Bird of Smithfield Review

26 Smithfield Street, London, EC1A 9LB

0207 559 5100

Last week we were invited to the Bird of Smithfield to sample the work of newly appointed Head Chef, Tommy Boland. Bird of Smithfield is already a Dapper Chapper favourite so we were excited to see what Mr Boland, who comes with a wealth of experience, had to offer. Here’s the man himself:

Firstly, the venue was as charming as I remembered. The five storey Georgian townhouse, that includes two chic bars and a roof terrace with stunning views of Smithfield Market, has a room for every social occasion. This time our home was the second floor in the classically style dining room.

The room is intimate, and well-dressed with the perfect ambiance for a sophisticated but causal catch-up with family or friends.

The menu comes from a mixture of Tommys Michelin Starred experience and is a fusion of British gastronomy with French cooking influences. The menu is forward-thinking and exciting clearly showcasing the new Head Chef’s talent.

So to start, we tried the Hand-dived Isle of Orkney Scallops, squash puree, Jerusalem artichoke gratin, sage and pickled walnut. Until last week, I’d never heard of ‘Orkney’ but it’s right at the tip of Scotland and is where Highland Park is made, anyway I digress. The Scallops were divine. We also had the Grilled Fillet of Cornish Mackerel, oyster, pickled cucumber, dill & radish – sounds delicious, was delicious & pictured below.

What’s also good to mention is that the size of the starter is fairly generous given the Michelin tone.

Choosing the main was the hardest bit. We toyed with the idea of having most of the dishes on the menu at some point, but dealt on the Pork Chop and glazed cheek, creamed potato, charred onion, roasted carrots, pancetta and roasting juices, which is the dish pictured below. I had the Steamed fillet of cod, exotic mushrooms, chilli, lardo, soy sauce & coriander. Lot’s of flavours I like and the chef brought them together perfectly.

For desert, if you have room, there is a solid selection. We shared the cheese board, which went down a treat and we coupled it with a 10 year old Tawny Port – I strongly urge you to do the same. If however you have a sweeter tooth, a plethora of options awaits…

As you’d expect there’s also a strong wine and cocktail menu.

Our second visit to Bird of Smithfield and our second rave review. I struggle to think of a venue I’d recommend higher for that neck of the woods.

Visit: birdofsmithfield.com

Photo credit : photovb.com