Value review insights for England, United Kingdom

A classic in London, game meat par excellence. Everything very good. The wines very expensive.

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

6 of us went - we were treating daughters and their friends. Chose Fredericks as been a few times and always very good. Not sure if anything has changed in the kitchen, but this was not a good experience. Starters were just about OK, but everyone's main course - and we had a variety of dishes - were without exception very poor. Luke warm, overcooked, bland, unpleasant, were a few of the descriptions we discovered later (I didn't complain about mine as i reckoned just a blip and didn't want to spoil the evening - discovered afterwards that everyone else felt the same haha...typically British :-). Ordered white and red wine with the mains but only the white wine was served - for some reason the red was kept unopened at a separate table and we had to chase to get it served. The evening was pretty expensive, so all in all, very disappointing and unlikely to return.

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

The afternoon tea was amazing the waiters were professional, polite and could not do enough to provide a wonderful service. We have been to the Ritz on a previous occasion and the experience was just as delightful. Unfortunately, a gentleman approached our table (not sure if it was the manager) just as were were finishing and asked us to leave the table straight away as he had other customers who were waiting. We were in fact like several other tables, waiting to pay our bill. He was very curt and almost expected us to leave the table and wait down the stairs to pay. It felt a bit embarrassing, we did not make a fuss but it did put a bit of a dampner on the whole experience of celebrating birthdays and finishing chemotherapy.

Review rating: 4.0

A classic in London, game meat par excellence. Everything very good. The wines very expensive.

Signal: 0.1%

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%