London


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-where">WHAT? WHERE? </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="771" height="1024" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/PXL_20260310_184546709.MP_-771x1024.jpg" alt="Simpsons in the strand " class="wp-image-19827" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/PXL_20260310_184546709.MP_-771x1024.jpg 771w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/PXL_20260310_184546709.MP_-226x300.jpg 226w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/PXL_20260310_184546709.MP_-768x1020.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/PXL_20260310_184546709.MP_-1157x1536.jpg 1157w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/PXL_20260310_184546709.MP_.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 771px) 100vw, 771px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The grand entrance </figcaption></figure>



<p>It first opened on the Strand back in 1828 and now, almost 200 years later, the Grand Dame of the London dining scene&#8217;s had a new lease of life thanks to restaurant supremo Jeremy King of The Wolseley and Arlington fame. Muddy was invited to a press evening on the eve of its public opening and, from the moment we stepped through the revolving doors, it was like entering another era. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-the-vibe">WHAT&#8217;S THE VIBE? </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="913" height="1024" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/Unknown-9-913x1024.jpeg" alt="Grand Divan simpsons in the strand " class="wp-image-19832" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/Unknown-9-913x1024.jpeg 913w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/Unknown-9-267x300.jpeg 267w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/Unknown-9-768x862.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/Unknown-9-1369x1536.jpeg 1369w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/Unknown-9.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 913px) 100vw, 913px" /></figure>



<p>Old school elegance with a whiff of gentleman&#8217;s club, think chandeliers, columns, intricate mouldings, mosaic flooring (and that&#8217;s just the reception). No threat of sharing plates or anything served on a piece of slate in the two restaurants, The Grand Divan and Romano&#8217;s, where dishes are theatrically served from sliver-domed trolleys and luxurious leather booths make for cosy soirées. Two bars and private ballroom, The Assembly Room, are also gloriously grand.  </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scoff-amp-quaff">SCOFF &amp; QUAFF</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="649" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/simpsons-assembly-rooms-detail-1024x649.jpg" alt="Simpsons in the strand " class="wp-image-19307" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/simpsons-assembly-rooms-detail-1024x649.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/simpsons-assembly-rooms-detail-300x190.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/simpsons-assembly-rooms-detail-768x486.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/simpsons-assembly-rooms-detail.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Assembly Room </figcaption></figure>



<p>The cuisine&#8217;s as English as it gets. In the wood-panelled Grand Divan restaurant you can order classics from morning to night, including a Full English, kippers and kedgeree for breakfast, through to roast beef from the &#8216;hot trolley&#8217; sliced by expert carvers (Simpsons was always famous for its roasts), Woolton pie or faggots with red cabbage for supper. </p>



<p>Neighbouring Romano&#8217;s is a slightly more chilled affair with a lighter menu, think half a pint of prawns, pork pie with Piccalilli and smoked eels. A two-course set menu is £21, which is a bit of a bargain in central London. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="771" height="1024" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/PXL_20260310_192950355-771x1024.jpg" alt="Simpsons in the strand place setting " class="wp-image-19828" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/PXL_20260310_192950355-771x1024.jpg 771w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/PXL_20260310_192950355-226x300.jpg 226w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/PXL_20260310_192950355-768x1020.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/PXL_20260310_192950355-1157x1536.jpg 1157w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/PXL_20260310_192950355.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 771px) 100vw, 771px" /></figure>



<p>Muddy dined on a set three-course menu in the vast ballroom, which included a large, old school starter of Wimbledon smokehouse smoked salmon with triangular wedges of bread and horseradish cream, followed by roast sirloin of Devonshire beef with dripping-based roast potatoes, root vegetables, red wine gravy and topped off with a massive Yorkshire pud. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="771" height="1024" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/PXL_20260310_204047532.PORTRAIT-771x1024.jpg" alt="Lemon posset at simpsons in the strand " class="wp-image-19829" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/PXL_20260310_204047532.PORTRAIT-771x1024.jpg 771w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/PXL_20260310_204047532.PORTRAIT-226x300.jpg 226w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/PXL_20260310_204047532.PORTRAIT-768x1020.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/PXL_20260310_204047532.PORTRAIT-1157x1536.jpg 1157w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/PXL_20260310_204047532.PORTRAIT.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 771px) 100vw, 771px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Lemon posset dessert </figcaption></figure>



<p>The portions were generous (Muddy didn&#8217;t finish it all) and the food was a high standard, but in all honesty it didn&#8217;t taste any better than a regular Sunday roast at a decent gastro pub, which was a surprise. You&#8217;re clearly paying for the surroundings as well as the food. </p>



<p>The highlight of the night was dessert, a light lemon posset accompanied by a finger of stem ginger shortbread, served in an elegant glass and reminiscent of a sunset &#8211; we&#8217;d happily order it again. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="771" height="1024" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/PXL_20260310_210400240.MP_-771x1024.jpg" alt="Simpson's Bar " class="wp-image-19830" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/PXL_20260310_210400240.MP_-771x1024.jpg 771w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/PXL_20260310_210400240.MP_-226x300.jpg 226w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/PXL_20260310_210400240.MP_-768x1020.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/PXL_20260310_210400240.MP_-1157x1536.jpg 1157w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2026/03/PXL_20260310_210400240.MP_.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 771px) 100vw, 771px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Simpson&#8217;s Bar </figcaption></figure>



<p>Don&#8217;t miss cocktails or a glass of bubbly at glamorous Simpson&#8217;s Bar on the second floor, an exquisite Art Deco hideaway conducive to gossip, trysts and sipping martinis into the night. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-muddy-verdict">MUDDY VERDICT</h2>



<p>Whether you&#8217;re nostalgic for hearty English cuisine or simply long to experience a slice of London life from another era, Simpsons in the Strand is charming &#8211;  old fashioned in all the right ways.  </p>



<p><strong>Good for:</strong> Retro lovers who like nothing more than silver service, white table cloths and a menu that&#8217;s unashamedly old school &#8211; think bubble and squeak rather than ceviche. </p>



<p><strong>Not for</strong>: If you&#8217;re a clean-eating vegan, pop in for drinks rather than dinner as the menus definitely aren&#8217;t aimed at you. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-the-damage">WHAT&#8217;S THE DAMAGE? </h2>



<p>Wimbledon smokehouse smoked salmon, £19.50; roast rib of Devonshire beef, £39.50; lemon posset with shortbread, £9.95, makes a grand total of £68.95 without wine. </p>



<p><em><a href="https://www.simpsonsinthestrand.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Simpsons in the Strand</a>, 100 Strand, London , WC2R 0EZ</em></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-three-more-places-to-eat-out-in-london">Three more places to eat out in London </h2>



<ul>
<li><a href="https://london.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/new-greek-restaurants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The new Greek restaurants to try</a></li>



<li><a href="https://london.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/review-science-afternoon-tea-at-the-ampersand-hotel/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Afternoon Tea at the Ampersand hotel </a></li>



<li><a href="https://london.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/hg-soho-review/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Healthy eating at HG Soho</a></li>
</ul>


Review: Simpsons in the Strand

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