The Happenstance in City of London, Westminster

Lovely restaurant in St Paul area. Very secluded providing fantastic atmosphere for business or personal dining. Food was delicious and service was great. Will return again

Had a very disappointing dinner/drink here. It's in a lovely location but it's all "style" over substance. We ordered the fish finger sandwich which tasted a bit funky and was below average. The staff were questionable - our table was dirty so we asked (politely) for it to be wiped down - instead of the waitress (who was literally cleaning tables next to us) cleaning the table she told us rather abruptly to move to another table. Decor is unoriginal, Instagram focused and full of plastic. With all the great places to eat in London this is not worth a stop.

Jay took very good care of us! He made our experience and is very personable, will be coming back hoping to see him again! Thank you Jay!

My 3rd time here. Food and drink lovely as usual. Waitress seemed a bit disinterested but maybe was just inexperienced? Lovely location and will definitely revisit

Visited on Sunday afternoon 16th June. It's a really nice and inviting place. Outside tables, lots of flowers and decoration, rolled up blankets for you to use. Menu is nice, with plenty of vegetarian options, snacks, small plates and main courses, however...Service was terrible. Clearly the server didn't want to be there, not happy, not friendly, not helpful and all together service was a bit of a struggle, ordering, getting extra drinks and paying the bill, all difficult. Server mixed up vegan shrimp lollipops for chicken skewers when they brought them to the table. Of course 'optional' service charge is automatically added to the bill, does this motivate good service? Would be a great place if they sorted their service out, won't be back and couldn't recommend the place. We wished we had just gone to the food stalls around St Pauls and just grabbed a bench.

Food was decent enough, ok, standard, nothing to write home about. What was most frustrating was the interminable wait for food and drinks (except for when I requested the bill…!) It wasn’t a busy day - midweek, but the delay from ordering a drink to receiving it was a real downer and unfortunately elicited derogatory comments from my guests as to the very poor level of service at the restaurant. Whether they were short of staff that day, I do not know, but I will think twice before returning.

Good menu options. The arancini and sausage and mash was very good.

I would like to express my gratitude to the staff at Happenstance for their exceptional care of my family a few weeks ago. In particular, I would like to commend Samuel for his outstanding patience and flexibility in accommodating all our requests. Even my discerning and demanding family, friends, and clients had no complaints about Samuel's impeccable service, eye contact, and communication skills. For future reference, I suggest to management that instead of calling out the meals, it may be more refined for a high-end establishment to have them listed with names since it's preodered. This small adjustment could enhance the overall experience. In conclusion, I rate the service as 5 stars!

Lovely venue, and our group of 8 were hopeful for a lovely lunch. Hostess kindly put two tables together to accommodate. Sun was shining, so we sat outside. It didn't seem that busy ,and there were plenty of tables free. And that was the good bit. Service was extremely slow. It was like pulling teeth to get our food order taken, then order drinks. I did offer to go to the bar, but the waitress said the bar was busy....but still didn't take our drinks order for ages. Later on in the meal I asked if we could order more drinks.... nothing happened. The food was ok. My fish and chips was nice, my daughter's veggie burger was inedible. We had to ask for cutlery. When the bill came it was the first time ever in my life I have asked for the optional service charge to be deducted. Much of it was down to understaffing, but overall a bad experience.

Breakfast bowl wasn't to the usual standard this time around, and it took 25 mins from the time we sat down till the time we were able to order. I realise that many of us sat down at 8am, but it still felt like a long time before we got asked for our order and another while before our coffee arrived.

The first waitress was really stroppy and unhelpful. It's like anything was too much to ask for. Service was slow and we had to get up to get our own drinks from the bar when ready. She left the wine bottle on our table and walked off - did not open an pour it for us. The second waitress we had later was very pleasant and the complete opposite - she could not do more for us. We only went for drinks so cannot comment on the food, however food in the past has been great.

Met with a friend for a catch up. It was easy to hear each other talk, there was a nice atmosphere. Good selection on the menu. We had an issue where my friend wanting a small plate as a main and was told that he couldn’t. We asked for two small plates on one plate and were told we couldn’t do that which was strange. We eventually got to the point where they charged us for two small plates of the same thing and they put it on one big plate.

Rude waiter Food took forever to come Food very average

Nice location, pleasant venue; food tasty, what there was of it, and would be overpriced even if the portion sizes were anywhere near 'normal'. So overall, very poor value.

Food was good (not great), our waiter was very friendly and very attentive, but after our meal was eaten I saw a rat running around and then sitting openly in the hallway next to the kitchen. When this was brought to the waiter's attention he asked the manager to come over to speak with us. She was friendly, apologized and said they often leave the doors open and the rat must have run in. When the check was delivered, a discount was not offered. Rather than creating a scene I paid and moved on. I did not want to ruin the rest of the patrons meal, like ours was. Not offering a discount on a meal that was ruined due to a rodent problem was not acceptable. I am now working with my credit card vendor on requesting a discount.

Pleasant enough restaurant staff and surroundings but the quality of the food was disappointing

It was a nice restaurant with good food, but the service was bad. The weather he was a bit rude in couple of occasions. I asked him if the serve omelette and his answer was a plain no. Then when the order came, and it was pointed out that the bread is not what we asked for he just took the plate and left without saying anything. Generally his approach was very cold. I can understand that you can have a bad day but you shouldn’t take this out to your customers. if you like that all the time, then he’s definitely in their own business.

Worst experience ever. We booked a table for 11 people for Friday 15th of December with pre-booked Christmas menu and we gave £10 deposit each when booking. I fell ill and tested positive with covid on Wednesday the 13th, and the friend who was managing the booking immediately sent an email asking for my booking to be cancelled. It was more than 48 hours before our dinner and no one ever replied. When my friends went for dinner on the Friday, they were charged for my dinner as well - the restaurant team insisted that it was too short notice cancellation. There is no cancellation policy on the website - where on earth 48 hours is too short notice to cancel a meal? The mistake was their side as they didn't read the email, and instead of apologising with us about that, they insisted and made us pay. They'll never see me in their restaurant- not only I was home ill with covid, but I also had to pay £45 for a meal I didn't eat. Ridiculous.

We had a great experience at Happenstance last week and I can’t believe all of the negative reviews. We arrived very weary and were looking for somewhere to grab some lunch, take the weight of our feet and get warm from the cold. Happenstance was perfect, the staff were welcoming and helpful. The menu was varied though a little different which we liked, I ordered the turkey burger and my family ordered the roast turkey and a fish finger sandwich. Everyone enjoyed their food; it was fresh tasty and decent portions all round. We did not feel we were left waiting for too long at any point. Value wise I guess it’s not the cheapest but I think considering the location it was reasonable, we would definitely go again if in the area.

Bellissima atmosfera, ottima accoglienza, fish & chips molto buono. Piacevolissima pausa pranzo, consigliato!!!!!

I didn't like the place. The service was slow. At one point we asked the hosts for food which never arrived. The food which did arrive wasn't great - tiny balls and a sort of curry in a bowl and it was served in small portions. The architecture in that vicinity is very cold and soulless - all concrete and straight lines - and the place isn't cheap either.

Good food and a busy ambience at lunch time. Service was attentive and friendly. Very convenient work location so we will be back.

It was quiet on a Sunday afternoon. The service was good. There was plenty of delicious chicken and beef with the roast a generous portion. Big Yorkshire puddings and nicely cooked vegetables. Tasty veggie options for my daughters and the cocktail was good.

We went for lunch here after a meeting nearby. We were greeted on arrival and seated quickly with menus. This was unfortunately the only speedy service the whole time. After at least 10 minutes a friendly waiter took our order.They do not do decaff tea, only loose leaf tea. I requested oat milk but was given cow's milk. I am gluten and dairy free which I specified on ordering. When my meal came it had cheese, and the bun did not look gluten free. This and the milk was eventually rectified, apparently I was given the wrong order. I requested a side salad instead of chips which was just tomatoes in onions and balsamic vinegar. The burger was good but the gluten free bun was dry. After we had all finished we had to wait ages for the bill, and only got it when we said we had to catch a train. My friends enjoyed their meal, but I felt unsure about the attitude to dietary requirements. I will not visit again if next in this area of London.

Been here twice now - first time with a very big group of people second time with six colleagues. Both times were absolutely dreadful but wanted to wait to write a review to provide them a second chance. Both times were broadly the same and summarised below: 1. Couldn't bring the food together 2. Waited for over half an hour to order and then over an hour for the food to arrive 3. Food was poor quality and was returned in some cases (mine was cold) 4. Bill was wrong The male waiter was very nice but it seemed like the kitchen staff weren't talking to the waiting staff (or vice versa). The whole place was just badly run. Plenty of other eateries around St Paul's. Avoid this one.

Really disappointed. Beautiful location, but the food was awful, the staff were friendly but not very attentive and the atmosphere mediocre. Not worth the money paid. I had wanted to try this place for ages as it looked so lovely, but I wouldn't go back.

Yes, the decor of this place is lovely but sadly good food is one thing they don't do well. A party of 4, my friend had the cod,no potatoe with what was a thin white sauce with cabbage for nearly £20! I had a Giant curry, the taste was odd with a heinz tomato taste with spice, I had to return it..the only good thing about this was the wine...avoid at all costs for food!

Expensive with Asahi at £9.50 a pint . Noisy crowded venue . Good location in Paternoster square . Reasonably swift service at the bar . Prices put me off returning

My friend had to send her steak back twice and did not eat anything else and my sea bass very bland very disappointed with the food. Some of the other guest at the restaurant very very loud and drunk and no one from the establishment said it anything to them very disappointed because I thought it will be Upscale restaurant especially situated at st pauls. Will not recommending to any of my friends

Service was shocking for the second time. We waited nearly an hour for our lunch. The menu is great, but there’s so much choice and I don’t think the kitchen can handle it.

I booked for a Tuesday at 8.30pm, I confirmed my booking and had updates via email. I arrived on my booking date to be told no record of the booking and no food was being served. There was no offer of a solution, I’m not familiar with the area and the manager couldn’t provide any reason or apology for the error. Terrible.

The service was slow and inadequate. We had to ask for cutlery with each course. My Eggs Benedict was really nice but both my friend’s chicken burger was burnt black.

Very poor service. Taking orders took a long time to arrive

Food was good. It was quiet and there were not a lot of staff. The tables were not wiped clean, but a lovely setting in Paternoster Square and good value.

Very slow service and rude staff

Really loved the food and the service. Very child friendly as well. They do have a lot of vegetarian options as well

Needed a quick two course lunch. Good service and food at a reasonable price.

Workday lunch with friends. Lovely ambience, good and speedy service. I will definitely be back!

Kind and attentive staff. My colleague was 20 minutes late and they did not rush me. I ordered a warm duck salad and they had run out of salad so they waiter offered to replace the duck with chicken which was great and much better than asking me to choose something else. Really good atmosphere in the restaurant but it was easy to talk about work to my colleague.

Good menu and quick service. Food was just what was needed for lunch. Too loud for a good conversation for 2 people…

The music was too loud. That is the only thing I wish was different.

It is interesting that Open Table is asking for a review. When we arrived for our pre-booked table, we had no reservation. The restaurant was super busy. As they could not find my name in their bookings, they didn't believe we had a reservation. Luckily I had the Open Table confirmation on my phone. They were very surprised and they gave us a table. I was having phone signal problems, and when I returned home the restaurant had left a message saying that my reservation was cancelled. All very curious.

A nice setting inside and out, with friendly staff and great food. Service was a little slower than I’d expect however. Overall though it was an enjoyable place to have a meeting over lunch.

Bit of an up & down experience at The Happenstance. First, food was very good. We all liked our meals (Veg Shepherd's Pie, Chalkstream Trout, Cruspy Duck Salad). Waitress did her best but this place was large, full, and extremely understaffed. She kept her smile & professionalism, but had to serve tables indoors and out. Drinks order took 30 minutes and then was incomplete (but quickly remedied). Food took almost an hour to arrive. For now anyway,, don't eat here if you have someplace to be after lunch. Also, this was the loudest restaurant we've dined in in London.

A midweek business lunch. The choice, presentation and cost of the food was all good and noise levels and space around the table were fine for a comfortable conversation. Service however was a bit overattentive, although the restaurant wasn't full it felt as if they were hurrying us to order, finish each course, clear plates, pour drinks etc and when we called the waitress over to order coffee, she arrived instead with the bill and a card machine.

Lovely location Great breakfast menu choice and generous portions Really good experience

Couldn't fault the service. Would definitely come again.

I arrived at the time of the booking and was told by the staff member who greeted me that the kitchen had already closed and that they had called to inform me of this. I had no missed calls on my phone, no new answerphone messages were left.

Food was ok and the staff efficient and polite.The background music was terrible and miles too loud.Whether we would visit again it would depend on the weather as the option would be outside.

I was disappointed at the noise level for a weekday night. It was very busy and I did not like patrons standing around us behind our table. The service was ok but there was a very busy table by us and the attention seemed to be centred around them. I had to grab staff's attention in order to get some service. It was very loud that I could not hear our own voices. A real shame and really the dining area should be segregated and 'cut off' from the main bar area and not an extension of it. If you are young, out for some fun, it is a great place to go. For a quiet chat and dinner with friends who have serious topics to talk with you about, it was not the right place. Food was great and prices reasonable.

Busy sunny day so was crowded but service was terrible. Food average

The overall atmosphere was pleasant and welcoming. Service was on par but nothing over the top. Our starter the Mezze board was delicious. I got the pork belly as a main, it was just ok. I think they covered it in gravy to cover up how dry it was. My cocktail was all mixer. Very sweet almost like kook-aid. Not pleasant. I would probably try again to see how the experience compared.

Opentable doesn't give me the option not to rate the food or value so I've had to grade them 1 star, i.e. lowest. This is because I booked for an 8.30am breakfast only to find that the kitchen doesn't open until 9am! Whilst this might be blamed on Opentable more than the restaurant (hard to tell), the staff didn't tell us until we had settled in and were about to order! Even then, there was hardly an apology and the service seemed very offhand all in all. If I'm being charitable, things had not long reopened post the Omicron nightmare but I still don't think that excuses poor service.

On a quiet evening which had been raining, we decided to stay near our hotel. We decided to eat here which is in Paternoster square. We were seated outside as requested, which was a lovely view into the square. Service was very slow even though hardly any customers! We ordered a starter which consisted of a bread roll , oil and balsamic vinegar. Was ok but not enough for two Then we ordered fish & chips, didn’t enjoy at all. The batter was not as we’ve had before and took ages to arrive! Was quite expensive bill for what we had including , 3 drinks & water. Probably paying for in the square!

Enjoyed a trip here for cocktails and was really pleased with the wide range of options and the reasonable prices. The service we had was speedy and friendly, would definitely recommend!

Staff are friendly great customer service!! Great and delicious food Clean surroundings.... more choices on dessert.

Thank you staff for a lovely eat out. really good service and the food was delicious. thanks to our Welsh host Louise for taking the time to chat.

Literally saved/made my Sister-in laws hen do after original plans had to be cancelled due to government announcements and restrictions.Thank you for allocating us the best table on your beautiful terrace adorned by pretty flowers, birdcages, twinkling lights, patio heaters, soft, clean blankets, delicious food and delectable cocktails/mocktails!Service was outstanding, food was all brought out at the same time, glasses were cleared and drinks were served promptly.Highly recommend, perfect venue for all celebrations!

Great location, next to St Pauls. Quirky nice decor. Friendly welcoming staff. Reasonable bar food prices for London…. £13 buttermilk chicken burger, £22 sirloin steak. Good music and nice lighting.

We loved the Happenstance! The service is amazing - Emma was really attentive and friendly and helpful when it came to recommending things off the menu. We will definitely come back!

It’s a good location and the drinks were good. I would not return though as the drinks are super expensive, the staff were rude and inexperienced and the food was an absolute rip off. The meze platter is £16 and probably worth around £2. Less than one pitta chopped up a tiny blob of hummus and a few olives. Very disappointed. There is a lot of choice in this area so will go elsewhere next time.

Visited for lunch for my mum's bday while still in partial lockdown (rule of 6 outdoor dining only) and it was lovely! We were sat out the front and they'd decorated the area beautifully with plants, lights, heaters and blankets on request. Staff were all super lovely and happy to help, including brining out a birthday dessert for my mum. Food was also very good, standard London posh pub menu - but nothing to complain about. The only word of caution to those wanting / needing to sit outside - their booking policy doesn't guarantee a seat with cover so would have been a very different experience if we'd got unlucky with the table as it's been raining on and off all day.

Excellent food and service but seriously in need of some patio heaters for outside eating. Excellent location and looking forward to eating inside.

We booked and ate here on the bank holiday Sunday. Booking via the website was easy and they rang us to confirm. The menu is great and the terrace is decorated with flowers. The blankets to keep you warm were a lovely touch. The staff were friendly and service was not rushed which was great. We would happily eat here again!

We had a lovely time on Saturday, 6 of us outside, they have decorated the terrace really well for Xmas. Service was good, nice choice of food. Lovely setting seeing St Pauls in the eve, everyone in my party enjoyed themselves. Nice touch with the blankets! Will definitely go back.

I had dinner with some friends (less than 6) outside. They have created a really lovely outdoor area with lights and heat lamps. Food was great and service very efficient. Would definitely recommend if you are looking for an outdoor Covid free venue.

I had the most wonderful time at the newest trendy bar in St. Paul’s the gingerbread martini was amazing and the bar manager Lorenzo made sure it was perfect to match. If you are dying to try new and exciting cocktails come here as the bar manager has passion and flare to match.I will return to try a different type of ripple

Such a lovely place. Sat inside for food and drinks which were all delicious and the recommendations by the staff were very helpful. We moved outside for coffee so we could enjoy the terrace with St Pauls, blankets and hot water bottles were given and we stayed much longer than intended. We will be back. It was so lovely to spend time somewhere which has dealt with Covid so well.

Debo decir que la bienvenida no es ni siquiera una palabra para describir este increíble restaurante, mi esposa y yo fuimos recibidos y sonreímos desde la puerta principal hasta que nuestra extremadamente servicial camarera nos atendió, ahora éramos una pareja quisquillosa, mi esposa tiene alergias extremas y me gusta todo menos pepinos! Mi cerveza pálida llegó con estilo ICE COLD encantador burbujeante. Y mi esposa tomó un cóctel de Biar rose que tenía una pequeña rosa en la parte superior, la comida era para morirse porque solo vinimos a picar algo, pero el camarero nos convenció de que el especial de solomillo era increíble, ya que eran 30 días secos del Himalaya salados ( Creo que dijo) y mi esposa tenía un pollo al curry que nuestra camarera para nuestro deleite dijo que ambos eran sus favoritos. Los dos caballeros en la barra me ayudaron a elegir una botella increíble de vino tinto a la que me dijeron que tomara asiento y la traerán. El servicio es increíble, la camarera y los dos muchachos fueron increíbles y regresaré con mi esposa y traeré nuestros hijos para almorzar un fin de semana la próxima vez que vayamos a Londres.

¡Servicio increíble en el Happenstance! Fui a ver a mis mejores amigos por el 19 cumpleaños y nos trataron muy bien, especialmente de Eva y Lorenzo. ¡También le trajeron a mi amigo una hermosa tarta de feliz cumpleaños y nos permitieron pasar un buen rato! También cócteles increíbles que definitivamente recomiendo visitar aquí.

Fuimos a visitar la calle. Pauls hoy y decidí almorzar tarde en algún lugar local. Con su hermoso espacio abierto, The Happenstance fue lo primero que se vio una vez que ingresamos a la plaza. La comida y el personal eran encantadores y muy atentos. Lo recomendaría totalmente como un lugar obligado para detenerse para almorzar o cenar rápido cuando esté en la zona.

Service and staff very good, although reasonably priced the food was awful. Adjacent table were just having cocktails only, maybe they’d eaten there before. We won’t return

Have visited here a few times over the years when we go for a walk with our dog Bertie as has a protected outside area.On arriving in a very cold day they told us to come inside which surprised us but the service, food and drinks were very high level.Definitely would recommend going here ++

Perfectly acceptable for a business meal without breaking the bank. Everything was very good.

Al encontrarnos con la familia en Paternoster Square para comer en The Chop House, fuimos a esperar y evitar la tormenta Ciara. Estaba ocupado pero se nos permitió sentarnos y pedir una bebida. Teníamos spritzers Aperol y chico, ¡estaban bien! ! ! ! Vasos masivos y mezclados a la perfección! Ciertamente dio en el clavo. Sin duda volveremos a comer aquí otro día ya que la comida se veía muy bien. El personal fue muy amable.

Tropecé con este acogedor y contemporáneo bar mientras deambulaba por Londres. Lugar realmente espacioso y personal amable. Hacemos la vista gorda a un "gerente" de un bar en particular, cuya ropa era demasiado pequeña, necesitaba una ducha, claramente solo habló cortésmente porque tenía que hacerlo y sirvió a dos recién llegados antes que nosotros. . . . pero hey; No teníamos prisa.Sin embargo, una tarde muy agradable y sin duda volvería allí.

We had a couple of partners visiting from Manchester and out of nowhere they decided we should all have lunch together, that was not really part of the plan as they were supposed to be leaving us before lunch. We work upstairs and had only been here for a pint at the end of the day but never for lunch, long story short we gave it a shot and it did not disappoint. Partners were happy, food was great. If you need a place to have a casual business lunch you found it.

I have visited this venue for breakfast, lunch and once for a Sunday brunch, every time it has been fantastic. You need to get used to the waiters being in a bit of a rush all the time but this is due to a lack of staff, in all fairness I don't really blame the site itself as apparently (according to our last waiter) the budget they have for staff is very limited, which is a shame. But the food, the staff and the venue itself make up for it.

A place best avoided. Everything was bad. My bloody mary was full of bottled lemon juice with a stale stick of floppy celery which they hadn't even bothered to cut the brown bits of the top and bottom.We had a meze plate which tasted like the afternoon's lunch scrapings covered in vinegar - completely inedible. We ordered two glasses of wine, they brought only one. The service was so slow I had to go up to the bar and buy a second glass separately, this took a while as they only had one bartender on. When the bill came they still charged us for the two glasses and when I corrected the waitress she started arguing aggressively about it. As we were with clients I paid up and left, somewhat embarrassed we had picked such a shoddy, classless venue. Needless to say we wont be returning under any circumstances and would recommend you give the place a wide birth. Plenty of other local places to try.

Visited for the first time the other day for drinks and was served by an incredibly rude member of the bar staff. Would not go back or recommend.

A very nice restaurant with friendly and helpful staff....and a pretty good menu. We chose from the 'offer' menu and we enjoyed our food. The staff were attentive (although not overly so). We will definitely return.

Our first meal in London did not disappoint. Delicious fish and chips in a cozy yet upscale little nook. We also had Irish coffees on a cold winter’s day, warm memories of London at The Happenstance!

We were having a walk in Paternoster Square on Monday evening,however it was so cold that we decided to have some drinks and dinner inside a restaurant.We saw The Happenstance,looked very nice ,we got in and we had a blast.Even though we didn’t have a booking ,a nice lady got us a table ,explain the menus ,and offered drinks .We had coffees , each coffee had a design,mine had a smile ,very good barista skills. The service was spot on ,with waitress suggesting us the mains and what should we have as sides ,we had a bottle of red wine ,which we were given to try first ,very nice touch.We spent almost 2 hours ,without being rushed,great food and wine and spot on service. I highly recommend. Thank you

We came here for a casual Monday breakfast, loved it so much we booked lunch here for 6. We asked for the booth, which we got and received personal service. We told the manager we needed to be out in an hour and the food came Quickly but without feeling rushed. I had to wait about 20mins for my party to arrive and the lady kept me company and made me feel welcome. Highly recommend!

I had eaten at the Happenstance a couple of times before it relocated and always had good experiences. We came in for brunch at 11am on Thursday 2nd January, it was my birthday and we wanted some nice breakfast before hitting the shops. The girl on the door looked unamused to talk to anybody and probably shouldn't work in a customer facing environment. We got sat down. There were only 2 other tables of 2 in the whole restaurant. Service took so long we had to go and interrupt the girl on the door from her mobile phone to ask if somebody could come and take our order (3 tables in the whole restaurant, 3 members of staff and a host on the door and we had to ask to be served... really???).While waiting for our food, both the other tables sent their food back as the orders were wrong. We sat waiting watching the hostess just sat pressing a few buttons on the computer screen and on her phone a majority of our visit. We got our food, my tomato and spinach omelette was lovely. My partner's full english the bacon was burnt, and the eggs were overdone, yolk completely cooked through in poached eggs but we were hungry and it was edible. We asked for brown sauce when the food was served, It never came so asked again and it did come.We paid up and went to enjoy the rest of the day. A very averagely poor visit, we won't be returning. It's a shame as it has a prime location, with great outdoor seating at St Pauls and could be a real gem of a restaurant. We were surprised at the standards of food, wait in service given the place was dead. It's part of a chain and I work in the city and visit a few frequently. Hopefully they can build it up to get to the standards of some of the others.

Christmas is not a good time but is pricey. Came for a group meal. Drink service slow and often wrong. Food tasteless bordering on unpleasant. My duck liver pate came from a duck who had had a long and evidently hard life. The venison which followed was clearly shot in the Middle Ages and had been boiling ever since. Overcooked, tasteless and so we hat slime. Not a success. The preordered tarte tatin not available. Christmas pudding substitute devoid of taste and served with the smallest sliver (single lump) of what was promulgated as custard.I can only hope my real Christmas lunch is considerably better.All this of course at premium prices to reflect the season. If this place survives to next year, I shan’t be there.

Great bar and the food is amazing however the service is always poor... the service still hasn’t better from the last time we went. Constantly having to ask for a drink, and to ask when the drinks are going arrive the quickest thing that came over as usual was the bill.. with 12% service charge... the food is great! However just be prepared to wait for drinks etc...

Well what can I say...... Totally unknowlegeable staff! Asked for a single malt! Not a difficult request you'd think. Struggled to understand this simple request! This is central London!

our booking was cancelled without noticeprett poor - I won't go there again

We popped in here for a drink before going on and it was all very pleasant. Lots of people for a Wednesday evening, lots of servers prowling around to see if they can help. Good choice of beers

Went for a Christmas dinner with work in a group of about 15. There were several disappointing things about this restaurant. On arrival, there was nobody to greet us and when we eventually found our area in the bar, the Prosecco was warm and there was not enough for us all. The food was also poor. I had the mushroom risotto which came in a very small portion, was lukewarm and had little to no flavour. It was also garnished with some very bitter onion pieces which also spoiled it. I tried someone’s turkey with trimmings which was okay, but the gravy was slimy and the vegetables over cooked. The chocolate tart I had for dessert was nice, but the cream which came with it was definitely off as it was sour - which several of us commented on. For over £40 a head I expected a lot more!

My family and I come into London most weekends, first time to this venue. Had great food & service and lots of fun watching the Christmas lunches and dinners come in. Really appreciated the birthday brownie and the crackers for the kids, they were a little jealous of the other tables and it was a lovely touch for the staff to notice this and bring some over. I am sure this is not the last time we will be here.

I gave this place a great review in the past, so thought I would re-visit. Well the place had re-located from when I was last there. Was directed to a seat with just the vague point of a finger and then totally ignored. The place was not busy and the staff seemed plentiful, so most bizarre that the service was so poor. In the end we just had to get up and walk out. This place cannot do the basics - customer meet and greet and giving out a menu - so after sitting waiting for a menu and some acknowledgment that we weren’t invisible it became a no brainer to let another place appreciate our custom. seriously guys you need to get your act together. The next place we went to, the only member of staff in a busy bar said hello when we walked in and said as she carried food to a table that she would be with me in a minute. There you go - simple - not rocket science.

After Mass in St. Paul’s cathedral we attended the happenstance it was extremely busy but a lovely lady sat us down and gave us food menus and told us there’s a wait on food but that didn’t stop us enjoying a lovely bottle of Ana while we waited we got our food and had hot drinks On of my friends knew the bartender who made our hot drinks and I must say the vanilla latte was way better then Starbucks atmosphere was warm and lovely even though it was very busy. Massive thank you to the lovely little lady waitress and the bartender Giuseppe you both made our experience wonderful and we will be returning

After enjoying the Lord Mayors Show this Saturday afternoon we decided to visit the happenstance for some warmth (as it was raining) and food and drinks my friends decided to have the spirit animal mulled wine and aperol spritz while I went for the whirled trip they arrived quite quick even though the bar was heaving with customers and only a few people on the bar plus what looked like managers you could tell they was under staffed but as a team they made it look easy our waiter Juan was very delightful and was very attentive and me and my friends could see he had a lot of tables.We decided to have some nibbles and ordered the mezze board and trio of fries me and my friends all enjoyed our nibbles and cocktails thank you Juan for looking after us and we will definitely be returning to the happenstance when next in St Pauls.

À côté de la cathédrale, l’endroit est sympa. C’est autant bar que restaurant du coup c’est très bruyant. La viande était très bonne

I thought the restaurant was perfect for a reasonably priced light lunch. The food was vey good and the service acceptable.

The service was not very good at all.

I used the Happenstance to hold a screening for friends and it was lovely! Highly recommend for all your screening needs.

TheVegetarian dishes we wanted were not available on that day. Otherwise nice pot roast and large variety of drinks, Relaxing ambience