Sager & Wilde

The food was fantastic. A bit expensive, but we didn’t mind because it was inventive, unique, and really delicious. The somalier was great as well and helped us pick a very good and well paired bottle at one of the lowest price points on the menu.
But the service was slow. Slow as snail shit. A four course prix fixe menu took four hours. I am not exaggerating. An hour per course. WTF. And when we asked for extra bread because we were hungry and waiting an interminable time for the next course they charged us for the bread. Seriously? Why are you nickel-​and-​diming your customers when they’re paying £40 per person just for the food? WTF.
Long story short, great food, poor service.

I decided to take my boyfriend here for a birthday meal, but was disappointed to find they didn’t have the 4 course set menu available, only a limited bar menu (this was probably my fault for not checking in advance!). We decided to therefore just have a pre-​dinner drink and snack, before heading somewhere else for a more substantial meal. The cocktails we had were great — quite innovative and different, but the flavours worked really well. The two bar snacks we ordered, chicken liver parfait and anchovy toasts were on the small side (literally two mouthfuls each) but tasted absolutely divine.
The staff were also super friendly and helpful, even asking if we wanted recommendations for where else to eat! They also asked my boyfriend what his favourite spirit was (he said gin) and gave him a complimentary shot of a really great gin as it was his birthday.
We will definitely be back to try the 4 course menu at some point — I will just make sure to check it’s available in advance, or be on the safe side and go on a Friday or Saturday night!

Turns out that Mission in the same location recently went through a rebranding to the new Sager + Wilde restaurant in Bethnal Green. I’ve written rave reviews about it before, so instead of writing a massive new one, you can just check my review of the old place on Unilocal:
But basically, the food and atmosphere are great! Go, especially if you like California wine.