The stomach of the City August 7, 2007
Posted by CamdenKiwi in : Cafes & Restaurants , trackbackIf Threadneedle St. is at the heart of the City, then its stomach is surely Simpson’s Tavern in the midst of the narrow alleyways that criss-cross the block bordered by Cornhill, Gracechurch St and Lombard St. This isn’t the City of smart bars filled with loud music and drunken young things, or the shining Gherkin nearby. Instead its the City of bowler hatted gents, leisurely trading their way through the day, a world which has all but disappeared into multinational corporations and computerised trading.
Established in 1757, it is one of the oldest chop-houses left in London, where your mind’s eye can see Boswell and Johnson at the next table, or Dickens, a little later. The booth seating was built for an age of smaller backsides, with racks for hats, and you will almost certainly share a table, or, if you do get one of the few one-sided booths, sit beside your dining companion. It’s not posh – the waitresses call you love rather than Madam, and the food is very traditional English with different specials every day. If you order the Chump Chop, take the ‘optional’ sausage as well.
All the better if you don’t have to go back to work. Today, it was mineral water with the Steak and Kidney Pie, but last time a bottle or two of something red with an underwriting friend did for me for the rest of an afternoon off.
Get there early, soak up the atmosphere and enjoy a little slice of London through the centuries.
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