Impressions of St. John

I wanted to at least lay my eyes on St. John restaurant before leaving London. The outside is just a plain storefront…a little imposing. A sign outside says they sell baked goods but I didn’t see the front door anywhere. A beer man was wheeling a keg out the front, so I just walked in the open door.

The bar (and bakery) inside are housed in what appears to be an enclosed bakery and possibly two old factories or farm buildings. This is where I had lunch.

The interior goes with the marketing scheme they have chosen - simple, lots of white, with black letters (BAKERY) over the bakery counter and chalk boards with menus and drinks. The bar is covered in sheet metal, not expertly applied, for effect. The ceiling is a glass peak in the middle, the light is natural during the day.

It’s a little cold in here. The staff is large and they appear relaxed bur busy. Funny, between the colors and the food and the cold, I am reminded of ‘The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover’. Echoes of Peter Greenaway?

For lunch I had a cheese and chutney sandwich and chocolate terrine with crème fresh. The sandwich was good…at times the sweet and savory reminded me of peanut butter and jelly, which surprised me. The bread was excellent, with a nice crust that was firm but not tough. The cheese was mostly overwhelmed by the other flavors, but it was a rich sandwich and I was glad when I finished it. It won’t make my recommended lit.

The dessert, on the other hand was fabulous. The terrine was rich and when mixed with the accompanying cookies and dates, were fabulous. I loved the fact that it wasn’t too sweet…a perfect chocolate dessert.

All in all a great lunch. I hope to be back for dinner or at least another lunch.