Harden's survey result
Summary
“Different” and “interesting” Middle Eastern cooking wins praise for this grillhouse near Great Portland Street from influential husband-and-wife team Sarit Packer and Itamar Srulovich. It also attracts some criticism, though – the setting is “quite loud”, service can be “amateurish” and some diners “were not blown away by the meal: it was good, but not amazing”.
Summary
“Excellent Middle Eastern cooking, with some inventive dishes and excellent vegetarian options” continues to win applause for this grillhouse near Great Portland Street (sibling to Honey & Co). “First-class natural ingredients are perfectly seasoned and prepared”: “in the wrong hands, these simple dishes could be bog-standard, but are lifted by excellent preparation (for instance, a simple tomato salad with a super, herby dressing)”. “Shame the restaurant is so Spartan, noisy and uncomfortable”, though – “it’s not the place for a night out, but good for lunch or a quick bite”. Top Menu Tip – the cheesecake, which Giles Coren from The Times says is “the business… life-changing. Epochal. Aeonic”.
Summary
“Outstanding and memorable food, full of flavour” makes this Middle Eastern grillhouse near Great Portland Street tube station a worthy follow-up to Honey & Co. Many diners reckon it’s “better than many of the West End’s most expensive and celebrated venues” – and it certainly has overtaken its older siblings in terms of ratings in our survey. “The ambiance is a bit basic, but that is part of the charm”.
Summary
“Plentiful and nourishing Israeli dishes” (with “a delicious mix of spices and textures”) win waves of praise for Honey & Co’s younger, larger grill-house spin-off, south of Great Portland Street tube. It’s “a busy and lively” (“frantic” and “very noisy”) venue, popular with large parties, but whose “1970s-style plastic moulded chairs” can seem “strangely utilitarian” (unless you are someone who appreciates “the authenticity of Middle Eastern café culture”).
For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Honey & Smoke?
216 Great Portland Street, London, W1W 5QW
Restaurant details
Honey & Smoke Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Lunch was pleasant if not wonderful given the price. Excellent Grilled peaches and endive starter and then charred Prawns & Squid. (sadly prawns hard to peel for some reason and needed water bowl which came only on request) . Smokey aubergine was an excellent aubergine but a boring dish of tagine and mush. not a main course. Excellent cheesecake "
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch | £25.00 |  |
|
|
Traditional European menu
| Starter | Main | Pudding |
|---|---|---|
| £17.50 | £26.00 | £9.50 |
| Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £28.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £2.70 |
| Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Service | 12.50% |
216 Great Portland Street, London, W1W 5QW
Opening hours
| Monday | 5 pm‑10:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 12 pm‑10:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑10:30 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑10:30 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑10:30 pm |
| Saturday | 11:30 am‑10:30 pm |
| Sunday | CLOSED |
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