RestaurantsLondonCityEC3

survey result

Summary

£50
   ££
2
Average
3
Good
5
Exceptional
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

This “unique” institution – a traditional City chophouse founded in 1757 – is “the sort of place cooking the kind of food that doesn’t exist any more… except it does here!”. Guests seated in 19th-century oak-panelled stalls feast on full English breakfasts and grills or pies for lunch followed by the signature stewed cheese pudding (there is no evening or weekend service). “My father took me there 65 years ago – it’s hardly changed, but there’s no longer an open fire!”

Summary

£48
   ££
2
Average
2
Average
4
Very Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

This “brilliant old-style chophouse” in a City courtyard is “absolutely unique” – and has served classic roasts, grills and a signature “stewed cheese” pudding to a besuited clientele for more than 250 years (although its claim that Samuel Pepys was a customer is stretching it: the diarist had been dead for half a century by the time Thomas Simpson opened for business in 1757!). It is only open for lunch and breakfast – so it’s naturally the “best location for a full English”.

Summary

£45
   ££
3
Good
3
Good
4
Very Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

“Like stepping back in time” – this “prehistoric eatery in the City” (est 1757) has “an incredible atmosphere” and is “old-fashioned in a way we can rejoice in”. The Dickensian menu of “traditional English” chops and roasts, steak ’n’ kidney pies and ‘stewed cheese’ on solid ratings in the last survey – and is “not for those with a small appetite”. Top Tip – “this ancient spot dishes up a top Full English”.

Summary

£45
   ££
3
Good
3
Good
4
Very Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

“Like stepping back in time” – this “prehistoric eatery in the City” (est 1757) has “an incredible atmosphere” and is “old-fashioned in a way we can rejoice in”. The Dickensian menu of “traditional English” chops and roasts, steak ’n’ kidney pies and ‘stewed cheese’ wins solid ratings this year – and is “not for those with a small appetite”. Top Tip – “this ancient spot dishes up a top Full English”.

For 32 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).

Have you eaten at Simpson’s Tavern?

Restaurant details

Menu
No dress code
135

Prices

Traditional European menu

Starter Main Pudding
£8.10 £17.00 £4.95
Drinks  
Wine per bottle £19.75
Filter Coffee £2.20
Extras  
Bread £2.75
Service 12.50%
38 1/2 Ball Ct, Cornhill, London, EC3V 9DR
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Opening hours
Monday11:30 am‑3:30 pm
Tuesday12 pm‑3:30 am
Wednesday12 pm‑3:30 am
Thursday12 pm‑3:30 am
Friday12 pm‑3:30 am
SaturdayCLOSED
SundayCLOSED

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