St John Smithfield

Smithfield, London

Reading like the puddings section of Mrs Beeton’s cookbook, the St John dessert menu offers up the epitome of indulgence. Boarding school nostalgia meets rigorous French technique in fresh madeleines, suet-rich jam roly-poly and a dense bread pudding blanketed in butterscotch sauce. After nibbling on Welsh rarebit and roast bone marrow on toast for starters, order the terrific nutmeg-laden custard tart and wobbling crème caramel encircled with a moat of glistening caramel. Or join the old-boy regulars and grab a legendary Eccles cake – served with Lancashire cheese.

Words by Lucy Kehoe. stjohnrestaurant.com