Walking along the Grand Union canal outside Paddington station on a cold January evening, I found myself surrounded by darkness. But there was one thing calling me in the distance: Smith's Bar & Grill, with its glowing orange lights and floor-to-ceiling windows that gave me a glimpse of many happy diners throughout the spacious venue. This inviting restaurant is best known for its modern British dishes, with a focus on sustainability, and I was intrigued to see what they had to offer.
The Smith's Bar & Grill reviews are all impressed by the decor.
DesignMyNight Review Of Smith's Bar & Grill Paddington
We were sat by the window, under a gorgeous ceiling adorned with hanging foliage and wicker lanterns. We admired our surroundings from the comfort of plush leather armchairs - the most striking part of the venue being the white marble bar right in the centre.
There was a list of both classic and signature cocktails to choose from, and this is where we headed for our drinks order. I chose a London Mojito (£12): a gin-based blend that contained lemon juice, watermelon, sugar and soda water, garnished with sprigs of fresh mint. My dinner date opted for the Hit Me Up (£11), a sweeter choice that combined white rum with pineapple juice, caramel, coconut and lime juice for a tropical taste that was like a more sophisticated pina colada.
Don't miss out on their exciting signature cocktails.
The Smith's Bar & Grill menu features a wide variety of enticing starters, but I was instantly drawn to the burrata (£13), served on a bed of some of the juiciest datterino tomatoes I've tried. This was drizzled in a basil-heavy pesto dressing that combined beautifully with the oozing ball of cheese. My partner decided on the parmigiana (£9), which used courgettes as well as the traditional aubergine, coated in a rich tomato sauce and covered by a stretchy mixture of parmesan and mozzarella. We enjoyed these alongside a small portion of salty green olives (£4) and a warm, fluffy bread basket (£6) with butter.
For the main course, I continued the cheesy theme by ordering truffle tagliatelle (£30) with parmesan. The fresh, handmade pasta had a thin sauce coating it, and there were shavings of black truffle all over - though the flavour was not too overpowering as it can sometimes be. My boyfriend's fish and chips (£18) was just as delicious - the beer-battered haddock was absolutely huge and the chips were crispy on the outside but fluffy on the inside, paired with mushy peas and a tangy tartare sauce.
Expect hearty British plates here.
Before any more food, we had a second round of cocktails, another London Mojito (£12) for me and a Summer Jam (£12) for my partner - a fruity vodka and cranberry concoction that featured banana syrup, lime juice and raspberries. To finish our meal, we shared two desserts, the first being a sticky toffee pudding (£10). This was an example of how they do the classics exactly right here; the soft, spongy pudding was topped with a sweet toffee sauce and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Secondly, we picked a chocolate fondant (£10), a rich treat that had an indulgent, gooey centre, also served with ice cream.
Smith's Bar & Grill London: Overall
Though the restaurant has a sophisticated feel to it, the Smith's Bar & Grill Paddington menu is a no-frills affair that takes iconic British dishes and executes them flawlessly. The portions are sizeable and won't leave you hungry, and I have to give a particular shoutout to the burrata starter - even though I have eaten similar at countless places, this was an especially good one. For a celebratory group meal or your next date night, this canalside haunt is well worth a visit.
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💰 Price: £147 for two, including three courses and two drinks each. 📍 Address: 25 Sheldon Square, Paddington Central, W2 6EY. 👌 Perfect for: A modern British meal. ⭐ Need to know: They also serve Sunday roasts and bottomless brunch. |
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