Food review insights for England, United Kingdom

Ate here early on Thursday evening (never eaten here in evening but have eaten many times at lunchtime), I had booked 2 months earlier but unfortunately because of the horrible weather we arrived early. I can completely understand why we couldn’t be seated immediately. There are two people on front of house I’m sorry I don’t know their names but suffice to describe one as mr grumpy pants and the other as lovely lady. We were brusquely told of course our table wasn’t ready and that we should go away or perhaps wait in the bar. Lovely lady showed us upstairs and the staff greeted us pleasantly, brought menus and served us promptly. Although grumpy pants had assured us that we would be seated as soon as our table was ready, I had to ask as the upstairs serving staff didn’t seem to know. So we were seated at a lovely table and the waiter came immediately to greet us. We were immediately asked about a drink but not given a menu for about 10 minutes. I had filled out the allergies information on our booking but unfortunately the waiter didn’t seem aware of this but covered by saying they always need to ‘check’ by talking directly to the person with the allergies. So my husband started by asking for his first choice, not possible, nor his second or third choice but he could have his 4th choice. Unfortunately we didn’t amend the sides that had been ordered so my husband had double portion of carrots. Ordering then became more challenging as I wanted two starters but initially wasn’t allowed this option I said I was happy to be charged for the cheapest main course if that was an issue but I was assured it was the ‘rule’ that everyone had to have a main…fortunately after a bit of discussion he relented and I was able to have two starters with a side of chips (I was corrected that these weren’t fries). The food was fine except our spinach had no cream on it (may have been a mistake or because of allergies but there was no reassuring explanation). My only issue was that we had no main course until we had been sat at our table for 1 1/4 hrs. I know I asked for my salad before my other starter so my husband and I ate our mains together…but how on earth did the waiter propose for me to eat from two plates but I was obviously being punished for my choice. The table next to us who sat down 30 minutes after us got their main before us… It was really only when I looked round quizzically and caught the waiter’s eye that our food appeared. Unfortunately my husband’s lamb had obviously been sitting around for a while because it was cold… This was not a pleasant evening despite having a great table. I’ve always enjoyed visiting Rules but I definitely don’t think I will return. Grumpy guy at front of house needs to remember it costs nothing to be pleasant and welcoming to your patrons. The best restaurants and many other restaurants manage this but you have to remember you represent your company - you are the first person that your customers meet. Perhaps your colleague ’lovely lady’ could give you some tips!

10 of us went for for dinner between colleagues. The food was very average as well as the service and the room amazingly noisy. Definitely not worth the price.

3 of us had lunch a few days ago. For the dishes consumed the price is even more than excessive! For 3 first courses, 2 bowls of baked potatoes, a 75 bottle of water and 3 total coffees. £86.00!!! Absurd

£27 for a roast…and it was cold!!! knew it was cold as soon as it came considering the plate was stone cold. they only had 3/7 deserts available, 2 of those being ice cream so had to reorder what i originally wanted( twice as they also had no vanilla ice cream). £90 for 2 diet cokes and 2 mains and 2 deserts that were mediocre at best. much better gluten free food elsewhere. service was fairly slow aswell with no touch of personalised experience. would not come back

Food was okay, not a lot of flavor. Most remarkable was our waiter left mid meal, without notice, and then we did not hear from another waiter for approximately 25 minutes. They also charge a cover charge for each person at table - described as just an added costs recently required by the new owner.

Review rating: 2.0

Went with 3 friends and when we walked in no one was there to greet us which was fine because the restaurant seemed busy. 4 older men walked in after us and as the lady came to greet us they started complaining very rudely how they were waiting there for ages (not true) and were absolutely horrible to this lady. Everyone inside the restaurant was shocked at how these men were talking to her and even some of them apologized that she had to be treated like that. After all, the manager (i assume) came to us and i asked for a table for 4 and she, very rudely said "You will have to wait, but you need to wait outside because I cant have you here in the middle of the way". He went outside to wait and watched as the men that came after us were allowed to wait inside and after a few minutes they were directed to a table. We went inside to tell them that we were there first and none of us had a reservation (we heard these men say). This lady, an older lady with short hair said to us "well you were outside so i sat them first". She kept arguing with us, zero professionalism. When I was explaining to her the whole situation she said "Do you want to keep talking or do you want to sit down?". She was completely horrible to us, the only reason i sat down was because it was my friends birthday trip otherwise i would've turned around and left. When she sat us down she was saying somethings in Italian under her breathe. Everyone around us that was also waiting for a table was baffled at her lack of professionalism and how she couldn't handle a situation she completely lost control of. She let those men inside after they were horrible to her staff, sent us outside to wait and let them stay because she knew she couldn't tell them/speak to them how she spoke to me and my friends. The whole situation was disgusting. Food was mid also so I am never coming back or recommend this place to anyone.

Review rating: 1.0

Ate here early on Thursday evening (never eaten here in evening but have eaten many times at lunchtime), I had booked 2 months earlier but unfortunately because of the horrible weather we arrived early. I can completely understand why we couldn’t be seated immediately. There are two people on front of house I’m sorry I don’t know their names but suffice to describe one as mr grumpy pants and the other as lovely lady. We were brusquely told of course our table wasn’t ready and that we should go away or perhaps wait in the bar. Lovely lady showed us upstairs and the staff greeted us pleasantly, brought menus and served us promptly. Although grumpy pants had assured us that we would be seated as soon as our table was ready, I had to ask as the upstairs serving staff didn’t seem to know. So we were seated at a lovely table and the waiter came immediately to greet us. We were immediately asked about a drink but not given a menu for about 10 minutes. I had filled out the allergies information on our booking but unfortunately the waiter didn’t seem aware of this but covered by saying they always need to ‘check’ by talking directly to the person with the allergies. So my husband started by asking for his first choice, not possible, nor his second or third choice but he could have his 4th choice. Unfortunately we didn’t amend the sides that had been ordered so my husband had double portion of carrots. Ordering then became more challenging as I wanted two starters but initially wasn’t allowed this option I said I was happy to be charged for the cheapest main course if that was an issue but I was assured it was the ‘rule’ that everyone had to have a main…fortunately after a bit of discussion he relented and I was able to have two starters with a side of chips (I was corrected that these weren’t fries). The food was fine except our spinach had no cream on it (may have been a mistake or because of allergies but there was no reassuring explanation). My only issue was that we had no main course until we had been sat at our table for 1 1/4 hrs. I know I asked for my salad before my other starter so my husband and I ate our mains together…but how on earth did the waiter propose for me to eat from two plates but I was obviously being punished for my choice. The table next to us who sat down 30 minutes after us got their main before us… It was really only when I looked round quizzically and caught the waiter’s eye that our food appeared. Unfortunately my husband’s lamb had obviously been sitting around for a while because it was cold… This was not a pleasant evening despite having a great table. I’ve always enjoyed visiting Rules but I definitely don’t think I will return. Grumpy guy at front of house needs to remember it costs nothing to be pleasant and welcoming to your patrons. The best restaurants and many other restaurants manage this but you have to remember you represent your company - you are the first person that your customers meet. Perhaps your colleague ’lovely lady’ could give you some tips!

Signal: 0.1%

10 of us went for for dinner between colleagues. The food was very average as well as the service and the room amazingly noisy. Definitely not worth the price.

Signal: 0.0%

3 of us had lunch a few days ago. For the dishes consumed the price is even more than excessive! For 3 first courses, 2 bowls of baked potatoes, a 75 bottle of water and 3 total coffees. £86.00!!! Absurd

Signal: 0.0%