please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Admittedly we went in primarily to eat but I'm not sure that I would call it a restaurant rather than a pub. But then again, today's clientele hardly seemed to be beer afficionados. The Wentworth's Lincoln Imperial Ale wasn't bad and nor was the Black Sheep - I didn't try the other 2 handpulls one of which was Adnams Broadside. Solid rather than spectacular.
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Yes it is restaurant but I thought Oakham JHB was on fine form and there was a guest winter ale from Tom Wood. Had an early afternoon snack which was fine.
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Madcatlady isn't wrong!
Average beer with a greater focus on food.
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A restaurant that sells beer, really that's what this place is.beer ok. A bit dull.
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Food and beer were good in the historic building and setting, but it lacked atmosphere for us. As others suggest, that's probably because it felt as if it was trying not to be a pub.
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Recommended in the Michelin "Good pubs to eat" and we weren't disappointed by the beer or the food. Beer in good nick, food excellent, plasant atmosphere.
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I wouldn't call it a pub. A restaurant more like.
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A nice enough place near the top of Steep Hill. But as previous reviewers state, it is predominantly for eating and the staff seemed quite put out that we were only there to drink. Black Sheep Best Bitter, Everards Tiger & Whakatu & Batemans XB were the 4 real ales. A little disappointing.
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Despite being more of a restaurant than a pub, I certainly didn't feel at all unwelcome just popping in for a (perfectly drinkable) pint. Cheerful service, relaxed atmosphere.
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Not really a pub, more a restaurant that serves beer as well as wine. Food was fine and beer in good condition. No complaints, although I wouldn't go there just for a drink.
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Like Firedrake, I was a bit mystified going into the Wig and Mitre, having had pleasant memories from the early 1980s of a cosy and welcoming old pub with Sam Smith's OBB. Now realising that this is a different building, all makes sense. The position near the top of Steep Hill is excellent and some of the rooms, especially upstairs or further back from the street and comfortable and quite pleasant in a contrived sort of way. The beers (Black Sheep and Bateman's XB) were over-smooth and bland, without any distinctiveness or character, though not off as such. The food was ok I suppose (we had soups and ciabattas) though entirely forgetable. If you NEED to eat/drink on Steep Hill, then this pub is adequate, but I wouldn't make a special trip.
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A personal mystery solved at last. As Big Walrus rightly says - it ISN'T the old Sam Smith's place ... moreover, it's an entirely different building - which is why, during my more recent visits, I've had an uneasy feeling that everything was the "wrong way round"! Visiting Lincoln last week, I suddenly realised that the original building - two doors down Steep Hill - has re-opened as a pub (now called Widdow Cullen's Well) and, on entering same, I was delighted to discover that everything was the "right way round!" (Smarter than it used to be, but it was good to see those beams and fireplaces again.)
My dillemma: nostalgia demands I use the "original" site when in Lincoln, but in the mean time I've come to like the food at the new one. Oh well ... I'll just have to visit both I suppose! Life throws up some pretty difficult choices sometimes!
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Generally a nice meal - poor service as I ended up waiting ages for my desert to be cleared and an equally long time to pay my bill. I had to leave the table to do so. All diners beware of the disclaimer they have about their food. Luckily I escaped unscathed.
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Big Walrus and Anonymous both confirm - in their own ways - my own feelings about this place. I probably first used it c 1980 and absolutely loved it, with its dark corners, roaring fires and slightly florid theology students arguing hermeneutics very loudly in the upstairs bar. I still love it, even though it HAS changed. I suppose the food is a bit on the expensive side but it is good: worth climbing Steep Hill for, anyway.
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with reference to the comment below, if you're looking for a restaurant with a small bar this is excellent. It is expensive but it's not the Sam Smith's pub that you worked in in 1979, it is not a pub. It's open at 8:00am for breakfast and serves food till 11:00pm, it's a restaurant! Agree about the wine though
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I used to work here (too) as a barman in 1979. It used to have a great atmosphere. The food was excellent, the range of drinks was exceptional. The interior had a look and feel suited to the historic surroundings. All this has gone. It is now pretentious and expensive. It is also very obvious that the owners are pushing their wine collection, which is not very noteworthy anyway, at ridiculous prices (that's where the profit is). If you are looking for a nice traditional English pub that this place used to be, look elsewhere.
anonymous - 15 Apr 2007 08:37 |
The food has gone from excellant to very poor. Not only that, it expensive enough to embarras most London restaurants. I agree the beer is its only quality
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Thinks its classy - it is in fact pricey and the seating is half way between tea room and boozer - not good for either. Beer there can be good which is its salvation, but try the Tap & Spile too
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Expensive.
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