiting for the bill), but those were minor nits.

Just superb. Wonderful, unpretentious and beautifully prepared dishes, lovely wine, excellent service. Our first time here - it won’t be the last.

Perfect lunch with American foodie fiends and their (picky) teenage kids. Lovely, caring service, great wine.

St John Bread and Wine is the more relaxed sibling of St John in Smithfield. The atmosphere is casual yet inviting, perfect for a laid-back meal. The focus is on fantastic bread and a carefully curated selection of wines, with hearty, well-executed dishes. It’s a great spot for a comfortable, delicious dining experience.

Such a fab restaurant with excellent and interesting menu and good value wine list.

I usually only care about the food, but the service here was so bad that the food didn't make up for it

Great food and very helpful staff. Will be coming again

Five years ago we went to St John,Smithfield and loved it. This trip our hotel is less than a mile from this sister restaurant so we went here. The food and service were almost the same, but the atmosphere is a little bit more laid back. The Crispy Pig Skins, Dandelion and Radish salid was the highlight of the meal. However, everything was perfectly seasoned. Don't be scared of the unusual items on the menu, everything is perfectly prepared .

The Dover sole was phenomenal as was the chicken liver on toast. Hearty delicious food. Also, get the Madeleines 👌🏼

Still my favourite restaurant in London after decades. Just like eating at an old friend’s house. Brought all my friends here when they visited London. I’ve always told them to order anything and everything you fancy because everything will taste great. But please save room because we will have the best madeleines in the world for dessert. Got another appreciation approval from my friend visiting from the Netherlands and she even said she would come back again next time she’s in town halfway through our dinner!

Overwhelmingly mediocre and under seasoned. Mediocre service at best. Forgot a whole entree but I was so done with the first two dishes I didn’t say anything

The best restaurant in London! Always so so good!!

Really great service, atmosphere and above all good hearty uniquely familiar food.

Still my favourite restaurant in London after decades. Just like eating at an old friend’s house. Brought all my friends here when they visited London. I’ve always told them to order anything and everything you fancy because everything will taste great. But please save room because we will have the best madeleines in the world for dessert. Got another appreciation approval from my friend visiting from the Netherlands and she even said she would come back again next time she’s in town halfway through our dinner!

Back to one of my favourite restaurants in london on a quiet august weekday. The place was suitably quiet for a business lunch, service friendly and attentive. We’ve had beef tongue, seared and grilled which makes it a bit like liver -delicious. The cold beef on anchovy toast was great too. As starters, the peas were super fresh and for once I’d say there was maybe a bit too much ticklemore, a fresh goat cheese might be better? The madeleines were plentiful and the house beaujolais perfect for the occasion.

One of, if not, the best meal in London, delicious food kept simple and incredibly flavorful. Outstanding service too

Always a 10/10. Probably our favourite place to be and eat.

Back to one of my favourite restaurants in london on a quiet august weekday. The place was suitably quiet for a business lunch, service friendly and attentive. We’ve had beef tongue, seared and grilled which makes it a bit like liver -delicious. The cold beef on anchovy toast was great too. As starters, the peas were super fresh and for once I’d say there was maybe a bit too much ticklemore, a fresh goat cheese might be better? The madeleines were plentiful and the house beaujolais perfect for the occasion.

It's important to know languages to understand well what to eat!

The best place in London for proper british food

Food was very good. We had to wait a long time for the main course. First time we experienced such a long wait at Bread and Wine. Possibly due to lack of staff during Bank holiday weekend.

We did. Walk in on my husbands birthday, and was shown to a table immediately, tables are very close, which didn’t look necessary. The restaurant itself is quite basic, no airs and graces here. Being John Torodes restaurant we were expecting the food to be at least a little bit showy, how wrong could we be! We started with the anchovies on toast, which I appreciate is quite difficult to elevate into the world of a beautiful thing, but it was literally a toasted piece of square whit bread with a scraping of anchovy paste, plonked on a white (old school type) plate, not cut, no garnish, nothing! The Welsh rarebit was the same thought process, cheese on toast-we were encouraged to ‘add’ Worcester sauce ourselves. The Shetland lamb looked like my nans Sunday lunch of yesteryear, one would guess it was from a certified TV chef, who constantly tells people to ‘present’ their food on Masterchef! Sadly the lamb went back-too chewy, and certainly not enough to feed two, not ‘rustic’ portions! The dish was ‘ok’ Certainly not ‘insta’ worthy! Never even thought of getting my camera out! Totally underwhelming, went for a curry on the way home, and must have said ‘delicious’ and mmmmm several times! John Torode? Keep it!

Here’s a copy of an email I sent with a complaint, they never responded. They also didn’t respond to my Instagram message so I’m posting here. I’ll never darken their doors again. I am writing this email as I had a rather unpleasant experience at St John Bread and Wine on Wednesday evening. I did not want to leave an online review as I have had many wonderful meals with you over the years, in fact I live just behind the restaurant. My brother and I walked in at 7pm to see if you had any tables available. We were repeatedly ignored by the maitre d, no hello, no acknowledgement of our presence, he walked past us several times while we were waiting. I can only assume that he did not like the look of us as were dressed rather scruffily as we had been moving furniture. We almost walked out but he eventually decided to speak to us and said we could come back at 7.30 ‘as that’s better for me’. We did return at 7.30 and again the guy was far from friendly. It was impossible to get his attention but eventually we ordered. After a wait of 45 minutes I asked how long our food would be only for him to angrily say ’45 minutes isn't a long time to wait’. He could have said something placatory or apologised but he didn’t. We eventually got our starters and our wine and then after a further wait I asked for the bill for what we had eaten and drunk and cancelled the main course. He was very hostile and my sense was that the rest of the staff were struggling with him too. To make things worse I forgot my hat and brother returned to get it. It was retrieved from a bin! My partner and I have spent thousands of pounds in St John Bread and Wine and your branch at Smithfield and we have always had a pleasant experience with regard to the food and the service. This experience has left a rather nasty taste in my mouth and for as long as that person continues to work there (who is simply not suited to working in hospitality) we will not return. He was hostile, judgemental and frankly an angry person. Regards

Food was exceptional, service was very friendly, ambient was way too noisy, bill was not cheap but worth the money

Fantastic British food. Great service. Great ambiance.

Food was mostly outstanding, and our server was the loveliest, most helpful man. Only taking off one star because one of our mains arrived long after the other and was near cold, but our server sorted it out and brought us back a hot plate. Incredible menu, could have eaten 100 madeleines. Will be back.

Superb venue, achingly cool, an incredible menu and outstanding front of house team.

On walking in the place was buzzing, attractive, busy and efficient, nice atmosphere. We were there towards the end of the lunch service so several specials had run out but that didn't matter as there was plenty to choose from. The two of us ended up sharing 5 starters (they interested us more than mains) and then went on to puddings. The standout for me was the cods roe and egg, I'll be thinking about that dish for a long time, it was perfect. We went for the special of trout and potato, the mustard and dill in the potato completely overpowered the trout so that the trout may as well not have been on the plate, when asked for feedback, we said the trout was overpowered, we then received the patronising, borderline rude response from the kitchen that we needed to understand 'the dishes at St John are quite punchy'. Please, if you don't want feedback don't ask for it. The desserts were excellent, we had the special of brown bread and marmalade ice cream, buttermilk pudding and chocolate terrine, all great. Special mention to our waitress Amelie, the service was outstanding, it's great to see such knowledgeable and warm staff in restaurants who know exactly what they are talking about.

Great restaurant with its own character Quality cooking with no fluffy craap

Simple white dining room, with closely placed simple tables and staff in white linen smocks. Open line of sight into kitchen and bar along the back of the dining room. Simple, clear menu and extensive wine list. On this understated canvas the food positively sings! Every mouthful of every dish we tried was exquisite - it was like having lunch at a friends house and they happen to be a wizard with ingredients and culinary imagination. Crunchy, salty pig skin nestled in dressed beans and roasted onions was a stand out starter. My guest had the most extraordinary looking and extraordinarily fresh tasting mackerel - stood upright like it had partially dived through the plate! I had braised lamb that was both unctious and clean tasting and was well partnered with house chips that are essentially the best roast potatoes in disguise. Given 15 minutes notice, the onsite baker cooked us a half dozen madeleines for dessert - delivered warm in their baking tray. The most delicate external layer crunched and gave way to pillow soft spongey heaven. Wowser, 3 each were dispatched in minutes. House claret just under £40 was a full bodied accompaniment. The wine list was extensive and not really my area of expertise. I do think just a couple of more accessible sub £30 bottles would be welcomed, but I appreciate some London boozers are charging north of fifteen quid a glass...Joyful place. Recommended.

Have wanted to eat here for years and it did not disappoint. Food was perfect and service on point.

St Johns has been long on my list but my first experience here has left me questioning the hype surrounding this establishment. The service was riddled with missteps, with the side order arriving after we finished the main course. I found myself in a puzzling argument with the staff over the timing, which felt more like a defensive rebuttal than an apology. Although they made a gesture by offering to remove the item from the bill and brought some dessert wine, it barely made up for the severely disappointing meal. The flavors of the dishes were surprisingly basic and lackluster - an inexplicably overwhelming mustardy salad, a neglected rind on the baked cheese that was bitter and not palatable, and an overcooked piece of mutton with mushy peas. The bread, olives, and mussels were decent. The only redeeming element was the madeleines, which were divine—soft, warm pillows of perfection. The wine selection was commendable, but beyond that, most of the food bordered on unappetizing and mediocre.

The freshly baked madeleines smell amazing, with a wonderfully enticing buttery aroma. They have a perfectly balanced texture—crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. It takes about 15 minutes after ordering, but it’s absolutely worth the wait. I’m already looking forward to coming back next time to try other dishes.

The Hare Pie is everything. And the house wine rules.

A fantastic meal at St Johns. Great menu chat from the server. Nice recommendations. Food was really great. I felt well looked after with attentive service. I was dining solo as I was in the city for business but I would definitely return with friends.

I was really looking forward to this, but overall I have to say it was a bit disappointing. The service was great and the menu was interesting, but nothing really stuck out as great.

Great place for a special occasion , highlight was the welsh rarebit and the mutton. Service was excellent.

Always a joy and pleasure dining here when in London!

Cibo ottimo, servizio un po’ lento e locale un po’ troppo rumoroso!

Excellent food! Vegetarians beware though - the mains options are not that great unfortunately. Veggie starters were really good! Meat lovers will love it ✅

My all time favourite restaurant in London🐖

Delicious food and amazing service made the evening and experience so memorable for me and my friend. Would highly recommend, a real treat.

Excellent, friendly and energetic service. Three of us there for a birthday meal and the food was nothing short of outstanding. I would particularly recommend the chicken liver, the hake and lentils (which was the star of the meal), and the apple sorbet. The restaurant is lovely - open and airy, casual but not too casual, and not too noisy even when every table is full. I cannot recommend highly enough.

After ordering a meal, how long is a reasonable wait for the food to arrive? "St. John Bread and Wine" was recommended by a friend, but I have never had the opportunity to visit. After buying vinyl and taking a break in the park, I suddenly discovered that this store is next door. I ordered quail eggs, grilled spring chicken with hummus puree, and a glass of white wine. In about 15 minutes, the quail eggs are served, warm and delicious. After about 30 minutes, the spring chicken finally appeared. I thought they had forgotten the order, but they just took the first piece of meat. Oh my God, it was so delicious. It was just the perfect temperature right out of the oven. I finally understand that there is no such thing as "reasonable" in the world of cooking. The success or failure of a hero is judged by the truth. The moment you eat it is the "truth".

The best bread and wine to consume are here!

I had so been looking forward to coming here! Food was ok… I had the fish, Welsh rarebit and date loaf. It was just nothing very special. Plates we were served on were all marked up. And the service was the most disappointing part. We had to flag someone down to get any service. I was just overall quite disappointed given all the hype this restaurant receives.

Always a pleasure to go back to Bread and Wine. Perhaps this time the menu not as surprising and flavoursome as ever but always of the highest quality. The service impeccable and warm, the approach based on sharing dishes always fun. Will go back as soon as possible.

Always a joy to visit St John's when in London – first and last meals!

Food is exceptional and the staff were amazing. Always happy to serve and made us feel welcome. This place and it's staff have lots of class and personality

Outstanding food in a relaxed and low-key environment! Wonderful dining experience!

Food was delicious especially liked the bone marrow. All of our party enjoyed the black bream. Service was very good,extremely helpful & friendly staff, attention to detail outstanding, highly recommend, we had a great evening thank you all at st Johns

great food and wine as always. We keep coming back and are never disappointed

Some dishes were better than others. For example the pate and hake was delicious, but the pigeon was very chewy. Service was great but prices compared to quality was a bit over valued.

Got seated late for our reservation and after a couple who arrived before us. Seating felt crammed as it is not very comfortable to be seated so close to other tables and passing servers. Most of our plates took at least an hour to arrive, at which point we were famished and while the food was great, it was poor value for money due to the high menu prices. Won’t be returning unless just for dessert as we skipped it to rush home. The staff were lovely though!

I was dining alone. The staff were brilliant. Waitress made great suggestions. I ended up ordering a load off the menu. It was all sublime. Took some beautiful pastries home too. My new favourite restaurant in London.

Will repeat the visit to St. John next time in London. Food and wines are great.

Room is simple and pretty, staff welcoming, food quite good to excellent. BUT our table was in a corner at the intersection of two brick walls and our table of 6 could not hear each other speak and we had difficulty hearing the waiter. The noise level was so bad that I think the whole group was completely turned off and the evening was a disappointment. Perhaps other parts of the room have less of an issue, though by observation no attempt in the space has been made to soften surfaces or dampen sound, so sadly I could not recommend the restaurant to anyone based on our experience.

Diverse menu and good service. The chips, homemade mayonnaise, crumble and madeleines were incredible! I do think the restaurant would benefit from some light music and art on the walls as it’s a little bland.

Excellent food, great service, friendly and knowledgeable, we will continue to visit bread and wine. Long may it reign.

Our third time on this restaurant, always a nice experience. Really kind, friendly and smiling staff that always ready to help you and serve you. The menu is quite diverse and different either good options. Good selection of wines too. The restaurant is cozy with a decor style very unique. Amazing food for a reasonable price. Madeleines as desserts are very special, as they made them straight away. They are very famous for that and you need to prove it. I m not a dessert person but this particular choice is a MUST! Highly recommend and definitely we will come back many times.

Truly enjoyed our dinner here! We had basement seating and Andrew was our charming server. We were the only table for a while and so we enjoyed attentive friendly, knowledgeable service. The parsnip soup was very good. We also enjoyed the rarebit, crispy pig cheek, wedge salads and the blood orange steamed sponge dessert with cream. They also make Madelines, which we took to go with us. Everything we had was of high quality and well prepared. Really enjoyed the more spare setting, as we were there for the food, which did not disappoint. Definitely a restaurant we would return to as the menu changes often.

Stopped by st johns for a couple of plates and a bottle, after years of putting st johns on a mental pedestal of greatness. It did not disappoint. Those crispy pig cheeks will haunt me, as an unattainable level of deliciousness, for a very long time. Thankyou to zell for making those couple of hours so comfortable as well as satisfying.

Always great… very solid wine list, delicious seasonal food superbly executed! Bone marrow on toast - doesn’t get better than that. Maybe the ox tongue and lamb’s heart and ketchup come pretty damn close! The decades of consistency is phenomenal.

Friendly staff & good service. The food was outstandingly good. The menu has such interesting and flavourful combinations, can’t wait to go back & try other options, and the brown sourdough is to die for!