Cuisine: Barbeque, Grill, South African
Price Point: Mains from £15-£40
Experience the best of South African braai (bbq) at this cool neighbourhood restaurant and wine bar in Farringdon.
Boasting one of the biggest live wood fired braai's in London and a relaxed, industrial vibe, this is a place to gather your friends, roll up your sleeves and get stuck in.
The menu focuses on sharing platters of juicy, tender meat smoked to perfection over Sekelbos Wood imported from Namibia to give it an authentic South African flavour. Enjoy spiced pork belly skewers, traditional boerewors sausages and sheep chops in a sticky apricot marinade.
It’s not all about the meat, as proved by a selection of vegetarian curries, mussel potjie and gourmet salads, as well as the fluffy beer bread which is baked in-house.
The wine list showcases labels from throughout South Africa, from Swartland to Stellenbosch, while the atmospheric bar downstairs is the perfect place to sample a cocktail or two… the Saffa Mule is an explosion of exotic flavours including rooibos, ginger and lime.
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Hammer & Tongs
171 Farringdon Road
Clerkenwell
London EC1R 3AL
Open Hours:
Tue - Wed: 12pm till 10pm
Thur - Sat: 12pm till late
Sun: 12pm till 4pm
Phone: 020 3774 2884
Website: www.hammertongs.co.uk
Sample Menu *may not be current
Click on menu to enlarge.
Reviews
Elaine Tee - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 25 June 2019
Wow! The food was authentic, very nicely cooked and flavoured. We were impressed with the steak the most but my favourite was the sweet potato mac and cheese. What made the evening for me was the service, our waiter was very knowledgable and attentive. There is also a great bar area on the basement level! I would highly recommend!
Kiranjeet Kaur - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 21 June 2019
Sam and Rocky, the managers, were excellent and attentive throughout. The food was top notch, well priced for the quality and quantity offered as I last remembered it too and braaied to succulent perfection. They also boast a 10 page SA wine menu and it was remarkable. I'd be back in a heartbeat!
Rebecca Yeo - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 26 April 2019
Wow! What an amazing menu that really demonstrated the taste and flavour of South Africa. The service from Jana was outstanding, she was incredibly knowledgeable and was able to make the right suggestions for us depending on how hungry we were. The food was divine, everything was cooked and served to perfection, we can't wait to go back. They also have an extensive wine menu to complement the food. I loved the smell of the braai and you can see the chefs preparing the food. Hammer and Tongs is a gem of a find!
June Fileti - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 9 April 2019
If you are in the mood for meat then go here! We had the softest steak which melted in your mouth, the tastiest prawns that were seasoned to perfection, a cheese toastie that was a fun edition, a skewer of chicken that was perfect and wedges that were lovely...we indulged and definitely feasted like queen's! We managed to also have the Apricot cake with ice cream which was so good and highly recommend. Oh and the chicken wings were fab, if you like spice these are for you! Great service also. If you want a cosy low key place with excellent meaty food full of flavour then this is a great choice.
A J - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 13 February 2019
Both co managers were extremely attentive and warm throughout our evening. We had the Big Braai which showcased a really lovely selection of meats cooked to perfection on the braai, sosaties and perfectly medium done T Bone which we'd requested. The Cape Malay fish was a lovely contrast to the braaied meats too and the beer bread was exceptional. I was wonderfully surprised at the quality of meat and look forward to seeing this lovely restaurant supported by both Saffas and non Saffas alike.
Rebecca Yeo - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 30 November 2018
The preconceptions of being the first table in the restaurant were swiftly swept aside by the warm welcome received by Sam, the manager. He made it almost feel like we were his personal guests, and we were quickly made comfortable with drinks and a bit of biltong and beer bread to start us off. Even the quickest of leftward glances as you walk in leaves you transfixed by the open braii, a wrought iron testament to the depth of mastery that South Africans have for grilling meats.
On Sam's recommendation, we ordered the Big Braii with some added sheep chops and chicken wings, an unbelievable offering. The platter arrived at our table overflowing with options, with pork belly, king prawn skewers, lamb, borewors on chutney, the most delicious smokey pickled cucumbers, crispy juicy sheep chops, sweet, cheesy little toasties, a vegetable curry, coriander salad and the crowning glory, a 700g T-Bone steak, served perfectly medium rare. Never in London have I seen such a generous offering at such a reasonable price, all of this for roughly £20 each? We were dreaming.
The greatest testament to the craft of the braii is to serve this much grilled meat and have it all have its own unique flavour and texture, no two pieces tasted anywhere near the same, and with differences like the quickly grilled juicy prawns against the melting slow cooked pork belly, it really was one of the best meals I've eaten in London in some 8 years of living here.
Five stars for everything, not a single foot out of place for the entire night!
Sam Mahoney - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 27 November 2018
Fantastic meal at Hammer & Tongs last night; the service was brilliant and our waitress was really well informed about all of the menu items which meant she was able to advise us well. The Boerewors is a MUST HAVE and it was so great to find somewhere in the city that does traditional South African Braai.
The Malva pudding and homemade ginger ice cream were a great end to the meat feast and the wine selection is great and reasonably priced (it is mostly South African which again is great to see).
Aanya Madhani - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 10 October 2018
My party of three ordered the Big Braai which is for 3-4 people. It came with a range of starters as well as a large portion of a variety of different salads, curries/chutneys, and most importantly, meats from the wood bbq. The meat and prawns were all high quality; it's hard to choose a favourite but if I had to, it would have to be the pork belly skewers which were cooked to perfection. We also enjoyed the ginger ice cream with grilled pineapple as a desert. The staff was also very attentive, we will definitely be back!
Tiff Law - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 21 July 2018
We ordered the biltongs and pot bread to start, followed by baby braai (the rib eye steak was to die for) and Malta cakes for dessert (super yummy - it’s a little like sticky toffee pudding but lighter). The waitress was from Czech Republic but very knowledgeable about South African food and culture. She gave great recommendation for the 3 of us. Great wine selection as well. Overall amazing food and service! I’d definitely go back!
Elaine Tee - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 25 June 2019
Fantastic meal! As South Africans, my sister and I thoroughly enjoyed the food. Service was great and I will definitely be back!
10/10 would recommend:)
Shannon Fane-Hervey - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 23 June 2019
Wow! The food was authentic, very nicely cooked and flavoured. We were impressed with the steak the most but my favourite was the sweet potato mac and cheese. What made the evening for me was the service, our waiter was very knowledgable and attentive. There is also a great bar area on the basement level! I would highly recommend!
Kiranjeet Kaur - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 21 June 2019
The service was good, they were really attentive and seem to care about their customers and made sure we had a good time.
The environment is lovely!
Linda Hau - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 13 June 2019
Amazing visit. Loved the rosemary pot bread. Chicken sosaties also brilliant.
Catherine Selkirk - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 31 May 2019
First ones to arrive on a Thursday night and the restaurant remained rather quiet all night. Staff were very attentive and friendly. Food was good but nothing special. A good experience overall, mainly because of the friendly staff.
Rebecca Dobbie - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 6 June 2019
Sam and Rocky, the managers, were excellent and attentive throughout. The food was top notch, well priced for the quality and quantity offered as I last remembered it too and braaied to succulent perfection. They also boast a 10 page SA wine menu and it was remarkable. I'd be back in a heartbeat!
Rebecca Yeo - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 26 April 2019
The food was soooooooo good.
Make sure you try the ribs and the Pri Pri sauce.
Will be coming back here a few more times.
Amazing service too, really helpful with my food allergies.
Vishal Raval - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 16 April 2019
Wow! What an amazing menu that really demonstrated the taste and flavour of South Africa. The service from Jana was outstanding, she was incredibly knowledgeable and was able to make the right suggestions for us depending on how hungry we were. The food was divine, everything was cooked and served to perfection, we can't wait to go back. They also have an extensive wine menu to complement the food. I loved the smell of the braai and you can see the chefs preparing the food. Hammer and Tongs is a gem of a find!
June Fileti - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 9 April 2019
Another great meal at Hammer & Tongs. This place is a real hidden gem... the food is great - simple but so well done, and very authentic.
Lindsay Moore - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 3 April 2019
Absolutely amazing! Food & Service was excellent! Meat, meat & more meat - what more could you ask for!
Highly recommended - don't miss out!
Nash Khan - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 1 March 2019
A little loud but good food, excellent service.
Andy Ly - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 27 February 2019
Excellent service from very friendly staff who took the time to explain both the food and drinks menus before we ordered. I would recommend getting a sharing platter - the food was delicious and plentiful.
Jamie Alderson - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 31 January 2019
Food was amazing, service was brilliant. We will be back x
Michelle Gordon - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 19 February 2019
Great food. Service was great. Lovely atmosphere. Couldn't recommend this enough. First taste of SA food and I'll be back again
Oliver Loi-Koe - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 15 February 2019
If you are in the mood for meat then go here! We had the softest steak which melted in your mouth, the tastiest prawns that were seasoned to perfection, a cheese toastie that was a fun edition, a skewer of chicken that was perfect and wedges that were lovely...we indulged and definitely feasted like queen's! We managed to also have the Apricot cake with ice cream which was so good and highly recommend. Oh and the chicken wings were fab, if you like spice these are for you! Great service also. If you want a cosy low key place with excellent meaty food full of flavour then this is a great choice.
A J - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 13 February 2019
Great service, food was good too. Thanks!
The-Vu Nguyen - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 11 February 2019
Amazingly good.
Joanna Panteli - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 5 February 2019
Hammer and Tongs was a nice dining experience - the staff were very attentive and friendly. We got th Surf and Turf Braai which I don’t think was really worth it - the best part of this was the lamb chops! The rest was just okay. If I go again I’ll just order individual dishes as this seems better value.
Linh Nguyen - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 25 January 2019
Had a great meal at Hammer and Tongs! The service was impeccable - attentive without being over attentive and the food was delicious! Will definitely be back to try the rest of the menu :) Thanks!
J W - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 14 January 2019
Both co managers were extremely attentive and warm throughout our evening. We had the Big Braai which showcased a really lovely selection of meats cooked to perfection on the braai, sosaties and perfectly medium done T Bone which we'd requested. The Cape Malay fish was a lovely contrast to the braaied meats too and the beer bread was exceptional. I was wonderfully surprised at the quality of meat and look forward to seeing this lovely restaurant supported by both Saffas and non Saffas alike.
Rebecca Yeo - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 30 November 2018
The preconceptions of being the first table in the restaurant were swiftly swept aside by the warm welcome received by Sam, the manager. He made it almost feel like we were his personal guests, and we were quickly made comfortable with drinks and a bit of biltong and beer bread to start us off. Even the quickest of leftward glances as you walk in leaves you transfixed by the open braii, a wrought iron testament to the depth of mastery that South Africans have for grilling meats.
On Sam's recommendation, we ordered the Big Braii with some added sheep chops and chicken wings, an unbelievable offering. The platter arrived at our table overflowing with options, with pork belly, king prawn skewers, lamb, borewors on chutney, the most delicious smokey pickled cucumbers, crispy juicy sheep chops, sweet, cheesy little toasties, a vegetable curry, coriander salad and the crowning glory, a 700g T-Bone steak, served perfectly medium rare. Never in London have I seen such a generous offering at such a reasonable price, all of this for roughly £20 each? We were dreaming.
The greatest testament to the craft of the braii is to serve this much grilled meat and have it all have its own unique flavour and texture, no two pieces tasted anywhere near the same, and with differences like the quickly grilled juicy prawns against the melting slow cooked pork belly, it really was one of the best meals I've eaten in London in some 8 years of living here.
Five stars for everything, not a single foot out of place for the entire night!
Sam Mahoney - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 27 November 2018
Loved this place! Myself and two friends enjoyed the Big Braai which offered a fantastic variety alongside great flavours. Highly recommended for 3 people (or 4 if you have smaller appetites than us). Our experience was made even better by the excellent service we received throughout the night - warm and attentive yet not over the top. Hope to return one day in the near future!
Natalie Belgrove - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 20 November 2018
Fantastic food and desserts and drinks! Will definitely recommend to everyone I know! Great service too.
Matt Bailey - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 13 November 2018
Highlight of our visit was the pork ribs which had a really delicious taste and were cooked quite well, and the braaibroodjtie was seriously delicious as well. We also had the boerevors which was tasty but for our preferences could have been cooked slightly less. Overall the service was great with the waiter quite attentive and we enjoyed our dinner.
Alison Mansour - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 9 November 2018
Really great experience. The staff were so friendly and the food was amazing. The Braaibroodjie is definitely worth a try.
Fiyin Makinwa - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 17 September 2018
Great food, great service. We were made to feel welcome as soon as we stepped in. The waitress was friendly and took the time to explain the menu in detail, recommending dishes and wine to match. We ordered a selection of dishes to share, all of which were delicious - lots of tasty veggie dishes on offer too! I hadn't tried South African cuisine before and was pleasantly surprised!
Sufia Rahman - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 16 October 2018
Delicious food overall. First time trying South African grill and already in love with it. The portion, however, is a little less than expected, but still good value given the discount. Will definitely go back again.
Jimmy Kwok - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 22 October 2018
The service was really good. Very attentive and chatty.
The food was ok. Definitely expected more for what the price was offering.
Andrew Oh - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 12 October 2018
Delicious.
Joanna Panteli - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 9 October 2018
Really enjoyed it here. The smell of the food cooking meant I couldn't wait to order. We ordered the baby braai and a few other bits as there were three of us and felt it was just right. All of the food tasted really fresh and authentic. My favourite was the pork belly sosatie and the ginger ice cream with the grilled pineapple was delicious. My only issue was that the music playing was quite loud which increased the volume in the whole restaurant meaning we had to talk quite loudly but that wasn't the end of the world!
Maria French - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 10 October 2018
Fantastic meal at Hammer & Tongs last night; the service was brilliant and our waitress was really well informed about all of the menu items which meant she was able to advise us well. The Boerewors is a MUST HAVE and it was so great to find somewhere in the city that does traditional South African Braai.
The Malva pudding and homemade ginger ice cream were a great end to the meat feast and the wine selection is great and reasonably priced (it is mostly South African which again is great to see).
Aanya Madhani - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 10 October 2018
Amazing food, super exotic!! The service was nice, super friendly staff!
Highly recommended!
Isabel Brito - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 26 September 2018
It is such a great restaurant, the food looked and taste amazing. I had to order another portion of the chicken wings. The waiter was attentive and we happened to be the only people in the restaurant as well.
Antonia Ogunsola - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 4 September 2018
The service was absolutely 5 stars and food was delicious. I could not fault the place at all!
Eimear O’reilly - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 31 August 2018
Simply one of the nicest meals we've had. Perfectly cooked steak and pork with amazing wine and Stella service.
James Murrell - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 18 August 2018
Really impressed with this place. Great food and really good service. Will be coming back!
Sana Qureshi - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 14 August 2018
Really fantastic food. We went for mixture of sausage and sosaties with chips. Was very tasty and a lot of food for 2 people. Also the service is brilliant, they recommend things off the menu and explain what everything is. Would definitely go again!
Charles Watson - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 14 August 2018
It was my first time at Hammer & Tongs and I will most certainly be returning. The food was absolutely divine and the service was brilliant. Highly recommend to all.
Leroy Paull-Hartry - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 1 August 2018
A must try for meat lovers. Good friendly service, overall good variety on the menu.
Paul Tran - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 1 August 2018
Made to feel welcome, food and drink were spot on! Some air con would have been nice!
Ben Gardner - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 24 July 2018
My party of three ordered the Big Braai which is for 3-4 people. It came with a range of starters as well as a large portion of a variety of different salads, curries/chutneys, and most importantly, meats from the wood bbq. The meat and prawns were all high quality; it's hard to choose a favourite but if I had to, it would have to be the pork belly skewers which were cooked to perfection. We also enjoyed the ginger ice cream with grilled pineapple as a desert. The staff was also very attentive, we will definitely be back!
Tiff Law - dined at Hammer & Tongs on 21 July 2018
Overview
42 reviews
We ordered the biltongs and pot bread to start, followed by baby braai (the rib eye steak was to die for) and Malta cakes for dessert (super yummy - it’s a little like sticky toffee pudding but lighter). The waitress was from Czech Republic but very knowledgeable about South African food and culture. She gave great recommendation for the 3 of us. Great wine selection as well. Overall amazing food and service! I’d definitely go back!