Very good and pleasant City fish eaterie

Open since 1889 (with much of the simple interior decor unchanged -I am told), Sweetings has the reputation of being a great, unpretentious City institution when it comes to serving simple but excellent fish.I work just around the corner and although it is only open at lunchtime from Monday to Friday, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and doesn't take any reservations, it looks always packed whenever I pass by.When I went there yesterday with a colleague, the guy who was sitting to my left and who advised me of what fish to try was a businessman who has been coming to Sweetings for 27 years! The fish, of which they have a good variety, is always cooked just right. The supplier of the restaurant is actually one of the three owners. So, no compromise on the quality. I had a delicious vegetable soup and then a plaice fillet, simply served with a perfect dressing and some chips. I also had a classic English pudding: crumble with ice cream, which, as the fish they serve, is of a high standard and delicious! They also have a good wine list: we tried a glass of Chablis: perfect with the plaice!The service is good and quick and the staff is very friendly, as is one of the owners/managers, which we chatted with on our way out. The waiters' attention is good, in spite of the busy (and paradoxically relaxed!) atmosphere of the place. The restaurant has large windows overlooking a courtyard, which, on a sunny day, makes the experience very enjoyable.At Sweetings, they don't even serve coffee, to ensure that customers do not overstay at the end of their meal and, thereby, allowing who's ever waiting a chance to have lunch, as there will always be someone waiting to take your.....ahum!...plaice -sorry, couldn't resist the (fishy) pun!...waw!...double pun, in fact! ;O)The soup (£3.50), the plaice fillet (£13.50) with chips (£2.50), the dessert (£5.00) and the glass of Chablis (£6.50) total £31!...in the City!For a quick and satisfying (fish) lunch in the heart of the City, Sweetings cannot be beaten!

A User - 09/03/2007 | report this review