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GymkhanavsSt. John
Both restaurants are recommended by professional reviewers writing for major publications. Overall, St John Bar & Restaurant Smithfield ranks slightly higher than Gymkhana. St John Bar & Restaurant Smithfield ranks #3 in London with endorsements from 15 publications like DK Eyewitness, Concierge and Fodor's.
Gymkhana
Zagat
Independent
Time Out
The Guardian
Gayot
Fodor's
Condé Nast Traveler
Travel + Leisure
Not For Tourists
Michelin Guide Show All Reviews
42 Albemarle Street, London w1s 4jh
From $0/night
Zagat "The pricey modern Indian menu majors on the tandoor oven and sigri charcoal grill at this cosy Mayfair venue designed to evoke the look of Raj-themed gymkhana clubs." Full review
Independent "Chicken butter masala had a brilliantly smoked quality – the result, apparently, of charcoaling tomatoes in the tandoor before putting them in the sauce." Full review
Time Out "Sethi lays on a splendid spread of modern Indian dishes based on regional masalas and marinades." Full review
The Guardian "Essentially this is tandoori lamb of the sort done so well at the Pakistani grill house Tayyabs in Whitechapel for a third of the price." Full review
Gayot16.0
"Go colonial at this smart Mayfair Indian restaurant that takes the British Raj style as inspiration." Full review
Fodor's "Indian curry virtuoso Karam Sethi invokes the last days of the Raj at London's finest top-end curry emporium in Mayfair." Full review
Condé Nast Traveler "If you really want a treat (that will blow a small hole in your pocket), hit this sophisticated, wood-panelled dining room for a seriously delicious Indian meal." Full review
Travel + Leisure "Combining traditional Indian cooking with British ingredients, and featuring a menu of cocktails infused with Asian spices, Gymkhana has been a game changer in how Indian food is perceived in the UK." Full review
Not For Tourists "Posh four-star Indian with slightly disarming colonial flourishes."
Michelin Guide 1 Star
"If you enjoyed Trishna then you'll love Karam Sethi's Gymkhana - that's if you can get a table." Full review
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Ask to sit downstairs.
St. John
Concierge Fodor's
Frommer's
Insight Guides
BlackBook Gayot
DK Eyewitness Michelin Guide
Rough Guide Time Out Show All Reviews
26 St John Street, London EC1M 4AY
From $41/night
Concierge "They call it "Nose-to-Tail Eating," and you'll be amazed at the number of obscure cuts that can crop up between those too extremes and end up on your plate."
Fodor's "Foodies travel the globe for pioneering chef Fergus Henderson's ultra-British nose-to-tail cooking." Full review
Frommer's "The ingredients are the best, the cooking is superb, and the dish is what it says on the menu." Full review
Insight Guides "This little restaurant, a stone’s throw from Smithfield’s meat market, is a Clerkenwell favourite. It offers simple but curious dishes such as Middle White belly and dandelion."
BlackBook "Located in a former smokehouse near Smithfield meat market, St John specialises in what chef Fergus Henderson terms ‘nose-to-tail’ eating – ie, offal."
Gayot14.0
"The belief that no one eats better than farmers is confirmed by the repertoire of this bare, white, classy canteen, with its pleasant relaxed service which is far from rustic." Full review
DK Eyewitness "Here they like to eat the bits of animals you barely hear about so don’t bring squeamish eaters."
Michelin Guide 1 Star
"The walls, painted in a shade of detention centre white, add to the utilitarian feel of the room which was a smokehouse in the 19C."
Rough Guide "Former smokehouse close to Smithfield meat market that’s famous for Fergus Henderson’s perfect, utterly simple, execution of traditional British dishes."
Time Out "St John’s cooking is famously full-on, but also sophisticated, concocting flavours that are delicate as well as rich." Full review
